Archive - Mar 2005

March 25th

KO breeze presentations to Carleton University business classes

Phil Carr, publisher of the Canada Connects magazine, was the guest speaker in a number of business classes at Carleton University. As part of his presentation, he connected with the K-Net office in Sioux Lookout using the Breeze meeting on-line platform for presentations about the telehealth and internet high school work being supported by Keewaytinook Okimakanak.

"Waawiisokodatidaa-Keeping the Circle Strong" Residential Schools Gathering 2005

May 17, 18, 19, 2005

Golden Eagle Entertainment Centre

Wauzhushk Onigum (Rat Portage) First Nation

Kenora, Ontario

March 24th

Northwest Territories gathering features the Kuhkenah story

Jesse Fiddler, KO's former multi-media manager, travelled to Yellowknife this past week to share the Kuhkenah Network development and operations story. Conference participants from across the Territories gathered to learn about their broadband connectivity program that is about to be deployed over this coming summer. Jesse worked with other young people from remote communities, sharing his story and work.

March 23rd

Health Canada officials meet with K-Net team

K-Net staff met with Health Canada officials on Monday, March 21 to discuss connectivity solutions in the First Nation Health Centres across the Sioux Lookout Health Zone. Visitors to Sioux Lookout from Health Canada included

  • Lynda Pedley, Director, Informatics Services, FNIHB
  • Bob Conarroe, Manitoba Regional Director, Information Technology,
  • Roy Hart, Ontario Regional Director, Information Technology

Discussions included the development of the IP telephone service for the health centres, high speed data connections and telehealth applications.

NAN Summer Literacy camps staff positions available

Program Manager
Lieutenant Governor’s Aboriginal Literacy Summer Camps (LGALSC) Project

Location:                      Toronto, Ontario
Term Position:              May 2005- October 31, 2005
Salary Range:               $30,000.00 – 35,000.00  for 6 – month contract
Placement Date:            May 2, 2005
______________________________________________________________

Nature and Scope:

Planned in collaboration with the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), the LGALSC Project is a three–week summer camp for 75 Aboriginal youth ages 8-14 that will be offered in five remote First Nations communities in northern Ontario during July and August 2005. The goal of the LGALSC is to improve literacy rates among young people through participation in a summer camp program that focuses on fostering within participants insights, feelings, knowledge, and skills about the learning process.
The LGALSC is a collaborative project of the NAN, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Scouts Canada, National Indigenous Literacy Association, World Literacy of Canada, Frontier College, Toronto District School Board, and YMCA Ontario (the Steering Committee). The Steering Committee considers the LGALSC to be a pilot program, with potential to be continued after 2005.
While the position will operate out of Scouts Canada’s Toronto’s office, the Program Manager will be expected to be based in northern Ontario during the summer months. A relocation allowance will be provided during the summer months.

Responsibilities:

  • Reporting to the Steering Committee, the Program Manager is responsible for the overall management of the five summer camps, ensuring a high standard of program development and delivery.
  • Develops the pilot program operational policies and procedures.
  • Monitors all aspects of the summer camps operations including camper care, site administration, food service, and staffing.
  • Recruits, hires, trains, coaches, and leads a team of five Camp Directors and youth camp counselors from Aboriginal communities and Southern Ontario.
  • Manages the summer camp budget.
  • Designs and monitors a risk management program to ensure the health and safety of each camp participant.
  • Attends all Steering Committee meetings.

Qualifications:

  • Knowledge of project management tools, techniques, principles and practices  
  • Demonstrated experience volunteering or working in an Aboriginal context.
  • Demonstrated planning and problem-solving skills
  • Post-secondary degree or diploma in recreation, education or related field
  • Successful record of managing large implementation projects
  • Successful completion of a criminal reference check.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Supervisory/management role in a summer camp or similar youth-focused organization.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience of youth Aboriginal issues.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience with First Nations communities

Competencies:

  • Leadership: Motivates and inspires self and others to take action to achieve desired outcomes.
  • Relationship Building and Collaboration:  Builds positive interactions both internally and externally to achieve work-related goals.
  • Creativity and Innovation: Develops new ways or adapts existing ideas to help achieve desired results.
  • Planning and Organizing: Establishes a clearly defined and effective course of action for self and others to accomplish short and long-term goals.
  • Results-Oriented: Ability to manage and lead to achieve and exceed identified goals.
  • Concern for Health and Safety: Acknowledges and understands how to manage and educate others of risk and harm reduction
  • Tolerance for Ambiguity: Functions effectively in situations of less than perfect or incomplete information.

_______________________________

Curriculum Developer
Lieutenant Governor’s Aboriginal Literacy Summer Camps (LGALSC) Project

Location:                      Toronto, Ontario
Term Position:              May 2005- September 15, 2005
Salary Range:               $22,500.00 to 27,500.00 for 6-month contract
Placement Date:           May 2, 2005
______________________________________________________________

Nature and Scope:
Planned in collaboration with the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), the LGALSC Project is a three–week summer camp for 75 Aboriginal youth ages 8-14 that will be offered in five First Nations communities in northern Ontario during July and August 2005. The goal of the LGALSC is to improve literacy rates among young people through participation in a summer camp program that focuses on fostering within participants insights, feelings, knowledge, and skills about the learning process.
The LGALSC is a collaborative project of the NAN, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Scouts Canada, National Indigenous Literacy Association, World Literacy of Canada, Frontier College, Toronto District School Board, and YMCA Ontario (the Steering Committee). The Steering Committee considers the LGALSC to be a pilot program, with potential to be continued after 2005.
While the position will operate out of Scouts Canada’s Toronto office, the Curriculum Developer will be expected to be based in northern Ontario during the summer months. A relocation allowance will be provided during the summer months.

Responsibilities:

  • Reporting to the Program Manager, the major responsibility of the Curriculum Developer is to coordinate the development of the summer camp literacy curriculum, in consultation with the partner organizations and the Program Manager.
  • Based on the defined goals and objectives of the camp curriculum, develops and organizes training sessions for camp directors and youth counselors, in consultation with the partner organizations and the Program Manager.
  • Develops future summer camp leaders through a focus on mentorship approaches and programming.
  • Assists the Program Manager in directing camp operations including camper care, site operations, health and safety matters, and supervising and coaching camp directors, as required.

Qualifications:

  • Demonstrated experience in curriculum planning.
  • Minimum of two years in a supervisory/management role in a summer camp or similar youth-focused organization.
  • Demonstrated experience volunteering or working in an Aboriginal context.
  • Demonstrated ability to work closely with and share leadership with other managers.
  • Post-secondary degree or diploma in education, recreation or related field 
  • Possesses or has the capacity to obtain a valid CPR and First Aid certification
  • Successful completion of a criminal reference check.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Demonstrated knowledge of literacy issues
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience of youth Aboriginal issues.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience with First Nations communities.

Competencies:

  • Leadership: Motivates and inspires self and others to take action to achieve desired outcomes.
  • Relationship Building and Collaboration:  Builds positive interactions both internally and externally to achieve work-related goals.
  • Communications: Ability to speak, write, listen and secure information in a variety of settings.
  • Planning and Organizing: Establishes a clearly defined and effective course of action for self and others to accomplish short and long-term goals.
  • Teamwork: Participates actively and positively in teams and teambuilding for maximum organizational effectiveness.
  • Results-Oriented: Ability to manage and lead to achieve and exceed identified goals.
  • Tolerance for Ambiguity: Functions effectively in situations of less than perfect or incomplete information.

A letter of application and resume should be sent by April 1st to:
Scouts Canada
Central Ontario
265 Yorkland Blvd.
2nd Floor
Toronto, Ontario M2J 5C7
FAX:    416-490-6911
Email:  psundborg@scouts.ca
We would prefer to receive your letter of application and resume via email

Attn:   Peter Sundborg
          Executive Director

"Duty to consult" supreme court ruling being put to the test

Haida set up blockades on Queen Charlottes

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/03/23/haida-logging-050323.html

Last Updated Wed, 23 Mar 2005 12:03:11 EST
CBC News

PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. - The Haida Nation has set up blockades around B.C.'s Queen Charlotte Islands, demanding it be consulted over forestry operations and land-use issues.

More than 100 protesters blocked roads to logging camps, disrupted barge traffic and forced the provincial forestry office in Queen Charlotte City to shut down, Port Clements Mayor Dale Lore said Wednesday.

The protesters said they're are upset by the B.C. government's refusal to consult with the Haida Nation over Weyerhaeuser's recent sale of private coastal forest land and Crown timber rights to Brascan Corp.

Haida spokesperson Gilbert Parnell said they want to stop logging in environmentally sensitive areas and said they want to block the $1.2-billion deal – scheduled to be completed in June – until those concerns are dealt with.

Last November, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that governments must consult meaningfully with natives and consider their concerns about projects that could infringe on aboriginal land claims.

But the court's ruling doesn't force governments to forge agreement with the affected bands and it doesn't extend to developers.

Haida asks Governor General to intervene

Council of the Haida Nation President Guujaaw said the logging company and the province are ignoring not only the Supreme Court ruling, but also community concerns.

"There is an opportunity now to ... create a sustainable economy on this island, but if it keeps on going the way it is now we are going to lose that."

Guujaaw said the provincial government is not dealing honourably with First Nations in B.C., and has asked Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson to intervene. He said it is the duty of the Governor General to oversee the moral authority of the Crown.

An official with the Ministry of Forests said it is willing to talk to the Haida, but cannot stop the transfer of logging rights from Weyerhauser to Brascan.

Protesters may shut down all logging

If the government doesn't budge, Lore said there is widespread support amongst the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities for a complete shutdown of all logging on the islands by the weekend.

He said he's repeatedly urged provincial officials to consult with the Haida, telling them they'd be defying a Supreme Court order if they did not. "My town is going to get caught in the middle," Lore said.

Weyerhaeuser spokesperson Sarah Goodman said it's not the company's responsibility to consult with the Haida about the timber licence sale to Brascan.

"The Supreme Court was very clear that businesses such as Weyerhaeuser do not have duty to consult and accommodate First Nations," she said.

"It makes good sense to work with First Nations. They are our neighbours. And we believe the government has in place many processes to consult with the Haida and will continue to do so, regardless of who holds the licence."

March 22nd

AFN National Chief and NAN Grand Chief visit KO in Balmertown

Phil_Stan_Dunc.jpg

National Chief Phil Fontaine of the Assembly of First Nations and Grand Chief Stan Beardy of Nishnawbe Aski Nation visited Keewaytinook Okimakanak on Monday, March 21. The Municipality of Red Lake hosted the luncheon and members of the community joined the guests and the Keewaytinook Okimakanak team for a special supper. Click here to see some pictures from this event.

Presentations and demonstrations involving several remote First Nation communities across the north were provided to showcase the Kuhkenah Network (K-Net), the internet high school and the KO Telehealth initative.

Other guests travelling with the National Chief included Jerry Fontaine, Marsha Smoke and Dean Fontaine.

Richard Lyons' death - an opportunity to remember the life a great Aboriginal person

From the Seven Generations Education Institute Press Release ...

Order of Canada Recipient passes away at the age of 80

Dr. Richard Lyons, an outstanding and prominent community Elder and a long time resident of Thunder Bay passed away peacefully on March 21, 2004.

"He will be a great loss not only to the Aboriginal community, but to all citizens of Thunder Bay," stated Mark Sault, Director of Seven Generations Education Institute where Richard was the spiritual and cultural advisor since 1992. "His vision for helping young people will continue as our job is to carry out that work", he stated.

He was a friend to many and he will be dearly missed by all those who knew him. Richard was known as a champion for preserving the Anishnabe culture, for his teachings about Native spirituality and promoting understanding of the traditional beliefs. He made a significant impact among the Aboriginal community through his devotion for the advancement of the Anishnabe way of understanding life. Throughout his life, he contributed to many organizations promoting and teaching about the cultural values and traditions of his people.

March 21st

Casting Call for Aboriginal Television Hosts

You could be a host on the hit TV show Road Scholars!ROAD SCHOLARS follows high school students, armed with digital cameras, as they capture the history and beauty of exotic locales while drawing viewers into their personal experiences.

In the summer of 2005 8 aboriginal hosts will be sent on adventures (paid for
by ROAD SCHOLARS) to: 

  • Peru,
  • Australia,
  • Wyoming
  • and 5 other cool places

The television program about their experiences will air on APTN Aboriginal Peoples Television Network in the winter of 2006.

If you think you have what it takes, here's what you need to know and do:

  1. Be ready, willing and able to travel and learn
  2. Be ready to teach others about your Inuit, First Nations or Métis culture with games,drumming, chanting, telling traditional stories etc.
  3. Be in high school grades 9-12 (No Age limit)
  4. Be cool about making new friends
  5. Love performing for the camera and be willing to learn to be a videographer

If this sounds like fun then send a picture and a short letter saying why you would make a totally awesome Road Scholar.  Make sure you tell us if you've done any performing!

Deadline for applications is April 30, 2005

Snail mail to:
Road Scholars Productions Inc.
2 Haig Ave.
Toronto, Ontario M1N 2W1
Or email to: maria@amberlight.ca
If you have questions go to  www.roadscholars.ca
or call Maria at 416-694-3131
Chris Allicock
Amberlight Productions
2 Haig Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M1N 2W1
416-694-3131
416-694-2784 (Fax)
www.amberlight.ca

March 20th

James Barkman's northern walks to support First Nation patients in the cities

Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug news reports on Jim Barkman's efforts to increase awareness and raise funds for patients and people who find themselves having to move to the city for health care services. Jim and his supporters are walking from one northern community to the next on the winter road to share his story and to gain support for the support he needs to put these services in place. Click here for the pictures and story