Students in Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School's woodworking program showed off their latest project Tuesday morning — electric guitars they built themselves, with the help of some expert advice.

The First Nations school partnered with the Wild Honey Guitar Company, a local guitar manufacturer, to build the instruments in Ken Liddicoat's woodworking class, using poplar wood.

"There was a lot of anticipation and excitement building and when we finally, in November, we started building the guitars, the students really ... their eyes lit right up," Liddicoat told CBC News.

Liddicoat said students taking music next semester can use their new guitars in that class.

Erick Hanson, who runs the Wild Honey Guitar Company with his wife Lisa, was invited by the school's principal to come in and teach the students how to build electric guitars.

"For me a big focus is bringing back the craftsmanship to the Anishinabe people. A lot of the history books will note the Anishinabe were known all over North America for their fine craftsmanship, and in this way I've managed to hand off one aspect of craftsmanship to the students," he said.

Hanson said the students are using a design that should allow them to reproduce the guitars in their communities and set up a business of their own if they wish.