Carol Hughes calls for action on equality for First Nations children
BLIND RIVER—Four days before the historic Have a Heart Day on Parliament Hill, Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes will be hosting a screening of the film, ‘Hi-Ho Mistahey,’ and calling for an end to discrimination against Canada’s First Nations children.
‘Hi-Ho Mistahey’ is based on the true story of education advocate Shannen Koostachin whose dream of comfy schools and culturally based education for First Nations youth inspired the Shannen’s Dream movement.
“We know that indigenous children have been discriminated against historically and it continues to this day,” said Ms. Hughes, in a release. “What makes this so wrong is that Canada has the capacity and the resources to stop the chronic underfunding of services for Indigenous Youth.”
Have a Heart Day is a youth-led campaign that mobilizes caring Canadians to help ensure First Nations children have the service they need to grow up safely at home, get a good education, be healthy, and be proud of who they are. This movie screening was scheduled to coincide with this effort in order to amplify the demand for action from the federal government. It is part of a concentrated effort by New Democrats across the country to draw attention to First Nation’s issues.
“We only ask that First Nations children receive the same services that every other child in our country receives. We hope this screening will help draw awareness to this discrimination and push the government to act,” said Ms. Hughes.
The film screening will take place on Friday, February 10, 6:30 pm at the Timber Village Museum in Blind River.
Have a heart Day takes place on Tuesday, February 14.
