On May 6, 2026, a crowd of all ages gathered to celebrate the renaming of École Sage Creek Bonavista to École Mazina-Giizhik—an important and meaningful act of reconciliation.
“Justice Murray Sinclair’s spirit name reminds us that stories matter,” superintendent Chrisitan Michalik shared. “That truth must be spoken clearly. That the sky holds memory, guidance, and hope—and that we are responsible for teaching our children how to look up, listen carefully, and see one another fully.”
Leading up to the celebration, students engaged in learning about the Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair and the meaning of his spirit name, Mazina Giizhik-iban.
Students played a central role in the celebration. The school choir sang “Mitêh” by Sherryl Sewepagaham, a Cree-Dene musician and educator from Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta. The title, Mitêh, means “heart,” reminding students to think and act with their hearts first.
A group of Kindergarten to Grade 8 students shared their pride in being Aigles and spoke about what they had learned throughout the renaming journey, demonstrating an understanding of identity, community, and reconciliation.
“Murray Sinclair believed in children’s voices and the importance of education,” said Bellange, one of the emcees. “At our school we are learning what it means to be an eagle; les aigles. A: amitié – friendship, I: inclusion – inclusion, G: générosité – generosity, L: Langues et communication – languages and communication, E: effort – effort, and S: sécurité – safety. These are values that we believe Murray Sinclair would support because he worked hard his entire life to make the world a better place.”
Students also shared examples of their learning in action.
“This year, we learnt about some of the traditional medicines and we grew cedar, sage, and sweetgrass in our classroom,” said Lincoln, one of the students who shared during the ceremony. “With the guidance on Mme Reynolds, we harvested and dried the sage, and it was used to smudge the school this week.”
The ceremony was a powerful reflection of learning, community, and connection. Niigaan Sinclair, alongside his daughter Sarah Fontaine-Sinclair, spoke about Murray Sinclair’s life, legacy, and enduring impact. Their words helped ground the event in both personal and collective memory.
In keeping with Cree and Anishinaabe tradition, Niigaan Sinclair named Christian Michalik, Superintendent; Corey Kapilik, Assistant Superintendent; Cam Johnson, Principal; and Lisa Albrecht, Vice-Principal, as honorary witnesses to the renaming ceremony. Each received a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) pin that had belonged to Murray Sinclair, symbolizing their shared responsibility to carry forward his work.
The renaming also reflects a deeper, ongoing commitment within the school to create a learning environment rooted in inclusion, belonging, and respect. School leadership spoke to the intentional work underway to build a community where every student is seen and valued.
“In a short amount of time, we have worked deliberately to design systems and structures that reflect who we want to be — systems centred on accessibility, inclusion, and dignity, so that every child can find themselves here,” said vice-principal Lisa Albrecht. “This has meant learning together as a staff; building strong teams and asking hard questions about how our decisions serve all students. From the very start, we said this would be a place where every story carries importance, where learning is relational, and where reconciliation is not an add-on, but a way of being. And we are honest enough to say today: we have much to do.”
The design of École Mazina-Giizhik reflects this same sense of connection and belonging. Inspired by the prairie landscape, each learning community within the school is represented by a native plant and colours that mirror the prairie sunset. These design elements are woven throughout signage, graphics, and learning tools, including the Seven Teachings, supporting both a sense of identity and a shared understanding of values.
The learning communities themselves are also uniquely connected to one of the Seven Teachings, further reinforcing the school’s commitment to fostering respectful relationships and holistic learning.
Together, the ceremony marked not only a new name, but a renewed commitment to truth, to learning, and to walking forward in a good way.
“What an honour for our school to be named after Murray Sinclair,” said Sally, a student who shared in the ceremony.