NEWS RELEASE
MP CHARLIE ANGUS
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OTTAWA - Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus spoke in Parliament today to pay tribute to the late Cree youth leader Shannen Koostachin who passed away ten years ago today in a terrible highway accident. Shannen is known for the Shannen's Dream Campaign to end systemic underfunding of First Nation schools.
Although she was only 15 when she died, she had developed a national reputation as a fiery and passionate fighter for the rights of First Nation children. Her fight to get a proper school built for children in Attawapiskat led to the largest, youth-driven civil rights movement in Canadian history.
Angus says her story is worth celebrating. "It is really important to tell the story of Shannen. She has become a role model to youth across the country. She teaches us that change is possible and that young people can make a difference."
Since her death, Shannen's story continues to inspire youth activists from across the country. She is the subject of two books and a full length movie. There is a statue dedicated to her in New Liskeard. She has been recognized as one of the 150 most influential women in Canadian history.
Angus says this is an amazing legacy. "In her short life, she made Canadians wake up to the fundamental injustices faced by a generation of First Nation kids in the north. It is quite the legacy for someone who just wanted what every other kid in this country takes for granted, the chance to go to a proper school."
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