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This week on April 22nd to the 26th 2002. Keewaywin had their first visit from a dentist. Dennis Hewitt is from Toronto and is home based in Sioux Lookout. He works out of the Sioux Lookout Zone hospital. So i'm sure most of the northern residents who go to the zone will recongize him. As this is Keewaywin's first dental visit. The equipments had to be flown in from Sioux Lookout, most of the equipment was late in getting in and the first day they did no fillings, just tooth extractions (ouch). The X-ray machine was flown in from Deer Lake, but not all the parts came in so it was pretty useless. The dental charts had to be made from scratch. The chair assembled. And a new dental assistant trained. But it is rewarding to have a dentist to come into our community. See Photos

Are you interested in getting involved in starting a community support group? People who want to be involved in a rewarding and fulfilling activity should get together with other interested people to discuss what opportunities and possiblities are out there. One such activity would be visiting elders. These visits would provide good social interaction with eveyone involved. This group would also sing gospel songs for the enjoyment of the elders. If you can't sing you can still take part on the visits We require a volunteer to coordinate the setup and information sessions. Contact person: Lawrence Mason KWW Health Centre (807) 771-1407

Keewaytinook Okimakanak has announced that Darrin Potter, current Teacher Mentor in Keewaywin First Nation will be the Principal of KiHS next year. In addition, Marlene McKay, current Teacher Mentor in Frenchman’s Head will be the Vice Principal of KiHS. Darrin (read his staff profile) and Marlene (read her staff profile) bring a wealth of experience and knowledge about the communities with KiHS classrooms. Next year promises be an exciting for the Keewaytinook Internet High School as it expands to offer a full range of Grade 9 and 10 courses in at least 10 First Nations. Be sure to check out all the courses being offered starting in September 2002 in those communities with a KiHS classroom. To date, ten (10) communities will have a KiHS grade 9 and 10 classroom in their communities. They include the following: Cat Lake Fort Severn Frenchman’s Head Keewaywin Kejick Bay North Spirit Lake Sachigo Lake Slate Falls Weagamow Webequie A small number of other First Nations are still deciding whether KiHS can meet their needs. Lots to look forward to during the 2002-2003 school year.

This is to inform the Keewaywin members who got their mail in ballots to please send your ballots in right away. As the election is just around the bend, April 30th, the elections committee is asking you to send it in as soon as possible. It should have been sent already. If you haven't received a mail in ballot yet, please phone one of the election committee member at the band office right away and they will help you. You can even send it to Abraham Monias through the Bearskin Airways, as he is the Keewaywin Bearskin Agent. You do not have to pay the envelope costs if you mark it atttention: Abraham Monias Non-Rev. Please do not send your mail in ballots at the last minute. Try to do it right away. As it will take time to sort them all out.

TO OUR FAMILY OUT THERE, WE ARE HAVING OUR FIRST MEMORIAL FEAST FOR MY GRANDMOTHER SARAH RAE, ON MAY 9TH. PEOPLE KNOW HER AS MAH SHINA IN POPLAR HILL AND PIKANGIKUM. WE WOULD LIKE KNOW IF STACEY RAE IN ROUND LAKE IS GONING TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND? LET US KNOW.

Once again we lost one our most respected elder, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Claudia Meekis died on April 9th 2002, she left us so sudden. The death of her sister must have been too much. She leaves behind 7 sons, 3 daughters, 6 daughters-in-law, 3 sons-in-law and 37 grandchildren, 4 greatgrand children. We will miss her deeply.

EVERYONE is invited to attend the Third Gathering for Survivors and their families, at the site of the former Pelican Lake Indian Residential School, Sioux Lookout, Ontario, May 26 - 29, 2002. The Sunset Women's Aboriginal Circle, in partnership with Northern Nishnawbe Education Council, are hosting the gathering. The poster and registration form can be obtained at the conference web site. Please copy and distribute the poster around your community so everyone has an opportunity to attend this important gathering for residential school survivors and their families. We want to use this opportunity to gather stories of survival and resiliency of the people and form a Pelican Falls Alumuni group to make sure our efforts and experiences are properly recorded. For information contact: Lorraine Kenny, Conference Coordinator Tel. 807-737-7922 Fax 807-737-7031 email: pelican2002@knet.ca Meals will be provided

Booshoo Chiefs of ONTARIO: For two months, beginning July 1, 2002 and ending August 30, 2002, in the pristine wilderness of Waywayseecappo, 16 First Nations will come together and participate in Anishinabe Survivor. There, they must work together to survive. The Concept Deprived of basic comforts, exposed to the harsh natural elements, their fate determined by how well they can work together…who would you become? For 8 weeks, beginning in July 2002, 2 First Nation communities will come together once a week and will be stranded deep in the wilderness of Waywayseecappo. They will be forced to band together and carve out a new existence, using their collective wits to make surviving in their rugged and primitive environment a little easier. Day by day, the harsh elements and threatening indigenous animals will test the endurance of the Anishinabe Survivors. The Survivors must form their own cooperative society, building shelter, gathering and catching food, and participating in tribal challenges for rewards. Those who succeed in the day-to-day challenges will be rewarded with things to make life in the Waywayseecappo Wilderness more bearable. Those who fail must do without. Each night, the Survivors must attend Tribal Council. At this meeting, they will learn by their struggles to come together and learn the leadership and team-building skills that all First Nation youth will need in the new millennium. Why Your Youth Should Participate? Anishinabe Survivor is an investment in the development of today’s Youth and is an effective approach towards preparing our young people for the challenges the future holds. By promoting youth leadership, Anishinabe Survivor is an effective approach to address current issues of teen pregnancy, youth unemployment, youth drop-out, youth suicides, youth crime prevention, youth economic development, youth alcohol, drug and substance abuse, and other problems. The establishment of a program of this nature is a worthwhile investment in the future of our youth and their development as healthy balanced individuals. FAQ 1. What kinds of challenges are there? There are two kinds. One is a Reward Challenge, in which Survivors compete for luxuries, such as a pizza, gifts, drinks, etc. The second is a Tribal Challenge, in which each tribe competes against each other. The tribe who wins will be given luxuries such as Buffet Style Dinners, Tools and Equipment that will make their time outdoors easier, Special field trips to view the local area, etc. 2. Will there always be two teams? Yes, tribes must compete against each other. The only time there will not be teams is when there are reward challenges. 3. Is communication from the outside world allowed? No. These people are truly stranded in Waywayseecappo. Survivor Essentials Survivors need only to bring clothing (5 days) suitable for the outdoors, rain or shine. They will also need money for their trip to the survivor site and home. IMPORTANT INFORMATION - PLEASE READ The purpose of this email is to introduce you to Anishinabe Survivor, A Youth Leadership, Team-Building workshop for six youth from your community. Anishinabe Survivor is a week-long Youth Leadership and Team-Building workshop, the workshop is taped daily and packaged in a video production. At the end of the summer it is sent to the First Nation Communities that participated in Anishinabe Survivor. There is no other program of this nature in CANADA, it is unique and specially designed for First Nation Youth. The reason "Anishinabe Survivor" was created is because of the low productivity of the youth in all First Nation Communities. This is especially true during the summer when alot of the youth are selected to work in the community and end up doing menial jobs that do not offer the full satisfaction in culture, leadership, and team-building skills that the youth will need to help themselves and their communities in the future. Maiingun & Associates is giving special consideration and group selection to the youth of Ontario. Due to the high number of First Nation Communities in Ontario we are allowing (8) Ontario First Nations to send their youth, the rest of the groups will come from Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Maiingun & Associates is only accepting 16 First Nations from Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The date that you should confirm your youth to the program should be no later than MAY 15, 2002. Below you will find a schedule of the expected start dates of each group below: Tribal Challenge One (MALES AGED 14-17) July 1 - July 5, 2002 2 First Nation Groups, 6 Youth Per Group, 12 Total Youth Tribal Challenge Two (FEMALES AGED 14-17) July 8 - July 12, 2002 2 First Nation Groups, 6 Youth Per Group, 12 Total Youth Tribal Challenge Three (MALES AGED 14-17) July 15 - July 19, 2002 2 First Nation Groups, 6 Youth Per Group, 12 Total Youth Tribal Challenge Four (FEMALES AGED 14-17) July 22 - July 26, 2002 2 First Nation Groups, 6 Youth Per Group, 12 Total Youth Tribal Challenge Five (MALES AGED 14-17) August 5 - August 9, 2002 2 First Nation Groups, 6 Youth Per Group, 12 Total Youth Tribal Challenge Six (FEMALES AGED 14-17) August 12 - August 16, 2002 2 First Nation Groups, 6 Youth Per Group, 12 Total Youth Tribal Challenge Seven (MALES AGED 14-17) August 19 - August 23, 2002 2 First Nation Groups, 6 Youth Per Group, 12 Total Youth Tribal Challenge Six (FEMALES AGED 14-17) August 26 - August 30, 2002 2 First Nation Groups, 6 Youth Per Group, 12 Total Youth For More info contact Greg Mentuck, Maiingun & Associates, (204) 453-4688 e:mail: survivor@maiingun.com Visit the website to find out more and to link to your site. www.maiingun.com

On the 2nd of April the community of Keewaywin had an election nomination meeting in Keewaywin. There was a lot of community participation in deciding on who should be running for chief and council. Yesterday the mail in ballots were sent out to all community members that reside outside of the community. They are given the chance like all in resident community members to cast in their votes. The mail in ballots also includes a self addressed stamped envelope, so that all they have to do is mark an X besides the candidates that they wish to chose. And just drop it in at any mailbox, or you can just send it anyway you want. You may send it it by plane or have it hand delivered Remember as soon as your mail in ballots come in the mail try to send it in as soon as you can, as we don't know when the mail for the ballots will come in. There is a deadline for the mail in ballots to be received which is on the 29th of April. The following are the nominees for the upcoming election which will be held at the band office on the 30th of April 2002. Running for Chief: Solly Kakegamic John Mckay Deputy Chief: Joe Meekis Allan Kakepetum Councillors: Silas Kakegamic Alice Kakegamic Lester Pascal Raymond Mason David Thompson Luke Monias Jason Kakegamic Halum Kakepetum If you are one of the Keewaywin community members and your ballots come in late due to the mail service and you want to vote. Or you need more information. You can contact any of the election committee members. Darren Potter (work) 807 771-1164 Dusty Kakegamic Leave message at 771-1210 Abraham Monias Leave message at 771-1210

April 9, 2002 at 3:21am, Nora Suggashie (maiden name–Meekis) passed away at her home in Deer Lake, Ontario. She was in her 50's and had been struggling with illness for a long time. The wake will be taking place at the house she shared with her husband, Charlie Suggashie. There has been an outpouring of community support, not only from the from the family of Nora, but other community members as well. Our condolences go to the family during this difficult time. Donations of food and flowers for the funeral are needed, as well as people willing to cook for the feast and during the wake.