Media.Knet.Ca

Yesterday, during the Chiefs of Keewaytinook Okimakanak meeting in Winnipeg, the Honourable Robert Nault, Minister of INAC, made a five year commitment to support the o­ngoing operation of KiHS based o­n its present operational level of thirteen First Nation classrooms delivering grade 9 and 10 courses.

Minister Nault recognized the importance of making "a long term commitment to developing quality and successful community based educational programs and support services in First Nations." As part of this announcement, Minister Nault also wants to see the development a five-year workplan that will include improvements to attendance, successful course completion and outcomes, program evaluation, student support systems among other areas.

Keewaytinook Okimakanak established the Keewaytinook Internet High School (KiHS) in 1999 to begin addressing many of the educational gaps and challenges facing First Nation students who use to have to leave their homes and communities to attend high school. Today, KiHS has now obtained the support it requires to provide students, parents, teachers, staff and partner First Nations with the assurances they require to feel secure in making long term plans for developing this resource for the young people in their communities.

As o­ne of the deliverables under the Kuh-ke-nah Network of Smart First Nations Demonstration project, KiHS is supporting the o­n-going development and operation of community broadband networks in each of the participating First Nations. This five year commitment will ensure that the proper support systems are established to ensure students, parents, teachers and communities are able to receive a quality and successful high school education program.

Check out the pictures of this meeting and some of the o­n-line discussions about this event.

Keewaywin First Nation will be having thier band feast o­n Monday, December 23rd, 2002. All are welcome to come and join in the festivities.  Keewaywin has already started all their Christmas staff dinners. 

The community members are already  setting up their own Christmas feasts where all commmunity members are invited to join.

We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Be Safe!!

On Tuesday, December 17th, I attended the Sioux Mountain Christmas Concert.  My daughter Sarah is four years old and she is in junior kindergarten.

Sarah had been practising her songs for awhile at home.  So yesterday afternoon, she sang her songs with relish.  The reindeer pokey consisted of the little children dancing in a circle facing inwards with a white tail facing the crowd.

She has been anxious for Christmas to come.  Her aunt Mary and uncle Jethro have had their Christmas tree up since early November, so it is quite hard to compete with that.  Throughout the preceding months since the Wish Book came out--she's been looking through the catalogue "mom, I want this and that"  and barbies...lots of them, please.

So, Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year to all of you.

Ed, Pauline, Sarah & Brock