Canada is celebrated for its contributions to human rights: a beacon of hope for immigrants, a safe haven for refugees, a country of high quality of life. Yet when it comes to the experiences of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, we are hard pressed to deal with a blind spot that has been with us throughout our history.

Canada was a leading force in the 1948 UN Declaration on Human Rights, but denied status Indians the right to vote in federal elections until 1960. Today, Canada is in the top 10 countries on the UN Human Development Index, but First Nations communities ranked 68th, reflecting structural inequities in access to education, housing and clean water.

The myth of meritocracy has been exposed on more than one occasion. Sociologists like Lani Guinier, Stephen McNamee, Robert Miller, and numerous others have pointed out exactly how the promise of meritocracy -- "hard work rewards the deserving" -- is an empty one.

The Assembly of First Nations declared the week of Sept. 20 as the National Week of Action on Education. 

The resumption of Parliament and the vote on the long gun registry overshadowed First Nations' demonstrations, but in the long run the education issue is of greater urgency.

While media were focused on the pointless vote on the gun registry, something of substance was happening in their backyard. At a rally on Parliament Hill, students and their supporters marched and demonstrated from individual First Nations and the First Nations University of Canada. The rally brought out several thousand protesters.

Haitian hip-hop artist Vox Sambou offers an inspiring mix of powerful music and social action, pointing to the great possibilities of blending the arts with community activism. A key hip-hop figure in Montreal, Vox is a member of the celebrated ensemble Nomadic Massive and assisted in launching the Solid'Ayiti initiative after the devastating earthquake hit Haiti last winter.