Friday, February 11, 2011

Teacher Teach Us This For Nican Tlaca Indigenous People - Identity, Mexican, Aztec, Maya, Archeological, Sites, Hispanic, Latino, Indigenous, Native, American, Accomplishements, Contribution - sciencestage.com Agricultural science

Teacher Teach Us This For Nican Tlaca Indigenous People - Identity, Mexican, Aztec, Maya, Archeological, Sites, Hispanic, Latino, Indigenous, Native, American, Accomplishements, Contribution - sciencestage.com Agricultural science

Teacher Teach Us This For Nican Tlaca Indigenous People

Safe & Comfy Schools ~ Shannen's Dream

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Shannen's Dream - Please add your name as a supporter...
Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2011 12:20:52 -0500


WATCH VIDEO ON APTN

Hi Everyone,

Please join this campaign, and forward this email to all of your contacts!

Go to the website below and add your name to the list of supporters of Shannen's dream. Shannen Koostachin was a young student from the Attawapiskat First Nation

who led the Attawapiskat School Campaign, a movement for “safe and comfy” schools and quality, culturally-based education for First Nations children.

In May 2009, Shannnen died in a car accident. With the support of her loving family, friends and community, Shannen’s Dream is a campaign named in her memory to make sure all First Nations children across Canada have “safe and comfy schools” and receive a good quality education that makes them proud of who they are.

To watch the videos of students from Attiwapiskat speaking passionately about their school and community, go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykSWHs7c7-I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy13SYkBYEQ&feature=related

To add your name to the growing list of supporters, go to this link:

http://www.fncfcs.com/shannensdream/supporters

Here is more background information about Shannen and the campaign...

Shannen Koostachin, of Attawapiskat First Nation, led the Attawapiskat School Campaign, a movement for “safe and comfy” schools and quality, culturally-based education for First Nations children.

Shannen knew just how hard it was to learn in an on reserve school that was under-resourced. The only elementary school for the 400 children in Attawapiskat was closed as thousands of gallons of diesel fuel contaminated the ground under the school. The federal government put portable trailers on the play ground of the contaminated school as a “temporary school” until a new one could be built. Nine years later there was still no sign of a new school.

Shannen never went to class in a proper school, and the portables became more run down over time. The heat would often go off, the children would have to walk outside in the cold to go from one portable to another and the doors were warped. The children of Attawapiskat launched the Attawapiskat School Campaign to reach out to non-Aboriginal children all across Canada to write to the federal government and demand a new school for Attwapiskat.

Thousands of children answered the call and three Ministers of Indian Affairs promised a new school and then broke their promise. The children kept writing. When the Minister of Indian Affairs, Chuck Strahl, wrote in 2008 to say the federal government could not fund a new school, the grade 8 class cancelled their graduation trip to Niagara Falls and used the money to send three youth, including Shannen, down to meet with Minister Strahl to demand a new school.

Minister Strahl said the government could not afford a new school. Shannen told the Minister she would never give up, because the younger children in her community deserve a proper school. She kept her promise. Shannen spoke to thousands of people asking for their help to ensure every child got a good education and a “comfy” school. She was an inspiring speaker and a remarkable leader. She made a compelling speech at an education rights conference hosted by the children of Attawapiskat and attended by 500 other children at the University of Toronto in 2009. She was nominated as an ambassador for the children of Attawapiskat at the International Children’s Peace Prize given out by the Nobel Laureates.

In May 2009, Shannnen Koostachin died in an automobile accident. With the support of her loving family, friends and community, Shannen’s Dream is a campaign named in her memory to make sure all First Nations children across Canada have “safe and comfy schools” and receive a good quality education that makes them proud of who they are.

Please do what you can to support the campaign for a quality education for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students. They should have access to the same education that all other Canadian kids do!

WATCH VIDEO OF CINDY BLACKSTONE OF DILA TALK OF WHAT YOU CAN DO IN UNDER 7 MINUTES TO SUPPORT

Thanks,
Jacqui Strachan