About

Who We Are

We are Chief Sam Cook Mahmuwee Education Centre, proudly serving the children and families of Tataskweyak Cree Nation in Split Lake, Manitoba.

Our school is a place where students grow academically, culturally, and personally, supported by the guidance of our community and the strength of our traditions.

We provide education from Nursery through Grade 12, following the Manitoba provincial curriculum while also ensuring Cree language and cultural learning are an integral part of our daily routines. We believe that education should prepare our students for the future while grounding them in the values, history, and identity of our Nation.

We are more than a school, we are a central part of community life in Split Lake. We host cultural gatherings, feasts, sporting events, and celebrations that bring together students, families, and community members. Our school is a place where achievement is recognized, traditions are honoured, and our youth are encouraged to see themselves as leaders.

We take pride in preparing our students for the next steps in life, whether they choose post-secondary studies, skilled trades, or roles within our community, while ensuring they remain connected to their Cree heritage. We are committed to helping our learners succeed both in the wider world and here at home

Located in the heart of Split Lake, our school serves as both an academic hub and a gathering place for community events. Our facilities include classrooms for all grade levels, spaces for cultural programming, science and technology labs, a gymnasium for sports and recreation, and areas dedicated to hands-on and land-based learning.

Our classrooms are welcoming spaces where students are encouraged to explore ideas, develop skills, and work together. We offer programs that combine strong academic foundations in literacy, numeracy, science, and the arts with opportunities for leadership, mentorship, and land-based learning. Elders and Knowledge Keepers play an important role in sharing traditional knowledge and helping our students understand their place in the world.

Helping Our Students Succeed

We prepare our students for bright futures-whether they choose further education, skilled trades, or community leadership-while ensuring they stay connected to their Cree identity. We are proud to help shape the next generation of leaders for Tataskweyak Cree Nation.

Our History

The Chief Sam Cook Mahmuwee Education Centre was designed by Smith Carter Architects and Engineers in 1989 and was occupied in 1991.

It has a gross area of 4205 m according to ISC records (ISC Asset No. A3A-8000-1). The school provides Kindergarten to Grade 12 classes, with an enrollment of756 students in the 2024-2025 school year. It has administrative offices, classrooms, a gymnasium, a library, a multipurpose room, a canteen, a science lab, support facilities, and building services. The school offers community activities after hours. Its operated by the Tataskweyak Education Authority.

The original school building is a substantial single- storey structure with masonry cladding and painted or walls. A second-level mezzanine opens to the gymnasium and is currently used as a fitness area. An extensive catwalk grating system over the corridors provides access to building, services. Original construction drawings show a crawlspace; however, all floor access hatches are that the area is back filled. Based on this information, it is assumed that no crawlspace exists beneath the school. The original building is sprinklered. 'An addition of four wood-framed classrooms tot he north of the east wing (ISC Asset No, A3A-80000-2) and two classrooms to the north of the west wing, in 1997 provide an additional 530 m of space (ISC Asset No. A3A-80000-3). These buildings are not sprinklered.

There was a partial roof collapse at the school in 1990, the gymnasium flooded in 1993, and fires occurred in 2010 and 2012. A structural engineer undertook a building evaluation after the flooding occurred in 1993. Interior finishes were replaced after the 2012 fire, Another partial roof collapse occurred in Spring 2020 over the administration area due to unusually high snowfall levels that winter. It was repaired. A break in the main water supply to the school occurred in April 2024, resulting in flooding and structural concerns.

Many of the building systems are nearing the end of their life expectancy, and overall, significant upgrades are required to extend the functional use of the building, Remedial structural work is required on exposed wood beams at the exterior where soffits have been removed to prevent further deterioration. Butt splices to exposed wood trusses in industrial arts have gaps. Water damage due to a roof leak is concerning relative to reduced load capacity to affected structural members, Other building systems and features requiring major repairs or replacement include site grading, parking lot, wood boardwalks, wood landings, concrete block cladding, roof, windows, doors and hardware, interior finishes, and mechanical and electrical systems.