Photo courtesy Big Grassy River First Nation

A First Nation-run school in the Rainy River District school is going green.

Big Grassy River First Nation is receiving $2.9 million from the federal government to, in part, install new solar panels on Pegamigaabo School.

The installation is to help reduced operating costs and allows for the school to open when the area suffers from power outages.

The money will also help to install high-efficiency windows and power-assisted doors.

There will also be an expansion of the school to include a new pre-kindergarten classroom and an Ojibway language classroom.

“Big Grassy River First Nation is extremely excited at the opportunity being provided to the children of the Community in being selected as one of the recipients of the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program for the Retrofit and Expansion project,” states Lynn Indian, Chief of Big Grassy River First Nation in a release. “This project will allow our children of the community access to safe, reliable, and healthy learning environments which will provide an important foundation to life learning.”