School is a Time for Dreams
March - April
School is a Time for Dreams invites people from all over the country to support equitable education for First Nations and all young peoples in Canada, and honour Shannen's legacy.
Every child in Canada has a right to quality education, but for First Nations children, this right is not always upheld. Many young First Nations peoples and children do not get the same opportunities to learn or to achieve their dreams as others do because of the inequities in education for First Nations in education. Shannen Koostachin is the founder of Shannen's Dream for safe and comfy schools. She wanted all First Nations children to be able to live their dreams.
While on-reserve schools are required to deliver the same curriculum and services as provincial and territorial public schools, they are not provided with the same funding. In fact, schools on reserves, which are funded by the federal government, get significantly less funding per student than provincially and territorially funded public schools. This means that First Nations children and youth across Canada are denied a proper education and adequate support because they are First Nations and living on a reserve.
Ways to Participate:
Step One: Education
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Learn about who Shannen Koostachin was and her dream with your class or community organization.
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Read Shannen Koostachin's letter she wrote to the Government of Canada so that all children can have access to safe and comfy schools.
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Read Spirit Bear Fishing for Knowledge, Catching Dreams. Soon, you can watch the film that shares this story.
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Read the information sheet Shannen's Dream: Safe and Comfy Schools.
Step Two: Spread Awareness
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To promote the awareness of Shannen's Dream, you can share your dream, "When I grow up, I want to be..." with others in your classroom or community organization. You can also share your dream on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using the hashtags #ShannensDream #RêvedeShannen.
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To spread more awareness of Shannen's Dream, children and youth can also make posters or even create a Public Service Announcement (PSA) and share them with their school or community organization.
Step Three: Take Action
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Send letters to your elected officials so that all First Nations children in Canada can live their dreams and have access to equitable education, too!
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Host a Shannen's Dream gathering sometime throughout the months of March and April. You can even host it on Shannen's Dream Day of Action. This can be an assembly or an event where students, children, and youth can stand tall and take action by sharing their voices where decision makers can also be invited to attend.
Reconciliation is all of us. Read this information sheet for ways you can help make a difference.
