Shannen’s Dream honours Koostachin

Shannen Koostachin’s campaign for a new school in Attawapiskat, her accidental death in May and the Shannen’s Dream Campaign is among Wawatay’s youth stories of the year.
“Shannen was tireless in her fight for equitable school rights for First Nation children,” said Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus during the Nov. 17 launch of the Shannen’s Dream campaign. “She became the face of a generation of forgotten First Nation school children. We are carrying on the work she started so that other children will not be left behind.”
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo emphasized this past June that First Nations students receive on average $2,000 less in educational support than other students in Canada.
A young First Nation activist from Attawapiskat who was nominated for an International Children’s Peace Prize, Koostachin passed away May 31 in a car crash.
Shortly after she died, a Facebook page was created called Become a Fan If you think the New School should be named after Shannen.
“Shannen did so much during her young life, her strength and belief in the children of Attawapiskat will always be remembered,” wrote one user on the Facebook page. “Naming the school after Shannen honours what she believed in, the children.”
Koostachin opened the eyes of many Canadians to the inequality faced by First Nation students during her fight with the federal government to build an elementary school for 400 students who had to attend school in drafty portables in her community.
“Shannen’s advocacy helped us see very clearly the impact of underfunding by the federal government on schools in First Nations communities,” said Sam Hammond, president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario. “We’re challenging teachers and students in elementary schools to support the Shannen’s Dream campaign to ensure that every young Canadian – no matter where they live – realizes the same fundamental right to decent schools and education in order to reach their full potential.”
Angus introduced Motion 571 – Shannen’s Dream – this past fall in the House of Commons calling for the right of First Nations children to high-quality, culturally-relevant education, transparency in school construction, maintenance and replacement, and funding that will put reserve schools on par with non-reserve provincial schools.
“Shannen was an inspiring young woman who has been recognized nationally and internationally for her human rights work for education,” Angus said. “I am amazed at how many people are coming forward to make her legacy a reality.”
In 2009, the federal government announced a new school would be built in Attawapiskat.