SooToday.com has received the following letter of concern for the situation in Attiwapiskat from Marie DellaVedova, Political Advocacy Representative for the Retired Teachers of Ontario, District 3.
She tells us that the Retired Teachers of Ontario is the primary voice of retired teachers in the province and that they have been expressing concern over the dire situation in Attiwapiskat for some time now.
They are supporting the Shannen's Dream campaign that works toward equitable education for all First Nations children in First Nations communities.
To that end, members of Retired Teachers of Ontario have written letters to the Prime Minister of Canada as well as their Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing members of Parliament to also support Shannen's Dream.
DellaVedova asks that we publish her letter so that people will become aware of the distressing conditions in First Nations schools due to the funding discrepancy that exists between First Nations schools and provincial schools, as they are also becoming aware of the other elements of the horrendous conditions in Attiwapiskat.
She wants readers to know that there has been no school in Attiwapiskat, an isolated, fly-in community, for many years now and what that means to the children.
*************************
Shannen's Dream
As the whole world is now painfully aware, the situation in Attawapiskat is horrendous and inhumane.
Aside from the deplorable living conditions, which threaten the lives of the inhabitants, there is the inconceivable school situation.
District 3 Algoma of the Retired Teachers of Ontario is advocating for the students of Attawapiskat and all First Nations schools.
We implore the federal government to act now to build the Attawapiskat school that has been promised and cancelled several times.
We are alarmed that federal funding for Aboriginal schools is $2000 to $3000 less per child than that which is provincially funded to provincial schools.
Our federal government does not provide core funding for special education, school boards, governance or education research.
It does not provide funding for principals, directors, pedagogical support or the development of culturally appropriate curricula.
There is no funding for libraries, computers, software or teacher training, and no funding for extra curricular activities.
Moreover, there are many serious health concerns in Canada’s First Nations schools: Overcrowding, extreme mould, high carbon dioxide levels, sewage fumes, frozen pipes, unheated portables, students suffering from frostbite and cold.
Bleak deplorable conditions persist.
Our federal government subjects First Nations children to an unsafe, inequitable education because of its chronic underfunding.
It is distressing that these conditions exist under our government’s watch. In June of 2011 First Nations children felt compelled to appeal to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) to investigate inequalities in First Nations elementary and secondary education.
Their report is titled” Our Dreams Matter Too”. On October 24 a scathing report entitled Honouring the Children was issued jointly by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada (Caring Society) and KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives in their submission to the UNCRC about Canada’s neglectful treatment of indigenous children, youth and their families.
We want our government to support Shannen’s Dream. Shannen Koostachin was a courageous young activist in Attawapiskat.
She led a movement for what she called “safe and comfy” schools and quality culturally based education for all First Nations children.
Tragically, in 2010, at the age of 15, Shannen died in an automobile accident.
Shannen’s Dream is a campaign named in her memory to make sure all First Nations children have “safe and comfy schools” and receive a good quality education that makes them proud of who they are.
In November 2010 Shannen Koostachin was recognized posthumously through the Children’s Rights Award from the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children for her exemplary efforts to respect the rights of children as described in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
And still there is no school in Attawapiskat.
District 3 Algoma calls upon the federal government to support Shannen’s Dream and end the double standard that exists between First Nations schools and other schools.
It is imperative that our government provides equitable funding and proper resources and facilities so that ALL children in Canada have the opportunity for a good education.
Marie DellaVedova
Political Advocacy Representative
RTO/ERO District 3 Algoma
*************************
More local news
Browse local flyers
Weather forecast
Find local deals
View local webcams
Verified Commenter, please