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The South Marysburgh Mirror ROOTS + WINGS HAPPENINGS AT ST. PHILIP'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, MILFORD Justice and Equity in First Nations Education By Paula Walker & Fran Larkin Shannen Koostachin was a resident of At- tawapiskat who, at age 13, started a national cam- paign for safe and comfy schools and culturally based education for First Nations children and youth. Tragically, Shannen died in a car crash in May of 2010 when she was only 15, but her campaign continues under the name, "Shannen's Dream". To paraphrase Bishop Peter Mason's wel- coming remarks, "We come out to hear some speakers be- cause we want to. We come out to hear speakers be- cause we need to. | suspect that this eve- address falls latter cate- Dr. Marlene Brant Castellano, noted Cana- dian aboriginal educator, writer, speaker, recipient of many national service awards - including the Or- der of Canada, and an unyielding advocate for the rights of First Nations Peoples had a mighty, if dis- turbing, message for those gathered at St. Philip's Anglican Church in Milford, Ontario on June 7th. Quietly passionate and sometimes emotional, she articulated the history of a sadly deficient education system for aboriginal children. Thankfully the emotionally scarring residen- tial schools have gone. However, in many First Na- tions communities the current educational facilities are sub-standard. Compared with off-reserve pupils, First Nations students receive between $2,000 and $3,000 less per person per year in educational fund- ing. Run down buildings with inadequate heating and washroom facilities, never mind the lack of a library, computer and science labs, or a gymnasium are common in remote areas. Teachers are fre- quently inexperienced new graduates from the south with no knowledge of the history or culture of the children they teach. They stay a year or so then move on to better working and living conditions somewhere else. Often no secondary schools exist in more remote communities so children are sent off to cen- trally located high schools. If they have had a poor academic beginning, many native children lack the basic skills to cope with high school level work. Far from home and family in a culture they can't relate to and struggling to manage their workload, many just give up - tragically, some take their own lives. The drop out rate for native youth is 50%. What a terrible waste of all that potential! The issues of First Nations Peoples, including education, are not simple and have been further complicated by government indifference and broken promises. Money gets thrown at the problems hap- hazardly, but no cohesive plan, or means of evaluat- ing programs, has been worked out in collaboration (Continued on Page 15) “1812 Market” Fish Fry Dinner: wo ens at 5 Free Admission! Opens at ved at 6 pm 11am to4 pm er for sale Music by The Frere Brothers Adu Children (under 10): $10 Silent Auction, Laura Secord dessert, Costum: welcome! Reservations Required 613-476-8392