The History of MANS 1990-2004
By Linda Calderbank, July 2025
This is a short account of my role in the development and operation of Mamawi Atosketan Native School (MANS). I had been involved with Native Ministries for a number of years under the influence of Ed Desjarlais. Ed passed away January 2, 2002. He had a vision for a training center for native people where they could come and learn of Christ and how to serve Him. Mamawi Atosketan Native School was intended to be the beginning of this vision. He was a great inspiration and leader in the role of putting Native Ministries in the forefront.
Pastor Basil Van Diemen was the push behind Samson Adventist Private School and Montana Adventist Private School’s start in the early 1980s. Pastor Van Dieman came to the Hobbema Reserves from the Six Nation Reserves in Ontario in 1981. He was instrumental in the start of Adventist Schools on Samson and Montana Reserves. Unfortunately, he returned to Ontario before the school off the reserve became a reality.
1990
In 1990 I was working for College Heights Adventist Junior Academy. I was filling in for Candy Rajah, the grade three teacher, who was going on maternity leave. Ellen Bell had asked me at the end of the school year of 1990, if I wanted to stay she would speak to the board on my behalf. I had gone back to College to complete an Education Degree so I could work with the schools the church had started at Hobbema. Prior to this I had completed a Social Service Diploma program at Red Deer College. In 1985, I was hired to work as a liaison between the school and the community at Samson Adventist Private School. As it turned out I became a teacher aide. I enjoyed the interaction with the students. I had control of the students in the classroom and they responded well. I worked two years under Grace Dara who was Principal. In 1987, Grace went back into the classroom and her husband Paul Dara took over as Principal. I was laid off in early September, 1987. I continued to do the bookkeeping reports for the school, to be turned over to the Conference once a month. I returned to school at College Heights and began a teaching degree, completing the program December, 1989. In January, 1990 I began my first teaching assignment as the grade three teacher at the then College Heights Adventist Junior Academy.
In the Spring of 1990 Indian Affairs had given control of education to the local bands across Canada. So the school that was operating at the time, Samson Adventist Private School, would be taken over by Samson Indian Band. Paul Dara, current principal was chosen to find a location to operate a school near the reserve, but far enough away to not interfere with Samson Band. He decided to go work for Samson Band Education as Vice Principal of the new elementary school. Pastor Ed Dunn and Monte Church, Director of Native Ministries Northwest, which included Canada, approached me about taking on the project of this new school. When that happened the Conference placed their support behind my efforts to start a school. I was truly grateful for their unwavering support.
FIRST YEAR CHALLENGES:
I spent most of July, 1990 looking for appropriate land to set up a school. A 40 acre parcel was found west of Wetaskiwin near Pigeon Lake Reserve. In the meantime the Conference had purchased a four room portable unit from Northland Trailers out of Edmonton. An offer was made on the 40 acres, subject to approval by the County of Wetaskiwin to operate a school on that location. The neighbor was an elk farmer and he opposed the development of a school next door to his property citing it would be detrimental to his herd of elk. Two of the trailers were moved to the chosen location and the County of Wetaskiwin Development Officer asked that we not bring the other half in until a decision was made, so we complied. In anticipation of the County ruling in our favor, the site was leveled and water testing was done by Pastor Ed Dunn, Daniel Guiboche and myself so we could proceed with drilling a well for water if the purchase was approved. The decision came down August 10, 1990.
A hearing was held in the County office, I think Vic Fitch, Education Superintendent and Bob Lemon, then Treasurer of the Conference were present. The County ruled in favor of the farmer and we were left with two trailers of a four trailer classroom unit sitting on the property. I called Victor Buffalo, Chief of Samson Band at the time. Knowing him from previous meetings and mutual friends, he gave me permission to set the trailers up behind the Pigeon Lake Reserve’s recreational center. So that is what we did and the fledging school stayed there for two years.
Daniel Guiboche and I spent a couple of weeks going around the reserve recruiting students for the new school year. When we brought all the trailers together behind the rec center we discovered that the two trailers that were stored at the property we were trying to purchase had severe water damage and were not usable. I spoke to the boss from Northlands and we agreed that the trailers sent down to the proposed site were not properly sealed and they agreed to send the necessary materials to repair the trailers and we supplied the labor. That was Ed Dunn, Graham Calderbank, Nick Sidorko, Bill Goodin (the recreational director, former electrician) and me. We removed all of the damaged ceiling tile, removed the light fixtures and tarred the roof. During this time the school was operated out of the rec center until our trailers were set up. We had use of the washrooms, the kitchen and gym with no charge. The school was called, PIGEON LAKE ADVENTIST NATIVE SCHOOL or PLANS. Ironically, thirty days after the County had decided in favor of the elk farmer an article in the Wetaskiwin Times newspaper reported the herd of elk had to be destroyed because of brucellosis.
Our next challenge was transportation. We had use of the rec center’s 12 passenger van for local use but could not use it to go into Hobbema to pick up kids there. So, my husband and brother-in-law joined forces and formed a company to buy buses. We started with one small bus fondly known as “the Magic School Bus”.
Shortly after opening school for the 1990 school year a local native activist returned to the community. He wanted to know who gave me permission to set the trailers up behind the recreation center. He also wanted me to shut the school down and help him set up a road block to protest native rights. I spoke to several parents I had come to know and they did not want their children used to block the highway. Next time he pulled me out of the classroom, I told him that he did not speak for the community and I would not close the school for his cause.
December 31, 1990 my husband and I were in a car accident near Chase, BC. I had four broken ribs (which resulted in the rupture and removal of my spleen), and also a fractured sternum. I spent 10 days in the Kamloops hospital. Pastor Ed Dunn, new to his work as the pastor at Hobbema, took over for me at the school. I was told by my doctor that I was out for the rest of the school year. I went back to work the middle of February.
1991 After returning to school mid-February it became obvious we could not stay in our present location much longer. Our four classrooms were becoming too small. The political atmosphere in Pigeon Lake was getting to be something we did not want to get involved with.
1992 August, 1992 the school was moved to Sylvan Heights north of Crestomere. Sylvan Heights was an elementary school owned by Wolf Creek School division. They had closed the school years earlier and bused their students to Crestomere. I went to see Brad Buss who managed the schools in the Wolf Creek School Division and he agreed to lease Sylvan Heights School to us for $25,000 per year. We agreed to maintain the premises and they would come in yearly to check the larger items. We went from 50+ students to 100+. My husband and brother-in-law’s company went out and purchased three larger school buses to accommodate the increase in students. Buses were leased back to the school.
Our portables were moved from Pigeon Lake to Sylvan Heights to accommodate the junior high students. We were still short of space. Brad Buss informed me of a program that the Alberta Government had in place to dispose of classroom portables that were no longer needed by the Alberta Department of Education. I called them and purchased two portable classrooms from the Alberta Government surplus at Stony Plain for $1 each and we had to pay to transport them to Sylvan Heights.
With this move the school’s name was changed to Mamawi Atosketan Native school or MANS. Mary Ann Saddleback, a member of the Hobbema Church gave me the translation of how to say “Let’s Work Together” in Cree. I felt that it was important to work with the First Nations people: the bands, the parents and various leaders in providing education for their children. I did not want any comparison to the residential school era. My mother had been a day student at St. Augustine Residential School in Peace River.
1993 We continued to grow and transportation to the reserve 25 miles east was our biggest expense and concern.
1994 We had visits from various band leaders and education leaders, wondering why the children would get on a bus every day, and ride 25 miles to our school when they had brand new schools in their communities.
1995 My husband Graham was transferred to Calgary and Bob Spratt became principal of MANS for the September, 1995 to June, 1996 school year.
1996 Juanita Neal became Principal of MANS for the 1996-1997 school year.
1997 Linda Nawalkowski became Principal of MANS for the 1997-1999 school years. She retired in May, 1999.
1998 We returned to Red Deer from Calgary in August, 1998. In September I started work at MANS as the grade 7 teacher, for which I had to go through the interview process.
1999 When Linda Nawalkowski retired I was asked to take over as Principal for the remainder of the year. For the 1999-2000 school years while searching for a Principal, I indicated I was interested, but I would not interview for the job. This was because I felt I had proven myself already and if this was not recognized then my leadership was not recognized. In the end I became Principal again. In the fall the board initiated a “move MANS closer to the reserve” plan. A feasibility study was done by the Conference to determine the pros and cons of relocating. A referendum was held to determine if MANS should continue or be closed down. There was overwhelming support to keep the program moving forward.
2000 In the beginning of 2000 the Project Mamawi Building Committee was formed. Members were: Ken Taylor, Chairman, Norman Yergen, then Secretary of Alberta Conference, followed by Romulo Daquila, Secretary of Alberta Conference, Carolyn Osmond, Treasurer of Alberta Conference, Alfred Breitkreuz, Project Manager, Linda Calderbank, Principal of MANS, Ken Fox, Ian Hartley, School Board Chairman, Helen Horniachek, Teacher Aid MANS, Frank Johnson, Pastor of Hobbema Church, Caesar Nawalkowski, Nick Sidorko, Bob Spratt, Frank Tochterman, President of Alberta Conference, Carol von Gunten, Teacher MANS, Isaac Zayachkowski, Superintendent of Education, Alberta Conference, and Harald Zinner. We started plans to relocate the school to Ponoka County. Pastor Frank Johnson was the one who found the site for the new school. His story is a wonderful insight into God’s leading in the development of Mamawi Atosketan Native School.
2001 January, 2001 the process started to build a school in its current location. A development permit was purchased January 24, 2001 to build on the current site, which put in place a request to the County of Ponoka Development Appeal Board. Anyone with objections to the building of the school had 14 days to object. Nine objections were filed from surrounding neighbors. The Appeal hearing was held February 26, 2001; the next day February 27, 2001 the development permit was granted.
For the 2001-2002 school year I insisted that my salary be reduced to half to stave off, in my mind, laying off support staff. After making that commitment my husband received a Manager’s bonus from his work at Nova Chemicals that far exceeded what I had lost in salary. One of numerous blessings we received for the work and dedication we both made to the development of MANS. Many volunteers gave of their time and resources to help build this school.
2002 April 14, 2002 – We had a Sod turning event once the required funds needed to start the project was met. Construction began shortly after under the leadership of our Volunteer Project Manager, Alfred Breitkreuz.
2003 We moved into the new building in January, 2003 with the help of the Junior High students from College Heights Christian School. Official opening was Sabbath, May 9th and 10th, 2003 with an estimated attendance of 350 well-wishers, financial supporters, students and their families and volunteers who had worked on the project. The school was not complete when we moved in and the following items were completed over the summer: leveling the grounds, landscaping, fencing, flooring in the gym, new desks, computers, etc. Frank Corlis, a welder and member of Red Deer Seventh-day Adventist Church, voluntarily installed the teepee poles in the dead of winter. Giving the exterior its astounding native look.
2004 At the end of the 2004 school year my husband retired rather than take a transfer to Pittsburgh. I retired and left the school in very capable hands. Julie Hodder took over as Principal of Mamawi Atosketan Native School.
Staff over the years to 2004:
Pigeon Lake Adventist Native School (1990-1992):
Teachers: Linda Calderbank, Allen Hodges, Cindy Reyes, Trudy Gardiner, Pollyanna Zinck, Kathy Zachary, Susan Nauss.
Teacher Aides: Robina Lyons, Lillian Yellowbird (Cree Teacher & Aide), Isabelle Guiboche (bus driver/aide 1990-91) Donna Madsen (bus driver/aide 1991-92), Rose
Mamawi Atosketan Native School (1992-2004):
Teachers: Linda Calderbank, Pat Cove, Tammy Pineo, Kelly Dreger (Aldrich), Julie Hodder, Susan Nauss, Linda Nawalkowski, Dale Burns, Bill Burns, Bob Spratt, Juanita Neal, Rick Fowler (left before his first year was over), Charissa Hawes, Carol von Gunten, Maja Johnson, Brenda Eskelson, Ardyn Kay, Violet Hannebury, Jody McCoy (Art & Music), Mrs. Unger (Kindergarten), Suzanne Self, Renee Nessman, Darlene Hoffmann, Janice Clark, Terry Soule, Shelley Soule, Yvonne Heinrich, a military guy who lasted till the first recess, Ronda Ziakris, Loney Ziakris, Fay Lawrence, Linda Huedepohl, Michelle Northam, Colleen Page, Lester Lorenson and Heidi Unruh.
Teacher Aides: Robina Lyons, Jennifer Calderbank, Linda Nobles bus driver/aide, Keisha Shaw, Bettyanne Tompkins, Christie Radcliffe, Helen Horniachek, Irene Moonias (Cree teacher & Aide), Ida Harris, Lorraine Taylor.
Maintenance: Pastor Ed Dunn, Graham Calderbank, Caesar Nawalkowski, Nick Sidorko, Ernie Nolan. These guys worked without pay.
Bus Drivers: George Cove, driver/janitor); Rob Nobles, Don Abt, Wayne Abt, Sam Saulteaux, Sadie Baptiste, Bill who also served as our computer tech.
The path for Mamawi obtaining the success it enjoys today was not without its challenges. It was on the brink of closure a number of times. Thanks to the Alberta Conference for its support and belief in the program it exists today. As I look back, I see the hand of God throughout the complete process.
To all the individuals that worked at Mamawi know that God put you there for a reason. The majority of personnel contributed beyond their own expectations. No one was more important than the other it was always a team effort. Whenever you start a project for the Lord know that you will be met with challenges because the evil one does not want you to succeed. It is at that time you need to rely on the Lord for protection, direction and assurance you are doing the right thing. A statement made by E. G. White, and I paraphrase: “If someone starts a work and then leaves, and that work dies, it is his work. If the work continues without that person, it is God’s work”. Know that you are doing God’s work!