Long a fervent champion of the right of Indigenous youth to equal access to education, both on-and off-reserve, Charlie Angus will bring the story of Shannen’s Dream to hundreds of BC teachers attending the Aboriginal Education Association of BC (AEABC) annual conference this Friday, October 24, 2025.

Throughout two decades representing Kapuskasing—Timmins—Mushkegowuk (formerly Timmins—James Bay) as its Member of Parliament, Angus represented the James Bay Cree people living on of some of the most remote and impoverished reserves in the country, reserves like Attawapiskat, where the school was contaminated with diesel fuel leaving students and staff suffering a great range of ill health impacts for decades. One brave student, Shannen Koostachin, was so determined to get a new school for the fellow children of her community that she inspired Angus to champion her cause and thousands of children across Canada to join in her campaign.

Angus is the author of nine books. This includes Children of the Broken Treaty, about Shannen’s Dream, the social justice campaign started in her memory, and Angus’s parliamentary motion on equal education rights that was passed unanimously in the House of Commons in 2012. He is a songwriter and musician with the Juno-nominated Grievous Angels; a grassroots activist and leader with The Resistance; and host of the Meidas Canada.

BC teachers are committed to education for reconciliation, conscious that the truth of our shared history must be taught and learned before we can take the path to reconciliation. The AEABC conference also offers workshops on a range of issues in Indigenous education and highlights art, activism and allyship. AEABC is a professional specialist association of the BC Teachers’ Federation.

When: 9:00 a.m. on Friday, October 24, 2025
Where: Langley Fine Arts School, 9096 Trattle Street, Langley Township
Media contact: Nancy Knickerbocker, 778-877-5425, nknickerbocker@bctf.ca