http://netnewsledger.com/2012/02/03/no-one-should-ever-have-to-walk-in-our-moccasins-again-youth-delegates-head-to-geneva/

[3 February 2012] - The young people are headed to Europe. Six First Nations youth ambassadors from across Canada are meeting with the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), a group that monitors Canada’s implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, on February 6, 2012 in Geneva.

The youth will ask the UNCRC to pressure the Canadian Government to end the inequities in First Nations education, health, child welfare, and culture and language programs.

The goal is to ensure that First Nations children get the same chance as other Canadian children to grow up safely at home, go to good schools, be healthy and proud of who they are.

Helen Knott (age 24) from Prophet River First Nation, BC stated, “When I look at our First Nations youth and children I see potential, possibilities and resiliency. The Federal Government needs to see that too and begin to view our children, not as dollar signs, but as children who deserve to be invested in.”

Chelsea Edwards (age 16) from Attawapiskat First Nation in Ontario and youth spokesperson for the Shannen’s Dream campaign for First Nations education said “As Shannen said ‘no one should ever have to walk in our moccasins again.’ It’s time for the government to step up and deliver on their signed commitments for “safe and comfy” schools for First Nations children.”

15 year old Collin Starblanket from the Star Blanket Cree First Nation in Saskatchewan is going to tell the UN how important Treaty recognition and culture are to First Nations children.

He also stresses that “Creating bridges to our gaps will help build more understanding and it will also help create a better future for the generations yet to come”.

Solutions to the inequities exist and because Canada has not implemented them,

Kendall White (age 17) from Temagami First Nation in Ontario remarked “I’m going to Geneva to address issues with First Nations youth and to implement a positive change so future generations can live life to the fullest without the boundaries.”

John-Paul Chalykoff (age 24) from Michipicoten First Nation, Ontario emphasizes that “I would like people to know that education is suffering for many of these youth and I would like to see the different levels of government (First Nations, Federal, Provincial/Territorial) all work together for the education of First Nations youth.”

Madelynn Slade of (age 22) from the Michel Cree in Alberta says “I want to ensure that the voices and concerns of First Nations youth are heard at an international level.”

The youth will be accompanied by Cindy Blackstock from the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada who notes that “there is absolutely no legitimate reason for a child to get poorer quality government services because they are indigenous in one of the richest countries in the world.”

Further Information:

• CANADA: Human Rights Act amended to include Aboriginal citizens (19 September 2011)
• CANADA: Historic human rights injustice corrected (21 June 2011)
• CANADA: Federal govt seeks to stop hearing on discrimination against indigenous children (2 June 2010) 
• CANADA: Ontario Court decision to jail indigenous leaders fails children (3 April 2008)
• COMPLAINTS MECHANISM: Human Rights Council adopts CRC complaints mechanism
• More on children's rights in Canada

Previous News release items

• 05/02/2012: SOUTH SUDAN: UN voices concern over fresh round of killings in South Sudan
• 05/02/2012: SOUTH SUDAN: DDRC, UNICEF Welcome Release of Child Soldiers
• 04/02/2012: SYRIA: At least 337 dead in Syria army attack on Homs (Arabic)
• 03/02/2012: SYRIA: Children severely tortured in detention
• 03/02/2012: AUSTRALIA: Paediatric expert wants smacking banned

Organisation Contact Details:

NetNewsLedger.com

Last updated 06/02/2012 12:56:32

Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.