Media.Knet.Ca

Dan Pellerin, K-Net's Network Manager left Monday, June 21 to attend meetings with the Kativik Regional Government (KRG) in the Nunivik Region of Northern Quebec. Meetings are being held to discuss strategies for utilizing the existing NSI satellite bandwidth to serve the different applications in the 14 KRG communities. The Kativik Health Authority is also meeting with KRG and K-Net to determine how to access the bandwidth they require for their telehealth applications.

Travelling from Sioux Lookout to Winnipeg and then on to Montreal and finally up to Kuujjaq required one overnight in Montreal. While in Winnipeg, Dan met with the Manitoba government's Provincial Data Network (PDN) to discuss ways to partner with the Keewatin Tribal Council's efforts to connect satellite served remote First Nations into the Kuhkenah satellite network.

Raymond Pong, PhD, Research Director and Professor with the Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research at Laurentian University visited K-Net at the Sioux Lookout office of Keewaytinook Okimakanak on Wednesday, June 23. Dr. Pong is part of the team of researchers working with Keewaytinook Okimakanak to complete the evalution of the KO Telehealth project.

The day before, Dr. Pong, Orpah McKenzie and Mae Katt video conferenced from the class of graduate research students at Lakehead University with Darlene Rae at the North Spirit Lake Nursing Station. During discussions, Dr. Pong emphasized the importance of these connections with the northern communications to help both students and faculty understand the realites and challenges facing everyone in remote First Nations.

Today, Dr. Pong, along with Nancy Grieves (Service Migration Coordinator for the KO Telehealth project) and Brian Beaton, participated in a number of informal meetings including:

• a video conference with Guy MacLaren from Health Canada's Primary Health Care Transition Fund, Kevin Houghton (KO Telehealth Project Manager) and Penny Carpenter (KO Acting Health Director and Finance Manager)
• a demonstration of the teleradiology equipment and meeting with Craig Legros at the Menoyawin Health Centre
• meeting with Dr. Dermot McLoughlin, radiologist at Menoyawin
• meeting with Carol Wood, Telehealth Coordinator at Menoyawin
• meeting with James Morris, Executive Director of the Sioux Lookout First Nation Health Authority
• meeting and demonstration of the available on-line communication tools with members of the K-Net team (Jamie Ray, John Moreau, Jesse Fiddler, Cal Kenny, Ruth Ann Beardy, Jeannie Carpenter)
• tour of the different components of the Sioux Lookout K-Net connections.

Guy MacLaren, Senior Program Officer with the Primary Health Care Transition Fund is visiting the KO Telehealth Program located in Balmertown, Ontario. The purpose of the meeting is to review the 2 1/2 year Contribution Agreement in which is primarily operational funding including a requirement for a detailed evaluation report to be submitted at the conclusion of the funding. Click here to see the news story on the KO Telehealth web site.Guy and the KO Telehealth team will be visiting Deer Lake on Thursday June 24th to see the equipment operational in the community. Lily Sawanas- Deer Lake CTC will be hosting the team and illustrating its uses within the community.For pictures of Guy's visit, please visit the photogallery.

Rather than closing its doors to celebrate National Aboriginal Day, the KO sub office in Balmertown flung them open for area elementary school students...

Lakehead University Dean of Education impressed with KiHS and other KO ICT applications...

The June 17 issue of Wawatay News contained the story, "Pikangikum ready to share knowledge through education" ... forming the Whitefeather Forest Research cooperative with three universities, Sault College. The entire story can be read on the Wawatay News web site (click here).

The development of another community based Research group complements Keewaytinook Okimakanak's Research Institute which the Chiefs of KO established over the past year with the support of various partnerships. As more First Nations and First Nation organizations develop their research teams, KO looks forward to increased interest from institutions and corporations to develop new partnerships and relationships that benefit the Nishnawbe Aski.