Unbelievable. Appalling. Horrific. These are adjectives that could be used to describe the contents of Children of the Broken Treaty: Canada's Lost Promise and One Girl's Dream. This book will make readers feel uncomfortable. It's designed to have that effect. Discomfort is the first step to justice, and justice is the first step to recovery and reconciliation.

Member of Parliament Charlie Angus pleads throughout his book that Canada's treatment of Aboriginals is a national shame. One of those most severely affected are the Attawapiskat First Nation in northern Ontario, part of Treaty 9 territory. Educational opportunities are lacking. Suicides are at epidemic proportions.

One Aboriginal girl brings a flicker of hope to otherwise dark circumstances. Shannen Koostachin's dream is to go to a regular school like most children take for granted. She organizes other children and lobbies for a new school.

In 2010, Angus introduces a parliamentary motion – Shannen's Dream motion – in the House of Commons. The motion passes unanimously. Attawapiskat finally gets a new school, fulfilling Shannen's dream.

Related: Read how Shannen Koostachin inspired a comic book character

This 324-page book contains a bibliography, notes, and forty-three black and white photos. Some photos are gruesome, for instance showing a rash on a child's skin caused by bathing in polluted water. In contrast, some photos display the childlike innocence of youth.

Children of the Broken Treaty won two awards at the 2016 Saskatchewan Book Awards – for good reason. Children know when a promise is broken, and they know when someone is lying. Children know the truth. Thanks to Children of the Broken Treaty, now the world knows too.