Media.Knet.Ca

Luis Barnola, ICA Program Officer for the Institute for Connectivity in the Americas (ICA) organized a video conference meeting between K-Net team members (Dan and Brian), Guelph University partners with KO (Dr. Ricardo Ramirez and grad student Andres Ibanez) and two delegates from Guatemala and Argentina (Marleny Tzicap and Ignacio Francisco Prafil). Click here for more information about the guests from Central and South America.

Click here for some pictures from the meeting

The guests are in Ottawa as part of the Connectivity and Indigenous Peoples Conference. "Marleny Tzicap, a K'iche' Mayan from Momostenango, Guatemala, an expert in linguistics and in the use of ICTs for education, and Ignacio Francisco Prafil, a Mapuche from the Southern Region of the Province of Rio Negro in the Patagonia, Argentina, will speak at the "Promoting Cultural Diversity through ICTs" panel."

Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund Hosts First Nations Renewable Energy Forum with leading Industry in Thunder Bay

An impressive line up of First Nation energy developers, regulatory agencies, power authorities, technologists, energy consultants, lawyers and investment firms are among the experts who will be in Thunder Bay on March 22nd and 23rd 2005 for the ground breaking Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund "First Nations Renewable Energy Business Forum". This intensive two-day business forum will focus on the essential processes for renewable energy projects and aims to provide a meeting forum for regional First Nations and major industry players.

Hosted by Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund in partnership with the Ministry of Indian and Northern Affairs, the forum involves presentations from First Nation project developers and leading energy organizations such as Ogilvy Renault Barristers & Solicitors, Ontario Waterpower Association, Acres International Ltd, McMillan Binch LLP , Horizon Legacy, Regional Power Inc, Hydro One, and BLG Law Firm, to name a few.

Says Michael Fox, Partnership Development Advisor for Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund; "We are thrilled to see so much interest from both the First Nations and the wider private sector for this critical business forum. The uptake for this regional event from Bay Street and Toronto has been better than expected and I am quite pleased with the key stakeholders and private sector partners who are participating in order to outline the current processes for First Nation renewable energy projects. I believe that this forum will provide both strategic information and a networking function that will help fill a void that has been evident for a long time when it comes to First Nation energy initiatives."

Topic presentations will include; "MNR Waterpower Policy and Procedural Directives", "How to Negotiate an Effective Power Purchase Agreement", "The Energy Pathfinder Program" and "How the next RFP may look and the role of the Ontario Power Authority", amongst others.

The conference will also play host to a press conference announcement on Wednesday 23rd 2005 at 11.00am in the Scandia Room at the Valhalla Inn regarding a major First Nation/Private sector energy initiative.

Registration for the event is still available. Those interested should contact: 807 767 4443 or 807 623 5397.

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Media Enquiry Contact:
Stephanie Ash
Firedog Communications;
Tel: 807 767 4443 or email: stephanie@firedogpr.com