Mr. Speaker, this morning, the member for Papineau and I were proud to attend the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada event, Our Dreams Matter Too, at Victoria Island.
I would like to read to the House the poignant words of Raiyah Patel, a young student from Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School in Gatineau, who welcomed us there. She said:
Welcome elders, community leaders, teachers and fellow students to Our Dreams Matter Too.
We meet here today on traditional Algonquin territory to remember, to dream, and to walk.
June 11th has special meaning because it marks the anniversary of the Canadian government's apology for residential schools, and their terrible effects on First Nations children.
If we forget our history, we will never be able to correct our mistakes.
So on this day we remember the apology, but this apology has meaning only if First Nations children have opportunities, can grow up happily in their homes, have a good education, be healthy and have pride in their culture.
Shannen Koostachin had dreams and hopes, and only wanted what many Canadian children take for granted: a good education and a nice school.
Shannen's dream still inspires us, and today we walk in her memory and with her hopes in our heart—