Welcome to the first edition of the NAN Education Electronic Newsletter.

I hope that this provides you with some helpful information. Please feel free to comment. Are the stories too short? ... too long... any ideas that you might want to offer would be greatly appreciated...

If you would like to include any news, please email to me and I will include it in a future edition. I would like to thank Jim Teskey for the original suggestion to develop this...

Brian Walmark
NAN Education Advisor

The 4th annual Niigaantige Career Fair and Northwestern O­ntario Aboriginal Youth Achievement Awards was held in Thunder Bay o­n Oct. 30 - Nov.1, 2002. Students from across Northern O­ntario attended numerous workshops, Thunder Bay tours and a Halloween dance organized by Turtle Concepts from Sault Ste.Marie.

The Aboriginal Youth Achievement Awards winners included Roxanne Meawasige, Micheal Pelletier, Rachel Yesno, Conredge Solomon, Catherine Cheechoo, Derek Fox, Celine Favell, Sterlige Meshake, Christy Meeseetawageesic, Duane Moonias, Jasmine Landry, Conan Pitchenese, Keshatay Simon, Corey Wesley, Carla Chiesel, NaMichael Dube, Erin Bottle, Shawn Shabaquay, Phyrie Hook, and Tyler Ledger. Congratulations to all! Check out the pictures at http://photos.knet.ca/Niigaatige-Career-Fair

4th Annual 7th Generation Youth Hockey Tournament

January 23-26, 2003.

Thunder Bay Tournament Centre Fort William First Nation Arena

A Championship B Championship NEW "C Championship" NEW

TYKES 4, 5 & 6 yrs old

Fort WilliamGinoogaming

NOVICE 7-8 yrs old

Fort WilliamLac SeulEabametoongPic River
ATOM 9-10 yrs old

Fort WilliamConstance Lake
EabametoongKasabonika LakeBearskin LakeShoal LakeGrassy NarrowsGinoogaming Neskantaga
PEEWEE 11-12 yrs old

Fort WilliamBearskin LakeEabametoongLac SeulPic RiverLong LakeGinoogamingArolandCat LakeNibinamik
BANTAM 13-14 yrs old

Fort WilliamPic RiverWebequieNibinamikSlate FallsArolandAlberta team (is interested not confirmed yet)

"NEW"  MIDGET 15-17 yrs old  "NEW"

Fort WilliamPic RiverConstance LakeMcdowell LakeLac SeulFort HopeAlberta team (is interested not confirmed yet)

First 50 teams, registered and paid, due to lack of ice time.

Team Entry Deadline December 15, 2003
For more information:
Phone: 807-625-0327 Fax: 807-625-9303
website: www.eteamz.com/7thgeneration

MAJOR SPONSORS

Bearskin AirlinesWasaya AirwaysAnishinabek Employment & Training Services                    

The Deer Lake community web site has now been posted and is ready for public viewing. The site address is http://www.deerlake.firstnation.ca

A lot of work has been put into developing the community site, I hope you all enjoy it and watch out for future updates, as various pages within the site are still under construction.

Booshoo,
I just wanted to let you know that Our Chief and Council has changed since 2001. Our new First Nation Band Information to be posted o­n our community information page should now be:

Chief: John Mendowegon
Councillor are:
Calvin Taylor
Eddie Wesley
Alex Fisher
Gwen O'nabigon
Blaine Martin
Lisa Echum

Miigwech for your time
Heather

NORTH Network staff, partners and many of their consultants gathered at the Nottawasaga Inn outside of Toronto o­n the weekend of October 19 to engage in some strategic planning efforts. John Rowlandson, KO's Telehealth Project Manager, provided participants with a orientation about developing and delivering telehealth services in remote communities. Other workshop participants from Northern o­ntario worked hard to help ensure northern health care needs and priorities are being addressed using these new telehealth tools. As always, the biggest challenge facing everyone is communications both within the team and outside the team to other groups, community members, agencies and government. Check out some of the workshop pictures at http://photos.knet.ca/NORTH-planning.

On October 30th, 2002 Sioux Mountain School had it's official grand opening ceremony and assembly. The opening was a resounding success with all involved including the students, teachers, staff, parents and representatives from other schools and organizations.

For pictures of the event and more details, visit the K-Net Photos site.

Victoria Linklater Memorial School in North Spirit Lake, O­ntario is looking for a Grades 7/8 Teacher, starting immediately.

In accordance with the following broad statement of duties, outlined within the North Spirit Lake Education Authority Policy Manual, the teacher shall:

• teach directly and by example, community Christian values, respect for the Creator, self, others and the environment;
• promote the native language and heritage through classroom displays and courses of study;
• encourage the students in the pursuit of lifelong learning;
• conduct classes as per scheduled time periods;
• prepare short, medium and long range goals and objectives as per  North Spirit Lake Education Authority policy;
• assist in the o­n-going development of cooperation among school staff;
• maintain, in accordance with North Spirit Lake Education Authority policy, proper order and discipline while in the classroom and o­n duty within the school grounds;
• participate in professional activity days at the direction of the North Spirit Lake Education Authority;
• use texts approved by the North Spirit Lake Education Authority;
• teach effectively and evaluate student progress in accordance with the academic timetable;
• participate in extra-curricular activities and committees;
• act through the proper lines of authority when seeking advice, guidance and clarification;
• prepare and implement individual student work plans in cooperation with administration, staff, resource and special education advisors;
• work cooperatively with parents through an "open door policy" and  invitations to classroom activities, home visits, sharing concerns, and homework assistance;
• above all, respect the rights and privacy of students, parents, and guardians at all times.

The teacher will also read and adhere to the more specific duties which accompany the above, as well, other duties as prescribed by the North Spirit Lake Education Authority in accordance with North Spirit Lake Education Authority policy.

Teachers fluent in the Oji-Cree language with proven administrative skills and experience prefered.

Enquiries and resumes can be passed along through:

Jim Teskey
Education Advisor
Keewaytinook Okimakanak
Call: 1-800- 387-3740 or 1-807-735-1381
Fax: 1-807-735-1383
Email: jimteskey@knet.ca

A Social Task Force was organized in Cat Lake First Nation to deal with the social issues that we as a community have been experiencing . The continued increase of family violence issues, alcohol and substance abuse and the rise of solvent abuse related issues resulted in the community leadership and it's frontline workers to review and evaluate the programs and services presently being provided .

The Social Task Force is comprised of the Chief and Council, all department Directors, key board members, some frontline staff, youths and elders. The group met to discuss all the issues involved and to develop a plan o­n how to address these issues being experienced by the community membership.

There were a series of planning meetings where youth, the general public, and other agencies involved with Cat Lake First Nation had the opportunity to share their ideas. The findings and plan of action for the Social Task Force was presented to the community for their feedback.

One recommendation that was a result of the Social Task Force meetings and planning session is the development of the Social Development Unit. The unit has two components addressing specific areas identified. The first priority area is to develop a research project to address residential school issues. The second target area is Community Development opportunities. The staff involved in each of these areas worked together to review identified issues and design a workable long term solution to address these issues.

As a result, our Health Authority is currently undergoing changes. A three year funding proposal was submitted to Aborignal Healing Foundation. A new facility is currently being built to accommodate Cat Lake First Nation's Health Authority and it's various Social Programs. In the future a Social Program Coordinator will be hired to head the facility.