Shannen's Dream facts for kids
Shannen's Dream is a youth-led movement in Canada. It works to make sure all First Nations children get fair funding for their education. In Canada, the government funds schools on reserves. Schools off-reserve get money from provincial governments. Many reports have shown that schools on reserves need more funding. Shannen's Dream wants "safe and comfy" schools on reserves. They also want education that respects First Nations cultures. This movement is named after Shannen Koostachin. She was a young activist from the Attawapiskat First Nation. She was even nominated for the International Children's Peace Prize in 2008.
The story of this campaign is also told in a 2013 documentary film. It is called Hi-Ho Mistahey! and was made by Alanis Obomsawin.
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Shannen Koostachin: A Young Activist's Story
Shannen Noella Jane Koostachin was born on July 12, 1994. Her home was the Attawapiskat First Nation in Ontario. This community is located on the James Bay coast.
The School Problem in Attawapiskat
Shannen went to J. R. Nakogee Elementary School. Since 2000, this school was held in temporary buildings. The original school building was closed because of a fuel leak. It had been leaking for many years. Shannen soon realized that the government was not giving enough money. This affected First Nations schools across Canada. This is when her dream began.
By 2007, the government had not kept its promise. They had promised three times to build a new school for Attawapiskat. Shannen and others decided to act. They used YouTube and Facebook to start a campaign. It was called "Students Helping Students." They wanted a new school for Attawapiskat.
Shannen's Fight for Fair Education
Shannen spoke out about her community's experiences. She shared their story in newspapers. She also spoke at conferences. In 2008, she even spoke on the steps of Parliament Hill. In 2009, when she was 14, she was nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize.
For high school, Shannen and her older sister Serena moved. They went hundreds of kilometers away from Attawapiskat. They moved to New Liskeard, Ontario. Sadly, Shannen passed away on June 1, 2010. This was due to a car accident.
Her Legacy and Inspiration
Shannen's spirit continues to inspire many. In 2014, DC Comics created a new superhero. The character, named Equinox, was inspired by Shannen. Equinox is a sixteen-year-old First Nations superhero. She appeared in a five-issue story in the Justice League Canada comic book series.
A special monument was built for Shannen Koostachin. It includes a statue of her dressed in traditional clothing. This monument was revealed in New Liskeard in 2015. In 2017, Shannen was named one of 150 greatest Canadians. This list was created to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday. It also includes famous names like Terry Fox.
What is Shannen's Dream Campaign?
After Shannen passed away, her friends wanted to keep her fight going. This led to the creation of Shannen's Dream. It is now one of many social justice campaigns. These campaigns are run by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society.
How the Dream Continued
Shannen's Dream focuses on students and young people. Its goal is to teach others about unfair funding for First Nations children. It encourages supporters to write letters. They can write to their Member of Parliament. They can also write to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and the Prime Minister of Canada.
Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus helped the movement. He brought Shannen's Dream back to the House of Commons of Canada. This happened on September 26, 2011, as Motion 201. On February 27, 2012, the House of Commons voted. They all agreed to support the motion.
Making a Difference: The New School
On June 22, 2012, construction began on a new school in Attawapiskat. This was the day Shannen would have graduated. The new school is called Kattawapiskak Elementary School. It officially opened its doors on September 8, 2014.
