User:Jmccrossin/sandbox
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Shannen's Dream is a Canadian youth driven movement advocating for equitable education funding between on reserve schools funded by the Canadian federal government and off-reserve schools funded by provincial governments[1][2][3][4][5]. In particular, it advocates for the building of safe and "comfy" schools in the many reserve communities that do not have proper elementary schools. The movement was named in honour of Shannen Koostachin, a young activist from the community of Attawapiskat and a nominee for the 2008 International Children's Peace Prize. Shannen died in a car accident at the age of 15 in 2010.
Shannen Koostachin
[edit]Shannen Koostachin was born in Attawapiskat First Nation on James Bay coast, Ontario to Andrew Koostachin and Jenny Nakogee. She attended J.R. Nakogee elementary school, which had been housed in makeshift portables since 2000, when it was condemned and closed due to a decades-old fuel leak.[6] [7] In 2007, the federal government backed away from a third commitment to building a real school for Attawapiskat’s children, and in response Shannen and others turned to Youtube and Facebook to launch the Students Helping Students campaign for a school for Attawapiskat.[8][9] Shannen spoke out about the experiences of her community in newspapers, at conferences, and on the steps of Parliament Hill. In 2008, at the age of 14, she was nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize.[10] She and her older sister Serena moved hundreds of kilometres away from Attawapiskat, to New Liskeard, Ontario, for high school. She died on June 1, 2010 in a car accident.[11]
Shannen's Dream Campaign
[edit]After Shannen's death, those who had participated in the Students Helping Students campaign wanted to continue Shannen's fight. Shannen's Dream was formed, and is one of many social justice campaigns carried out by the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society.[12] Shannen's Dream is a student and youth focused campaign designed to raise awareness about inequitable funding for Aboriginal students, and encourages supporters to write letters to their MP, to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, and to the Prime Minister of Canada. To accompany this movement, Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus reintroduced Shannen's Dream as Motion 201 to the House of Commons of Canada on September 26, 2011.[13] On February 27, 2012, the House of Commons unanimously voted in favour of the motion.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Chapter 4 - Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - Elementary and secondary education". 2000 April Report of the Auditor General of Canada. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
- ^ "The Funding Requirement for First nations Schools in Canada" (PDF). Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
- ^ "Chapter 4- Programs for First Nations on Reserves" (PDF). 2011 June Status Report of the Auditor General of Canada. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
- ^ "Nurturing the Learning Spirit of First Nations Students" (PDF). The National Panel on First Nations Elementary and Secondary Education for Students on Reserve. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
- ^ "Chapter 5 – Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - Education program and post-secondary student support". 2004 November Report of the Auditor General of Canada. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
- ^ Goyette, Linda. "Still Waiting in Attawapiskat". Canadian Geographic. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
- ^ Rebecca Lindell (November 29, 2011). "Putting Attawapiskat on the map". Global News. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
- ^ Brenda Bozlo (February 28, 2008). "Attawapiskat School Fight". Retrieved December 7, 2011.
- ^ "Attawapiskat Children Fight for a School". Facebook. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
- ^ Gloria Galloway (November 17, 2011). "Teen takes up late cousin's call to improve native schools". Ottawa: The Globe and Mail. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
- ^ "Book of Memories for Shannen Koostachin". Buffam Leveille Funeral Home Ltd. June 1, 2010. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
- ^ "Shannen's Dream". First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada. 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
- ^ "Debates of Sept. 26, 2011". OpenParliament.ca. September 26, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
- ^ "House of Commons". 41st Parliament, 1st Session. 84. February 27, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.