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The Johnny Therriault Memorial School in Aroland First Nation which has grades k - 8 has closed due to lack of co-operation from Indian Affairs to give us a school building for over 100 students. The community will be building tee pee's to provide schooling for the students, our leaders need support from other First Nations. We were promised a school building and now we are forced to fight for our inherited rights. For more info contact Aroland First Nation (807) 329-5333.

Cribbage Tournament in Keewaywin. On Friday May 17th, 2002. The entry fee will be $10.00 per person. Only first sixteen entries will be allowed. If you want to reserve a space pay Raymond Mason in advance. The tournament will commence at 7 pm sharp. The crib tournament will be held at the school gym. This is just one of the activities that the community of Keewaywin is hosting to build community spirit. We need everyone to come in and join in the fun. You don't have to play to have fun, you can just come in and watch. So if you are interested in attending contact Wayne or Raymond at the Band office.

It is that time of year again for the Community Economic Development Program reports to be submitted. The deadline date for the reports is June 30/2002. If you need any assistance in completing the reports, please contact David Neegan @ 1-800-387-3750 The information can be viewed @ http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/pr/pub/fnnrg/2002/fnnrgv1_e.pdf

An overnight snow storm is now hitting Sioux Lookout. Satellite dishes need to be cleaned to receive a good signal. The radio reports that there will be another 15 to 20 cm of snow today. For more pictures look here.

The last week in April was the spring hunting week in Fort Severn. Jesse Fiddler headed to Fort Severn to work with Angus Miles and Barney Turtle to capture some video footage of the goose migration and the local hunt. Weather conditions made the hunting difficult but they were able to post some of the different scenes they were able to capture while out near the Hudson Bay coast. Fernando Oliveira, the KiHS teacher, in Fort Severn joined Jesse and Angus in capturing some video footage. He editted some of the scenes and put together an interesting 6 minute version of the work involved during the spring hunt. Check out all the available clips (broadband is recommended for best viewing). Go directly to Fernando's editted version of the Fort Severn spring hunt (using Windows Media Player).

Ministry of Northern Development and Mines are accepting applications for Summer Job Services 2002. The program provides a wage subsidy of $2.00 per hour for 560 hours. For more information, please contact David Neegan or Jacob Ostaman @ 1-800-387-3790 or the MNDM office @ (807) 727-1352 and ask for Randy Ronnebeck

On May 1st and 2nd, 2002, Equay-wuk (Women’s Group) held a ‘Working Group’ Meeting at the Forest Inn (see the pictures). Attending the meeting were Grand Chief Stan Beardy and Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic (Women’s Issues Portfolio). The NAN leaders presented the Equay-wuk Board of Directors with the Nishnawbe Aski Nation flag. Since 1999, the Nishnawbe Women and Self Government Program has been providing workshops to women of the northwestern NAN communities on the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Self Government initiative with the goal to having women’s participation in First Nations self government. The Nishnawbe Women and Self Government projects are funded by the Status of Women Canada, Department of Canadian Heritage & Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. This past year, the third Nishnawbe Women & Self Government 2001 Project began on September 17, 2001. The first workshop was given to 20 Grade 11 Pelican Falls First Nations High School students on October 3 and 4, 2001. Since then and up until April 2002, five workshops were given in these five communities: Fort Hope, Kasabonika, Mattagami, Sandy Lake and Sioux Lookout. From Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Assistant Self Government Negotiator Lawrence Baxter, made presentations at two of the workshops. Also as part of the project, a Self Government Survey was mailed out to Equay-wuk members and results will be included in the final project report. A Second Edition of the Self Government Training Manual will also be released. At a NAN Chiefs meeting in Timmins on March 21, 2002, NAN Resolution 02/04 was passed regarding the Representation of Women at Nishnawbe Aski Nation Chiefs’Meetings. The resolution “directs the NAN Executive Council to set up a Women’s Working Group with representatives from the NAN Tribal Council areas, with Equay-wuk taking a lead role in facilitating this process. The Working Group is mandated to provide recommendations to the NAN Chiefs on how women could be included in the Chiefs meetings.” The resolution goes on to state, “that the Executive Council work with the Women’s Working Group to identify how women from across Nishnawbe Aski Nation should be represented at the Nishnawbe Aski Nation political level and in Chiefs’ meetings. Options and recommendations should be presented at the next Chiefs’ meeting.” The Working Group currently consists of volunteers from different northern communities, Equay-wuk staff and board members and Goyce Kakegamic, Deputy Grand Chief of NAN. The Working Group are looking to find women representative of the eastern NAN Tribal Council areas. The plan of the Working Group is to hold meetings by teleconference and in July, the Working Group Delegation will attend the NAN Chief’s meeting (Keewaywin Conference to be held in Chapleau Cree & Brunswick House First Nations) where they will be making a presentation on women’s issues. For more information on the Working Group or Equay-wuk, check out our website at www.equaywuk.ca or call (807) 737-2214 or toll free at (800) 261-8294. Respectfully Submitted by Darlene Angeconeb, Nishnawbe Women & Self Government Project Coordinator.

Pelican Falls First Nations High School hosted its second annual pow-wow this past weekend (May 3 - 5). Visitors came from far and wide to celebrate the new spring season and the new life that comes forth each year. Fifteen drums and their singers kept everyone dancing and entertained over the weekend. The students and the staff provided feasts for everyone on Saturday and Sunday. A great time was had by all who came to join the students for this gathering. Check out some of the pictures

WE ARE IN THE WORKS OF A 2002 GOSPEL JAMBOREE, FOR JUNE 27th-30th 2002. THIS EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT NESKANTAGA FIRST NATION. WE, THE COMMITTE AND THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WISH TO ENTEND OUR INVITATION TO ALL COMMUNITIES TO COME AND TAKE PART IN OUR JAMBOREE THIS YEAR. THERE WILL BE A BACK-UP BAND ALSO TO PROVIDE YOUR SINGING. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL THE CO-ORDINATOR: DUANE MOONIAS @ 807-479-1126/2637 OR LEAVE MESSAGE AT THE BAND OFFICE # 807-479-2570. OR E-MAIL ME AT DUANEMOONIAS@KNET.CA THANK YOU/MEEGWETCH DUANE MOONIAS

Keewaytinook Okimakanak is acting as an agent of Industry Canada supporting the deployment of a portion of a C-Band satellite transponder to deliver broadband connectivity in First Nations, rural and remote communities across Canada. A new web site is now in place to encourage and support local community champions in satellite served communities to develop broadband connectivity solutions and appropriate applications. Check out http://smart.knet.ca/satellite and join in the sharing and developing efforts with folks from all regions of Canada.