The Federal Day School was first open in 1951 with 2 classrooms, first principal Roland Lariviere. Group of Inuit children from different settlements/ posts across remote communities in the north were moved to a settlement to attend school/ education in Chesterfield Inlet (this is when school buildings/education were still not available in other settlements across the north during that time), the Federal Day School was named after – Sir Joseph Bernier, a prominent Arctic sea captain. The school was operated by the federal government and staffed mainly by the Grey Sisters. The photo review group of Inuit children attending class and foreground Grey Nun.

Photo courtesy: Doctor Jean-Charles Patry, 1950’s