We at Seven Generations Education Institute (SGEI) celebrated our 40th year of operation in 2025!
Originally known as the Rainy Lake Ojibway Education Authority (RLOEA), the organization was formed through a series of Band Council Resolutions (BCRs).
The BCRs’ purpose was to create an Indigenous-led college — by the people, for the people — and to appoint Delbert Horton as the person to do so.
As you’ll learn in the video below, Delbert visited local communities, seeking financial support.
Kelvin Morrison, who was chief of Nigigoonsiminikaaning at the time, says they gave him $5,000 with no strings attached — they had faith that Delbert would do what he needed to do.
Delbert did what he could with the money, securing an old airplane hangar on Rainy Lake as the school’s first building.
From there began the RLOEA’s first program: carpentry.
Since then, the organization has continued to grow and has been entrusted with hundreds of minds to educate and empower.
Delbert passed away in 2018, but his vision lives on. We aim to carry it forward in everything we do.
Come back for next month’s blog post on how SGEI is Living In The Present
More about the people in the video:
Laura Horton and Tracy Oshie-Horton
Laura Horton worked at SGEI for decades, serving in the organization’s post-secondary department. She served as the department’s Director for years and was integral in introducing a master’s program to SGEI. Laura is the wife of the late Delbert Horton, founder and former CEO of the organization.
Tracy Oshie-Horton, the daughter of SGEI’s founder, Delbert Horton, is a member of Rainy River First Nations and currently works for the First Nation as the Training and Employment Coordinator.
Kelvin Morrison, Gaa-anikanootamaaged (The one who translates)
Kelvin Morrison works with Anishinaabemodaa as an Anishinaabemowin translator. In addition to his work with the language, Kelvin has worked with SGEI, sharing his harrowing personal experience in residential school with local students at our annual Fall Harvest, and was kind enough to share with us his story on video during the pandemic.
Kelvin’s story is one of resilience and regaining power through language. At one time, SGEI’s main campus was located inside the former residential school that Kelvin once attended; a school where he was punished for speaking Anishinaabemowin. Now, Kelvin works for an organization that facilitates the resurgence of the language.
Dan Bird, former Indigenous Vice Principal
Dan Bird has served as the Indigenous Vice Principal of Fort Frances High School for many years through SGEI’s Elementary and Secondary Support Program partnership with the Rainy River District School Board (RRDSB). This partnership supports Indigenous students enrolled in RRDSB schools and provides leadership at the provincial, system, and school levels. Dan has worked closely with Indigenous students and can speak to their experience learning in mainstream education. Dan retired from SGEI in 2025.
Brent Tookenay, CEO
Brent worked closely under Delbert Horton, the founder of the organization, taking over as CEO after Delbert’s retirement in 2015. He began as a high school teacher in the early days of SGEI. Since becoming CEO, Brent has overseen many historic changes at SGEI including the construction of our new Rainy Lake Campus which opened in 2019, the opening of our Sioux Lookout Campus in 2021, the creation of the Anishinaabemodaa partnership between SGEI, RRDSB, and SayITFirst in 2017, and most recently, the renaming of the Rainy Lake Campus in late 2024, formerly known as the Fort Frances Campus.