Shannen's Dream facts for kids
Shannen's Dream is a special movement in Canada. It's led by young people who want fair education for all First Nations children. In Canada, the government funds schools on reserves. Schools outside reserves get money from provincial governments. Many reports have shown that schools on reserves need more funding.
Shannen's Dream works to get "safe and comfy" schools built on reserves. They also want education that respects the culture of all First Nations children. This movement is named after Shannen Koostachin. She was a young activist from the Attawapiskat First Nation. In 2008, she was even nominated for the International Children's Peace Prize. The story of this campaign is also told in the 2013 documentary film Hi-Ho Mistahey! by Alanis Obomsawin.
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Who Was Shannen Koostachin?
Shannen Noella Jane Koostachin was born on July 12, 1994. She grew up in the Attawapiskat First Nation in Ontario, near James Bay. Shannen went to J. R. Nakogee Elementary School. This school had been in temporary buildings since 2000. The original school building was closed because of a fuel leak that happened many years before.
Shannen's Fight for Education
Shannen soon realized that the government was not giving enough money to First Nations schools across Canada. This is when her dream began. By 2007, the government had promised three times to build a new school for Attawapiskat, but it didn't happen.
In response, Shannen and her friends started the "Students Helping Students" campaign. They used YouTube and Facebook to ask for a new school for Attawapiskat. Shannen spoke out about her community's experiences. She shared their story in newspapers, at meetings, and even on the steps of Parliament Hill in 2008. In 2009, when she was 14, she was nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize.
Shannen's Legacy
Shannen and her older sister, Serena, moved far from Attawapiskat to New Liskeard, Ontario. They went there for high school. Sadly, on June 1, 2010, Shannen died in a car accident.
In 2014, DC Comics created a new superhero character named Equinox. This character was inspired by Shannen. Equinox was 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 to Shannen Koostachin was unveiled in New Liskeard in 2015. It includes a statue of her dressed in traditional clothing. In 2017, Shannen was named one of the 150 greatest Canadians. This list was created to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday. It also included famous Canadians like Terry Fox and Emily Carr.
What is Shannen's Dream Campaign?
After Shannen's death, the young people who had worked with her wanted to keep her fight going. That's how Shannen's Dream was formed. This campaign is part of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society's work for social justice.
Goals of the Campaign
Shannen's Dream is a campaign focused on students and young people. Its main goal is to make people aware that First Nations children do not get fair funding for their education. The campaign encourages supporters to write letters. They write to their Member of Parliament, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, and the Prime Minister of Canada.
Success in Parliament
To support this movement, Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus brought Shannen's Dream 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 for the motion. Everyone agreed to support it.
On June 22, 2012, which would have been Shannen's graduation day, construction began. A new school was started in Attawapiskat. It was named Kattawapiskak Elementary School. This new school officially opened its doors on September 8, 2014.
