Maskwacis school wins international sustainability prize

According to Sylvan Lake News, Mamawi Atosketan Native School, located between Ponoka and Maskwacis, won a $150,000 USD award in the Global High Schools – The Americas category at the Zayed Sustainability Prize ceremony Jan. 13 in Abu Dhabi. Two students and two adult representatives traveled to the United Arab Emirates to represent the school. Grade 11 students Elias Mykat of Ermineskin Cree Nation and Kenyon Bull from Louis Bull Tribe were part of the delegation, along with sustainability project lead Ray Fankhauser and grant proposal submitter Melanie Dussaye.

The winning proposal centers on a student-led hydroponic farm project designed to provide year-round fresh produce to the school and the Maskwacis community. The project was selected from 7,761 applications across 173 countries. According to the school, prize funds will be used to construct a hydroponic greenhouse supporting food sovereignty, sustainability education and community access to fresh vegetables.