A comic book anthology featuring some of Canada’s best comic creators is in the works with the aim of improving First Nation schools.
The 200-page book should be out next spring.
James Waley,the brain child behind the “One Tribe Comic Book Anthology”, says Canadians should be ashamed about the state of education funding on reserves:
“It really affected me, it just seemed like the right thing to do.”
Waley has been involved in lots of fundraisers.
He says Canadians are great in responding to disasters around the world but they should be just as concerned about disasters at home like the sad state of First Nations schools:
“You know this happens right in our own country, it is something we should be so ashamed of.”
He has collaborated with aboriginal and non-aboriginal comic book creators to come up with the anthology.
It will be distributed free to First Nations across Canada and it will be sold in book store and comic book shops around the world.
Proceeds will go towards a fundraising campaign called Shannon’s dream.
Shannon was a 15 year old student on the Attawapiskat First Nation.
She campaigned for what she called safe, comfy and culturally based First Nations schools.
Tragically she died in a car crash four years ago, but her campaign is still alive.
Waley hopes to have the One Tribe comic anthology ready in time for the opening of a school in her honour next March.
He says in addition to raising funds, he hopes the comic book will act as a motivator for First Nations students.
“You know it will be a bit of a role model for students interested in art.
I know Shannon had an interest in art, so that is also part of the thing we are trying to get across.”
Waley says about 95% of the artists working on the project are doing so free of charge.
He says the anthology will be full colour and will feature some First Nation themes.
Other stories will range from humour to horror.
Waley says it will have something for everyone and he expects it will be highly marketable.