9. The Right to an Identity "Every child has the right to be respected, speak freely or give an honest opinion."

Brooke Charbonneau, a Grade 6 student and Ojibway native shared her story about her grandmother’s ordeal in her presentation on the Right to an Identity to Peel Regional Council. Her grandmother’s brothers were all sent to a residential school. Brooke’s grandmother and her sisters were left to work on the family farm. When they attended the local school, they were struck if they spoke Ojibway. She explained that her grandmother lost her language and part of her own identity was stolen. This is an example of why the Right to an Identity is very important.

Peel's diverse cultural landscape underscores the imortance of this right. According to the 2006 Census, over 500,000 immigrants live in Peel Region. 

The words of the children which underscore the Right to an Identity are, “every child can show who they are”, seeming to point out that there many facets of an identity: our culture; sexual orientation and more. Adults must encourage and support children’s efforts to establish who they are and their right to be distinct from one another.