Kitcisakik school staff threaten to resign en masse

The future of Mikizicec primary school in Kitcisakik, in the La Vérendrye wildlife reserve in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, is threatened as more than 30 staff members intend to resign. A stormy meeting attended by Radio-Canada on Friday led to police intervention in Val-d’Or.

While band council director Louise Therrien had summoned four school staff members to a meeting early Friday morning, it was instead around twenty staff members who appeared before her.

The situation has escalated quickly at Mikizicec school since the appointment of the new interim director of education Sharon Wylde, who came to replace the former director Luc Létourneau, suspended by the band council.

Several members of the Kitcisakik community criticize Sharon Wylde for having established what they describe as regime of terror while she was principal of the school. It is for this reason that upon his appointment, several women made the decision to expel him from the community without having the approval of the band council.

Within the school, five sources tell us that this same regime of terror has started again since his appointment. These staff members let us know that more than 30 people have signed a letter announcing their resignation for the month of November if nothing changes.

An intimidation tactic?

Sharon Wylde and band council director Louise Therrien then summoned four school employees Friday morning without giving details on the purpose of the meeting.

To make matters worse, these four people are all people who are on probation. It’s clearly an intimidation tactic, or at least we saw it that way.told us a person employed by the school present on site, who preferred to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals from the band council.

The summons to the four employees followed the sending of a letter addressed to Chief Régis Penosway and signed by around twenty school staff members on September 23. Workers wanted to voice their concerns about the appointment of Sharon Wylde and also regarding the suspension of 14 employees, some of whom have an important role in the education of children and the transmission of ancestral knowledge.

The director summoned

The director of the establishment Sophie Joly immediately reacted in a letter refusing to allow her employees to attend the meeting alone.

We believe that it would be beneficial for the entire signatory group to be present during these discussionsshe wrote in a letter addressed to the band council on October 9.

Following the writing of this letter, the director Sophie Joly was in turn summoned to a disciplinary meeting for propaganda and non-compliance with the code of ethics.

Just ask questions, you can get sanctions. I find that it comes very close to a totalitarian regime.

It was at this time that the school staff made the decision to appear as a group at the meeting scheduled for Friday morning with the four employees. Band council director Louise Therrien refused to meet them and canceled the meetings. The tone then rose a few times between the two parties.

We want answers. This school is our dream, it’s our passion. Stop keeping us in the shadowssaid a staff member.

You are always in danger. I can no longer live in this waiting and this anguish every morningmentioned another employee.

A police presence

The situation prompted the director of the band council to request the presence of Sûreté du Québec police officers to speak to employees.

She then assured them that their work was important and appreciated and that she would schedule a meeting shortly with all employees and the new interim director of education Sharon Wylde. A meeting that staff had been demanding for two weeks already, according to letters we obtained.

I encourage you to write down any questions you want to ask. I sincerely wish you had all your answers on both sides of the coin. For me it’s really importantsaid band council director Louise Therrien.

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Later in the day Friday, a school employee filed a complaint with the Sûreté du Québec, mentioning having been pushed by the director of the band council, Louise Therrien, during the meeting.

Asked why they had chosen to summon only the four employees on probation, she replied that it was for clarificationwithout giving further details.

Band council director Louise Therrien declined our interview request, inviting us to send our questions by email.

Ms. Wylde is a person who has the necessary skills to serve as interim director considering that she had already held these positions in the past. She is familiar with the organization and the particular context of the school, which makes her the ideal person to occupy this position.the band council wrote to us by email.

On a psychological level, it is untenable. We arrive in the morning and we don’t know what’s hanging over our noses. Although we do not want to get involved in the political conflict, it affects all of us involved in all areas of the school. We’re tired. This has to be sorted out. The government needs to get involved. We need help to get out of this impassethe employee who requested anonymity told us.

Minister Lafrenière concerned

Following an interview request, the office of the minister responsible for relations with First Nations and Inuit, Ian Lafrenière, sent us a written statement.

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I met with both groups last spring. The situation is worrying, and I am in constant contact with Chief Régis Penosway, who assured me that the school is open. These decisions are up to the council, and it is imperative to find solutions for the well-being of community memberswrites Minister Lafrenière.