As we approach September 30th, we’re spotlighting some remarkable Indigenous Canadians who have helped young people in Canada, both in their communities and nation-wide.
Shannen Koostachin
Shannen Koostachin was a young Cree education activist from Attawapiskat First Nation, Ontario. During elementary school, her classes were held in portable trailers due to a gas leak in the late ‘70s that polluted the school, and had not been properly fixed and cleaned.
Shannen and other youth in the community advocated for “safe and comfy schools.” She used social media platforms to encourage Indigenous and non-Indigenous kids across the country to write letters to the government, asking for change and equal opportunities for every student.
Koostachin passed away from a car accident before her sixteenth birthday. ‘Shannen’s Dream‘ (a youth focused movement with the aim to bring awareness to the unfair funding for Indigenous children’s education) was founded in 2010.
Sheila Watt-Cloutier
Sheila Watt-Cloutier is an Inuk activist who has worked on a range of social and environmental issues affecting Inuit, most recently, persistent organic pollutants and global warming.
Watt-Cloutier has been vital in raising awareness about the impact of climate change on Inuit communities. A nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize for her work linking climate change to human rights, her advocacy also focuses on the rights and well-being of Inuit youth.
She has received numerous other awards, including The Right Livelihood Award “for her lifelong work to protect the Inuit of the Arctic and defend their right to maintain their livelihoods and culture, which are acutely threatened by climate change.”
Maria Campbell
Maria Campbell is a Métis author, playwright, broadcaster, filmmaker, and Elder, who has been a strong advocate for Métis and Indigenous youth, emphasizing the importance of cultural identity and storytelling.
She is more commonly known as the author of Halfbreed, a memoir which describes her own experiences as a Métis woman in society and the difficulties she has faced.
Maria has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, the Gabriel Dumont Institute Order of Merit, and honorary doctorates from several Canadian universities.
