Neskantaga First Nation
Sobreity Pow Wow
November 19 - 21, 2004
Host Drums
Kitch-Noodagose
Sand Creek Singers
Spirit Island Singers
Seventeen First Nation grade 8 classroom teachers are participating in this week's teacher orientation session to on-line learning in preparation for the start of this year's Grade 8 on-line Science course. These classrooms have approximately 190 First Nation students who will be working together to explore the exciting world of science using a variety of new innovative learning tools. Click here to see the flash presentation for this on-line course participants.
Fernando Oliveira, the Program Coordinator for the G8 Supplementary Courses Program, worked over the summer with a number of different parents to modify the open source, e-learning platform (called Moodle) to address a number of the issues identified from last year's courses. The new e-learning environment promises to support the local students, the classroom teachers, the course markers and course teacher to deliver an exciting and interactive on-line course.
The Grade 8 on-line supplementary program is another innovative service being delivered through Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program and the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Regional Management Organization (RMO). The RMO team is supporting First Nation schools across Ontario in a number of areas including:
Everyone is invited to explore these services on-line at http://g8.firstnationschools.ca to find out how the RMO team can support your local school and its on-line activities. Or call Jeannie Carpenter, RMO Administrator toll-free at 877-737-KNET (5638) ext 0 to find out how you can become involved in these opportunities.
Representatives from the six regional management organizations (RMO) are meeting with Industry Canada officials in Cranbrook, BC to develop a strategic plan to better support First Nation schools in their efforts to become the leaders in the delivery of education programming through the innovative use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Carl Seibel, FedNor's Telecom Officer, is attending this session with Brian Beaton, K-Net Coordinator as the Ontario RMO representatives. Other members of the RMO team will be joining the meeting via video conferencing.
These strategies include discussions about working with First Nations and their organizations across Canada to ensure EVERY school and community is provided with the opportunity to develop their own broadband infrastructure. With broadband infrastructure in place, First Nations are positioned to become involved in the development of local social and economic opportunities including telehealth, e-learning, e-commerce, e-government, etc.
Industry Canada programs and staff are working with communities across Canada to develop local broadband infrastructure. Many First Nations have already created their own community broadband solution. The challenge now is to get other Federal and Provincial government departments (like Indian Affairs, Heritage Canada, etc) investing in the ongoing operational costs of this infrastructure and the resulting applications. Health Canada is today investing in the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Telehealth Initiative that is making telemedicine and medical education programs available in remote First Nations across northwestern Ontario. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) made a commitment in 2003 to fund the Keewaytinook Internet High School but the annual struggle to secure the necessary funding to operate this service in thirteen First Nations demonstrates a lack of support for the uses of these infrastructure on the part of this department. These are just two examples from the many broadband applications and the work that is required to create new opportunities in First Nations using broadband infrastructure.
The meetings in Cranbrook will include people from across the country using the K-Net video conferencing network and bridging service. The meeting is being facilitated by Harvey McCue. The agenda follows:
4th FIRST NATIONS SCHOOLNET
NATIONAL STRATEGIC
PROGRAMME PLANNING MEETING
October 12-14, 2004
Delta St. Eugene Mission Resort, Cranbrook, B.C.
Facilitator: Harvey McCue
Tuesday, October 12th
6pm – 9pm First meeting with the Techmobile – St. Eugene Mission· The “Techmobile” is a multimedia truck designed to provide education regarding broadband to communities. St. Mary’s Room
Wednesday, October 13th
Connectivity
9am – 9:30am Keynote Speech: Chief Sophie Pierre, St. Mary’s BandChief Pierre is a nationally recognized leader whose vision has always been building for the future to make a better life for her nation and people. She attended St. Eugene Mission residential school as a child and has been the driving force to convert it to a $40 million resort/casino. Chief David Room
9:30am – 10:15am E-Learning Direction – Pierre Gendron
10:30am – 12:00pm Strategic Planning Session 1: Mandate, objectives
Promising Initiatives
1:00pm – 3:00pm Strategic Planning Session 2: Continuing the discussion
3:15pm – 5:00pm Strategic Planning Session 3: Continuation
Thursday October 14th
Moving Ahead
9:00am – 9:20am Strategic Planning Session 4 · Administrative Details - Suzanne Robert, FNS Program Manager
9:20am – 10:30 · Additions to FNS infrastructure
10:45am – 12:30pm Strategic Planning Session 5 – Final Steps, Moving Forward
1:00pm – 2:45pm Moving Forward - Discussion
All of the sessions will utilize a Roundtable format
Phil Carr
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Managing Editor
613 731-8330
philip_carr@canadaconnects.ca
CANADA CONNECTS
http://www.canadaconnects.ca