Cumberland House road issues preventing students activities

Ongoing issues with the lone highway leading in and out of Cumberland House in northeast Saskatchewan are having a major impact on students at the two schools in the community.

Many students have recently missed out on sporting activities and other extra-curricular events due to the road not being safe to travel on.

“Especially during this time, in May and June, students are exploring options whether it be in sports or educational ventures,” said Aaron Fosseneuve, the principal of Ministik Community School, a pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12 provincial school in Cumberland House.

“That have been limited on the sports programming because they have to travel on that highway. Even just recently, they were supposed to go for a football jamboree but because of the road condition they could not attend because it was not safe.”
Fosseneuve added that students missing out on opportunities has been an ongoing trend.

“Even today (Friday), they were actually supposed to go to a powwow around the Prince Albert area but the roads are not safe for them to even participate in cultural activities, so it’s just a common trend where we’re cancelling because of the road,” said Fosseneuve.

paNOW took a drive partway down Hwy 123 towards Cumberland House. This is what it looks like – after it had already dried out a bit. Both the Village and FN say the Province and the Feds need to do more. Ambulances cannot travel the road and neither can the food delivery truck. There is only one way to the area and goods must now be flown in. 

Read More:

• ‘Falls on deaf ears’: Cumberland House council frustrated with state of Highway 123
• Cumberland House declares State of Emergency for Highway 123
• Heavy rain in Cumberland House concerns residents about Highway 123

A close-up look at the Cumberland House road.
A couple of Grade 8 students at Ministik said the road issues have really prevented them from having fun.

“The roads are making the place not as fun because we don’t get to go on the trips and do sports because of the bad road,” said Morgan McKenzie.

“We can’t go on trips and stuff to play games because the roads will be that bad that we get stuck in the mud,” added Precious McAuley.

Nisto Awasisak Memorial School, which is on the reserve, has also been impacted by the unreliable road.

“Some of our programs they had to cut because of the poor road condition,” said Celia Deschambeault, Nisto Awasisak’s Director of Education. “One of them was for tryouts for soccer for the reserve side, but there were also some other events that were happening.”

“Some of the teams did go forward, but it was very poor road conditions, and our vehicles are highly impacted. Two vehicles are in the shop right now because of issues with the road.”

The Government of Saskatchewan owns the road, a stretch of about 137 kilometres, most of which is gravel. Fosseneuve said he would like to see a permanent solution from the province.

“If they can pave Florida, they can pave Cumberland House,” Fosseneuve mused. “Pave the road…it’s about time.”