i can't read

the kids are alright

This media release was forwarded to us from the office of Charlie Angus, the Member of Parliament for Timmins - James Bay.

ATTAWAPISKAT SCHOOL BATTLE NOMINATED FOR INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S PEACE PRIZE.

Thirteen-year-old Shannen Koostachin has been nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize for her fight to get a school built in her impoverished Cree community of Attawapiskat. Earlier this spring, Koostachin gained national attention when she challenged Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl over his refusal to honour a federal commitment to build a school in Attawapiskat.

NDP MP Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay) says Koostachin has inspired young people across Canada to fight the second-class treatment of on reserve children.

"Children shouldn’t have to mount an international campaign just to get a school built," said Angus. "Shannen has emerged as a voice for the so-called ‘forgotten children’ of Attawapiskat. She has reached out to students across Canada to help in the fight."

Cindy Blackstock of the First Nation’s Child and Family Caring Society nominated Koostachin for the award that is overseen by the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates.

"The Children’s Peace Prize is given to children who have made a significant contribution to advancing children’s rights," said Angus. "The government of Canada seems to have forgotten that the right to a proper education is a fundamental human right. But Shannen isn’t content to be treated as a second-class citizen. She has emerged as an inspiring young leader who is waging a fight that has international significance."

Last month, Shannen and three other Attawapiskat students put the government of Canada on notice that they intend to challenge Canada at the upcoming review of Canada’s obligations under the UN Rights of the Child Convention.

"Minister Strahl told me he had other priorities than building a school. Maybe he thinks we will just lose hope and give up. But I was always taught by my parents to stand up and speak for what I believe in. I told him the children won’t give up. We will keep moving forward, walking proud in our moccasins until we are given justice."

The nomination package for Shannen Koostachin includes numerous supporting letters from education associations, First Nation organizations and individual teachers in both the separate and public boards of Ontario.

our own voice

Just because we have learning challenges does not make us any different then anyone else. We have a right to learn and be the best that we can be. The community of literacy is all about adult learners and it is a wonderful mixture of the peoples of Canada; but haven't you found that we are always spoken for, thought for, and done for? I believe we have a right to our own representation and our own voice. What do you think?

By Patricia Ashie

someone there to answer questions

What do you think helps people learn best?
1 comfortable with the people around you.
2 you need to feel safe.
3 Having computers available
4 Have someone there to answer questions.
5 clear instructions.
6 having a goal.

Does your program do all of those things?
My program can do all those things except having a goal. It would be up to me although our programs can help me with it.

by Ida

speaking up for attawapiskat

My name is Elishia, I'm new to this course, but not alpha route.

I like to experience new things and opportunities. Explore new subjects and meet new people. In my future I would like to help kids learn. Help them get taught, and have the same thing a lot of kids have right now. An education.

You've probably recently seen a video about kids being in a school which has an oil spill and the kids were in that school for eight years. Until the kids started to get sick and parents started to take their kids out of that school. Its a school for youths ages, most likely from six to fourteen.

And for When Learners Speak we need to learn and speak for this. The community is still fighting to this day is trying to get a new school built. Fianances and everything was approved, but then Chuck Strahl Indian Affairs Minister. His office sqeezed back $109 million as of 2007. I've learned from this, and I'm speaking up for whats right. The most we can do to help the ones in need is learn and speak up smile thats all and hope to learn and speak up with everyone.

see yous on the way..... Happy Learnings with yous all.