Day of Action effort for Equal Access to Education for children in First Nations
AFN Press release
AFN Fully Supports Shannen's Dream Day of Action - National Chief: "We Can Make Shannen's Dream a Reality Simply by Doing the Right Thing"
OTTAWA, April 27 - Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo commented on activities being held across the country today, including a walk organized by students of an Ottawa school to bring letters of support for their First Nation peers to Parliament Hill to mark April 27 as the Day of Action in support of Shannen's Dream.
"Shannen Koostachin had a dream of safe schools for First Nations children, of fairness and equity and an education system that values First Nations cultures," stated the National Chief. "Today shows us that young people of all backgrounds understand and believe in this dream. We must listen to these young leaders and realize that we can make Shannen's Dream a reality simply by doing the right thing. We are the youngest and fastest growing segment of the population. We are the future of this country. Educating our youth and supporting their full potential must be a national priority."
Shannen Koostachin was a young girl from Attawapiskat First Nation who advocated strongly and actively for a safe school for her community and support for First Nations students. Rather than a school trip, she organized her fellow students to come to Ottawa to speak to the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs and take part in the AFN's Day of Action on Parliament Hill. On the steps of Parliament Hill, she delivered a message with great strength and conviction asking the federal government to give First Nations children a proper education. Tragically, Shannen passed away in 2010 at the age of 15. Her legacy is the Shannen's Dream initiative. April 27 has been declared a Day of Action in support of Shaennen's Dream with rallies and activities in various parts of the country.
The AFN has set First Nation education as a national priority and it is one of four key priorities for the election campaign. First Nations students receive on average $2,000-3,000 per year less in education support than other students in Canada and in some regions the inequity is far greater. More than 50 First Nation schools are unsafe or condemned. Essential supports like libraries and computers are not funded. In a speech to the Canadian Club of Toronto earlier this month, the National Chief called on all political parties to commit to equitable and guaranteed support for First Nations. He noted that while the parties have been quick to commit to 6.6% rate of growth for provincial services, First Nations have been held at only 2 % growth for over a decade.
The National Chief stated: "We can no longer try to rationalize or justify unequal and unfair treatment for our youth, who are already among the most vulnerable in this country. We know that education is the key to unlock the full potential of our people. We owe it to ourselves, we owe it to our youth and we owe it to the memory of Shannen Koostachin to work together for a better, stronger Canada for all of us."
The National Chief is convening a Town Hall on the 2011 Federal Election at the University of Toronto this evening and has invited representatives from all parties to attend to discuss their approach to First Nation issues. They will be asked about First Nation education as part of the discussion.
More information on the AFN's Town Hall on the 2011 Federal Election can be found at:
http://www.afn.ca/uploads/files/townhall-v9.pdf
More information on Shannen's Dream and the Day of Action can be found at:
http://www.fncfcs.com/shannensdream
The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada. Follow AFN and National Chief Atleo on Twitter @AFN_Updates, @AFN_Comms and @NCAtleo.
For further information:
Jenna Young, AFN Communications Officer 613-241-6789, ext 401 or jyoung[at]afn.ca
Alain Garon, AFN Bilingual Communications Officer (613) 241-6789, ext 382 or agaron[at]afn.ca
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Students march for First Nations equality
By Matthew Pearson - April 23, 2011
Along with teacher Annie Atnikov, top right, students from Lady Evelyn Alternative School in Old Ottawa East wave the letters they've written to the prime minister, which they plan to carry to Parliament Hill on a march next week.
Inspired by a Cree teen who dreamed of attending a safe, comfortable school in her isolated James Bay community, hundreds of Ottawa students will march on Parliament Hill Wednesday to demand the federal government provide First Nations children on reserves with equal access to education.
"It makes no sense to them that there's such an inequality in Canada," said Danielle Fontaine, the Grade 3 and 4 teacher at Lady Evelyn Alternative School.
The Parliament Hill rally is part of a national day of action in memory of Shannen Koostachin, an aboriginal teen killed in a car crash last May.
For years, the children of her hometown of Attawapiskat, a fly-in First Nations community, have waited for the federal government to rebuild the elementary school, which was closed in 2000 after a large diesel spill contaminated the ground beneath it. A smattering of portables were installed as a temporary solution, but years of neglect have not been kind to them. Some have no heat, forcing students to wear winter coats inside. Others have fire doors that are warped or frozen shut in winter.
Frustrated and feeling abandoned, the children launched a letter-writing campaign, calling on the government to build them a new school. They also turned to Facebook and YouTube to reach non-aboriginal students across the country, urging them to support the cause.
In 2008, the Grade 8 class cancelled a trip to Niagara Falls and used the money to send three representatives to Ottawa to meet face-to-face with Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl.
"They decided, rather than go on a class trip, they were going to go confront the government," said Charlie Angus, the Member of Parliament for Timmins-James Bay.
Koostachin was one of them. The 13-year-old demanded action from Strahl, convened a news conference with national media and later gave a raw and rousing speech at a conference in Toronto. She was soon nominated for the International Children's Peace Prize and the campaign is the subject of a documentary produced by Heartspeak, a youth engagement organization.
Koostachin eventually moved south, where she lived with Angus's family, to attend a non-native high school. She was living with another family in New Liskeard when she died.
"I cry every day about Shannen," Angus said.
In the days following her death -amid waves of grief -individuals and organizations from across the country began connecting. No one could let Koostachin's message die with her, so Shannen's Dream was born. The campaign's goal is to raise public awareness about the plight of reserve schools and address the lack of funding.
"People need to realize what's been happening," Angus said.
Like many, Fontaine said she was shocked when she learned more about the situation. "I haven't been able to sleep since I heard about Shannen's Dream," she said.
Learning about the dire conditions in Attawapiskat has given 11-year-old Zoe Bevan a whole new appreciation for her school and its stocked library shelves, bright gymnasium and warm classrooms.
"The children in Attawapiskat should be the ones complaining, not us," she said.
Her classmate, Ian Bourrie, said he worried it might be hard for young people from the community to find jobs if they don't get a proper education.
Madeline Cuillerier, another Grade 6 student, added the government has continually broken its promise to fix the school.
"They have enough money to build a school, but they just choose to spend it on other things that aren't as important," she said.
More than 50 schools on First Nation reserves across Canada have been closed or condemned or are operating in substandard condition, Angus said. He introduced a motion in the House of Commons last fall calling on the government to close the funding gap for the schools and says it will be his first order of business if he's re-elected May 2.
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GIVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL CANADIAN CHILDREN
Letter to the Editor - Ken Coran President, Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation
April 23, 2011
Canada has a proud tradition of nurturing a public education system that as become the envy of the world. But what often goes unmentioned is that our country is failing to provide the same opportunities for all our children.
Students in First Nations communities are denied opportunities to learn in safe and comfortable environments with access to basic school resources that kids and their families in the rest of the country take for granted.
This is not fair and this is not the Canadian way.
The federal Conservative government has long promised increased funding for First Nations schools to put them on par with other schools across the country, yet they have failed to keep their promise.
On April 27 there will be a day of action to call on all federal parties to commit to providing equal access to education for children in First Nations communities.
This event also recognizes the dream of the late Shannen Koostachin of Attawapiskat First Nation, who tragically died in a car accident at the age of 15.
Shannen had been an inspirational advocate for safe and comfortable schools and culturally-based education for First Nations students.
I urge fellow members of the community to support Shannen's dream and ask candidates in our riding to support it as well.