GITWANGAK FIRST NATION, GITXSAN GITKSEN TERRITORY, BC, Sept. 4, 2026 /CNW/ -- With the opening of the new Gitksen West Secondary School, students from the communities of Gitwangak, Gitanyow and Gitsegukla First Nations now have access to secondary education in a culturally enriched learning environment rooted in Gitksen culture, language and community.

Yesterday, Simgigyet (hereditary chiefs), Sigidim Haanak (matriarchs), Band Councils, Elders, community members, educators, and students from the three communities celebrated the opening of the new Gitksen West Secondary School on Gitwangak reserve #1. The school has the capacity to accommodate up to 170 students from the neighbouring communities.

Until now, students have had to commute over 60 km to Hazelton, BC, to attend high school. The new school will enable students to remain closer to family and community while accessing high-quality secondary education rooted in Gitksen culture and traditions that meets the learning outcomes of the BC curriculum.

Gitksen West Secondary School is locally governed by a School Board representing Gitwangak, Gitsegukla, and Gitanyow, ensuring that education is guided and determined by our people, for our students and for our communities.

Indigenous Services Canada provided over $39 million for the design and construction of the school, and to support the delivery of programming in the first year of operations. This partnership between Canada and First Nations' leadership represents a shared goal to create learning environments that inspire student success, improve educational outcomes, strengthen culture and create opportunities for future generations.

Quotes

"This is a deeply meaningful moment for Gitwangak, Gitanyow and Gitsegukla. For more than a decade, we have worked together to bring high school education closer to home, allowing our children to remain connected to their families, culture and communities.

Gitksen West Secondary School represents our commitment to our children and their future. Reclaiming education holds profound significance for our people, especially given the history of residential schools. Today, we are bringing education home and creating opportunities for our children on our own terms.

We honour everyone who helped carry this vision forward, including those who are no longer with us. This is their legacy, and a legacy we are building for generations to come." 

Chief Chasity Daniels
Gitwangak First Nation
President of the Gitksen West Secondary School Society

"Gitwangak Chief and Council are incredibly proud to celebrate the opening of Gitksen West Secondary School. This moment represents the realization of a vision held by our Elders for many years—a vision to have a Gitksen school where our children can learn through Gitksen culture, values, language, and curriculum while also receiving a strong provincial education.

The opening of this school represents years of hard work, determination, and collaboration among the three communities of Gitwangak, Gitanyow, and Gitsegukla. It is an investment in our youth, our culture, and future generations. We are honoured to see the vision of our Elders becoming a reality and look forward to the opportunities this school will provide for our children and communities for generations to come."

Deputy Chief Brandi Maitland
Gitwangak First Nation

"This is the start of a new era where we empower our flowers to bloom in a world that can benefit from Indigenous Knowledge and ways of being. I am proud of the previous Council members who put in countless hours of work to make this happen. I look forward to seeing Gitksen scholars contributing to our future."

Chief Bryan Williams
Gitanyow First Nation

"We are happy to see Gitxsan West High School completed. We see a day when we have our youth succeed in our communities with Dogwood Certificates and not Leaving Certificates.

The students will be given the opportunity to go forward in schooling with crucial supports at school.

We look forward in the next couple of years to see the success of our youth going into post-secondary programs."

Chief Councillor Annie Howard
Gitsegukla First Nation

"The opening of Gitksen West Secondary School is a significant achievement for the Gitwangak, Gitanyow, and Gitsegukla First Nations. This community-led school will allow students to learn closer to home while strengthening connections to Gitxsan culture, language, and traditions. Through partnerships like this, we are supporting First Nations-led education and creating opportunities for future generations."

The Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty
Minister of Indigenous Services

Quick facts

• Gitksen (or Gitxsan), meaning People of the River of Mist, comprises of six villages in the Skeena River Valley area of BC.
• The three communities of Gitwangak (people of the land of the rabbits), Gitanyow (people from the wide/big village), and Gitsegukla (people of Segukla Mountain) together are known as Gayts, or people from down river. The Gayts and Giigaynix (the people from up river) are collectively known as the Gitksen people.
• The Gayts initiated and built the Gitksen West Secondary School, with a focus on Gitksen traditional learning, outdoor education, and the provincial curriculum.
• The new school encompasses Grades 8 to 12 and features: 12 classrooms, a library, a kitchen, several smaller meeting rooms and offices, an administration area, and a gymnasium.

Associated links

• Gitksen West Secondary School
• Gitwangak First Nation
• Gitsegukla First Nation
• Capital Facilities and Maintenance Program
• Education Programs

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SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada