Former RRHS students published

Ken Johnston

Who would have ever thought that an art class would lead to many of it students and the teacher getting published in a book?
Well that is exactly what happened over the past five years. Agnes Grover, the Native Counsellor at Rainy River High School approached the art teacher of the day, Keith Aely, to see if some of his students were interested in attending a workshop at Voyageurs National Park in International Falls, MN.
Several of them signed up, including Aely.
From the workshop their artwork was used in conjunction with the writings of author Art Pryzbilla several of the students and Aely’s work were published this year in a book entitled Ojibwa Tales.
Now former students, Dean Gibbins, Pat Handorgan, Jr., Terri-Lee Major, Vanessa Keeash, Dustin Gibbins and teacher Aely all had their artwork published in the book, along with students’ work from International Falls and Fort Frances.
The highest honour went to Dean Gibbins whose art was chosen for the cover of the book.
On April 23, 2005, an official book signing was held at Voyageurs National Park to celebrate National Park week there. Two of the five former RRHS students, Teri-Lee Major and Dean Gibbons were in attendance as was the book’s author.
Copies of the book are available at Voyageurs National Park.