Taking the Next Step

On November 20, Les Meekis, KO’s Community Manager for the Smart project, facilitated a virtual gathering of the smart teams from the five Keewaytinook Okimakanak (KO) First Nations. Les chaired this video conference meeting from the Deer Lake band office video meeting room. The five site link was coordinated by Jeremy Sawanas, Deer Lake’s Computer Technician with support from Lars Dixon, the KO Network Technician in Balmertown. The Fort Severn team joined the meeting by telephone because their video link still requires some work to ensure the quality of service is available o­n it after the conversion that took place a week ago.

The communities met to discuss the preparations for the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Community planning workshops. These workshops are a vital component for sharing information about the progress of the Smart Community Demonstration Project in each First Nation. Under this smart project the KO First Nations are showcasing their communities to the world and demonstrating how community members and their organizations are using these new communication tools to enhance their economic aspirations, improve health services, educational standards and managing their Band programs and services.

The community workshop provide another set of tools for the local Smart team to develop and manage the Smart Demonstration project in their community. The workshops are scheduled at least annually so each local Smart team can share information about what has happened and determined the next steps they should be taking to support their community needs and priorities.

The workshops were initially introduced in each of the KO communities with much of the work being done by KO staff along with our partners, Telecommons Development Group. The community smart team provided the supported and local coordination to make these sessions successful. The reports of each of the workshops from Year 1 can be found at http://smart.knet.ca/smart2002/conference.html.

The workshop planning process is now being turned over the local Smart team who are expected to manage and facilitate the local session. As the community project participants gain experience in using these community planning tools, they will be able to better support local initiatives and applications utilizing ICTs. Taking ownership this process will further support the o­ngoing monitoring and evaluation of the project. The KO staff in Balmertown and Sioux Lookout are supporting and encouraging these developments in each of the KO First Nations. Learning what works and being able to meet the different challenges to make this project successful within the First Nation, will make this community engagement work that much more valuable for everyone. Having the workshops coordinated and delivered by local First Nation resource people will create new opportunities for further community planning in all the different areas and services being delivered in each community.

Last year’s workshops are being used to provide the format, the delivery and documentation tools, equipment and supplies that can be used by the local Smart team in planning this year’s workshops. KO staff will continue to work with local smart team to use these tools and enhance the local opportunities and the use of ICT applications in each community.

This development strategy has been shared with the KO Chiefs to gain their support for the process. As with any successful organization associated with the First Nation programming, the work is o­nly successful when done with the blessing of the Chiefs and other community leaders. The local smart team will meet with these leaders and respectfully request their input and recommendations to ensure the success of these workshops.

Knowing the learning process and priorities for their own community members will be an advantage that will work towards an effective planning strategy for the development of ICTs in each of the communities!

On Tuesday, November 19, four Health Canada officials (Roy Hart, Regional Director for IT, Lynn Baxter, Program Manager, Alvin Crane and Rick Frie, Sioux Lookout Zone IT Technicians) chartered a flight to Poplar Hill First Nation to learn first hand about the KO Telehealth Initiative and about the Kuh-ke-nah Broadband Network. John Rowlandson, KO’s Telehealth Project Manager and Brian Beaton, K-Net Coordinator also traveled to Poplar Hill to meet with the Chief and Council, local staff and the Health Canada officials. Check out the pictures from the meeting at the Poplar Hill e-Centre.

While waiting for the weather to clear, Roy, Alvin, Rick and Brian met at the Zone Administration Building to discuss the Kuh-ke-nah Network. The material distributed  (PDF document, 455KB) for this meeting provided an orientation about the work that has taken place to bring broadband connectivity to the First Nations across the region. Now the challenge is to find ways to ensure that all organizations and o­n-line applications are developing strategies to ensure they are utilizing the community network so this resource is sustainable and available for all community members.

While in Poplar Hill, everyone was given a tour of the Poplar Hill Nursing Station and had a chance to discuss with Cora Hunse and Barbara Strang, the importance of this connectivity for their work. John Rowlandson provided a tour of the telehealth room and a demonstration of the connections and the telehealth resources available in Poplar Hill. Then everyone went over to the local e-Centre to meet with the Chief and Council. John provided everyone with a powerpoint presentation (PDF document, 553KB) outlining the work that is taking place to ensure these services are continued to be supported by Health Canada and the First Nations across the region.

Equay-wuk (Women's Group) will be holding a Gathering & 2002 General Meeting December 9-13, 2002 at Sunset Inn, Sioux Lookout, o­n.  Various workshops will be held at this time as well, nominations are being accepted to sit o­n Equay-wuk's Board of Directors.  Contact Equay-wuk should you have any questions (807)737-2214 or toll free 1-800-261-8294.

Muskrat Dam is pleased to announce the 1st Annual Kanina Beardy Memorial Gospel Jamboree commencing November 29 through December 1.

Please tune in to Wawatay for live broadcasting.

For more information please phone

Doug Beardy at (807) 471-2524  (work)
Tilleya Nothing at (807) 471-2574  (work)

GREAT MOON GATHERING - FEBRUARY 2003

On February 13, 14, 2003 Omushkego Education is coordinating the Great Moon Gathering at Delores Echum Composite School in Moose Factory, O­ntario, to promote better educational opportunities for our children.

The theme of the conference is OUR STRENGTH, WORKING TOGETHER IN EDUCATION

Over 250 participants take part in this regional educational conference which includes workshops for Day Care, Elementary, and High School Staff, including Elders, Youth, Parents, Local Education Authorities, Administrators and other interested community members. Numerous workshops and presentations suited to meet the requirements of our schools are presented during the two days.

This year's keynote speaker is Jonathan Solomon, Hishkoonikun Education Authority of Kashechewan. The gathering also features entertainers including the Missanibe Cloggers, Kashechewan Step Dancers and Moose Factory Ministik School students.

For more information contact:Colleen Nelson at 705-658-4222, ext 233 or at cnelson@mushkegowuk.ca

1st Annual Little Band's Youth Hockey Tournament - Sioux Lookout Arena - January 25 & 26 , 2002

3 Divisions : Atom Division - 9-10 yrs old
                   Peewee Division - 11-12 yrs old
                   Bantam Division -13-14 yrs old

Limit to 4 Teams per Division                     $500.00 Entry Fee per Team
First Teams paid per Division            
Players must have status cards and consent forms from parents

Entry Fee deadline : December 13 , 2002
Certified cheques or Money Order Paid to : Little Band's Youth Hockey Tournament 2003

Contacts: Roy Anderson (807)737-4166 (h) after 5:00pm
               Steven Fiddler (807)737-2152 (h) after 5:00pm
               Ziggy Beardy   (807)737-3398 (h) after 5:00pm
               Raymond Beardy (807)737-1585 (work)

K-Net Staff Complete C-Band Earth Station Conversion to the Public Benefit Satellite Transponder

Working with our many partners over the past few months, the successful conversion of the satellite system providing broadband connectivity for the First Nations of Fort Severn and Slate Falls was completed o­n November 14, 2002. The first use of the new system was an IP telephone conversation between K-Net’s office and the Slate Falls Band office. The video conference link from Slate Falls and Fort Severn was also tested o­n the new system as the settings were adjusted to accommodate the newly installed Linkway equipment.

Several partners worked with Keewaytinook Okimakanak throughout this development project, ensuring that the existing service in the communities was maintained and supported. In particular, FedNor Telecommunications Officer Carl Seibel, the SSI Micro team lead by owner Jeff Philips, the Telesat Canada team, the Blair Electronics team, staff in the First Nations Fort Severn (Madeleine Stoney and Angus Miles), Slate Falls (Michael Loon), Webequie (Barney Beaver), Weagamow (Lyle Johnson), and Fort Hope, Shibogama First Nations Council (Bob Popovic), and Windigo First Nation Council (Ernie Buswa). This group of people worked along with the K-Net team consisting of Dan Pellerin (Network Manager), Adi Linden (Network Systems Analyst) and John Moreau (Helpdesk Manager) to make sure the conversion to the new system was smooth and trouble free. Three more satellite served sites (Cat Lake, Kasabonika Lake and Sachigo Lake) will soon be added to this new broadband service to complete this phase of the project development.

This opportunity became available back in February 2002 with the announcement that Industry Canada was entering into a partnership with Keewaytinook Okimakanak for K-Net Services to act as their agent in the management and development of the public benefit C-Band satellite transponder space being made available under agreement with Telesat Canada (see press release). In April 2002, after many meetings with various stakeholders, Keewaytinook Okimakanak hosted a meeting in Winnipeg with representatives from across Canada (see http://smart.knet.ca/satellite) to examine the different development options for this resource. Since that time, planning and construction work has been taking place in all these First Nations to ensure they would be able to access these broadband services before the winter months.

Another phase of development for this project will see other remote regions of Canada being served by this satellite system (in particular the Kativik Region in Northern Quebec o­n the northern shores of the Hudson Bay). As well, the other satellite served First Nations in Northwestern o­ntario (Muskrat Dam, Peawanack, Lansdowne House and Ogoki) are now searching for funds to become part of this network service.

Check out the pictures of the upgrade to the earth station in Sioux Lookout that provides connectivity into the Kuh-ke-nah Network via the fibre optic local loop construction project.

The November 14, 2002 issue of the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal had an insert called "Aboriginal o­ntario - Open for Business". It contained more than 25 stories about Aboriginal businesses across o­ntario and the people involved in setting them up and operating them. All the articles are written by Rick Garrick (a Lac Seul band member living in Sioux Lookout). GREAT SUCCESS STORIES!! Lots of GREAT IDEAS!! And best of all it is available o­n-line at the Aboriginal o­ntario website.

Jamboree is set for November 22, 23 &24 2002.

Special guests include:

Roy Fiddler from Muskrat Dam, o­nt.
Jerome Harper from Winnipeg, Man.
Linda Beardy from Sioux Lookout, o­nt.
Abe Kakapetum from Sioux Lookout, O­nt.
Stillwater Gospel Band from Neskantaga First Nation.
Our local Neskantaga Gospel Singers.
And many many more to come.

For Further information, Please contact coordinators:
Edward Moonias - 807-479-2631 (h)
Duane Moonias - 807-479-1126 (h)
or call either o­ne of them at the band office, at 807-479-2570

Thank You / Miigwetch

Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute and Lakehead University recognize the potential benefits of working together as partners in the development and delivery of post-secondary education and training programs for Aboriginal students.  Further, the partners recognize the independence and expertise of each partner, acknowledge the need for each partner to continue to honour its existing agreements with other organizations or entities, and its authority to enter into new agreements with other organizations and entities.

The purpose of this agreement is to develop a patnership that will enable Oshki-Pimache-O-Win and Lakehead University to enhance existing, and/or new, courses, programs and services and to provide additional educational opportunities to the student population served by each institute.  The partners will encourage excellence in learning so that the students jointly served may meaningfully contribute to society through the maximization of their individual personal potential.

For more information, please contact Ruth Baxter, Executive Director of Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute at (807) 346-2770. Check out the pictures of the signing of the partnership agreement between Oshki and LU.