First Nation youth inspires education reform efforts

TIMMINS – Shannen Koostachin had a dream – that all First Nation children should be able to get an education in clean, “comfy” schools just as non-Native children. Sadly the 15-year-old Cree youth wouldn’t live to see her dream become a reality, after perishing in a tragic car accident in May. Despite her loss, Shannen’s Dream is inspiring others to carry on the fight.

This weekend, New Democrat MPs Charlie Angus (Timmins—James Bay) and Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan) will attend the Shannen Koostachin Memorial Youth Gathering being held in Attawapiskat. They hope to work with youth to carry on Shannen’s inspiring work.

In her short life, Shannen established a national reputation as a feisty young activist who simply wanted the government to live up to its commitment to build a grade school in her home of Attawapiskat, which is a remote fly-in community on the James Bay coast. Charlie Angus says Shannen opened the eyes of many Canadians to the inequality faced by First Nation students.

“Shannen inspired people to get involved and make change. I have spoken with First Nations, labour and education leaders who want Shannen’s dream to become a reality. We need to fix, once and for all, the sub-standard education system kids are faced with on Canada’s reserves.”

Shannen was one of the student leader’s in the Attawapiskat School Campaign, a fight to get a grade school built for 400 children attending classes in shoddy portables on a badly-contaminated brownfield. At the age of 14 she was nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize.

NDP Aboriginal Affairs Critic Jean Crowder says time has come to end the discriminatory standards in First Nation education.

“Every province has an Education Act that guarantees a clear set of education rights. First Nation children, however, are bound by the Indian Act that allows the Minister to decide whether or not schools will be built. This is unacceptable.”

Angus says he hopes to work with Attawapiskat youth on a campaign called “Shannen’s Dream” which will help establish equitable education standards for children on reserve.