In 2010, Lisa and her students met Cindy Blackstock of the First Nations Family and Child Caring Society (Caring Society). Cindy told them about a young woman named Shannen Koostachin who had passed away a few months ago in a car accident when she was only 15 years old. Shannen was from Attawapiskat First Nation in Treaty 9 territory, on the east side of James Bay. Shannen and her classmates had spent all of their lives going to school in makeshift, run down portables due to a gas leak at the community school 10 years before. Despite promises from the federal government that a new school would be built, Shannen and her friends continued to be denied of a proper school in their community. Shannen also knew that the federal government underfunded schools on-reserve by 30-50% less than provincially funded schools off reserve. Shannen spoke out about the experiences of her community in newspapers, at conferences, and on the steps of Parliament Hill in 2008. In 2009, at the age of 14, she was nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize . Her dream to help all kids have “comfy schools” with culturally relevant education that they could be proud of inspired students across Canada. Shannen’s Dream was born.

Shannen inspired Lisa’s students to start learning about past and current injustices towards Indigenous people and communities. They learned about Jordan River Anderson, and inequitable healthcare. They even made a public Service announcement about Jordan’s Principle! They learned about First Nations children in child welfare, taken from their families, and went to the Canadian Human RIghts Tribunal and to the Federal Court MANY times to bear witness. They learned about Indian Residential Schools and listened to the stories of courageous survivors. They learned from Gladys Radek, founder of Tears for Justice, who walked across Canada four times to raise awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. They learned about colonialism and they unlearned the stories they thought they knew. They spoke on Parliament Hill, they wrote letters to the Government, and they spoke at the TRC education days and teacher conferences. Some of Lisa’s students even went to Fort Albany First Nation for an exchange trip. There, they were welcomed by the community and learned from them.

Over the years, Lisa and her students were able to learn so much from Elders, community members, artists, activists, and teachers. They even got to write articles in an academic journal! And they named one of Spirit Bears Sisters, “Memegwe Bear”, which means “butterfly” in Anishinaabemowin. Lisa and her students were honoured with a “Child’s Rights Supporter Award” from the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of the Child in 2013. In 2014, they received the Peter Henderson Bryce Award from the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society. You can read more below about Lisa and her students learning and actions.