Media.Knet.Ca

The Ontario Human Rights Commission released a new human rights policy to modernize the struggle against racism in Ontario  from their Toronto office yesterday.

“It is time organizations and institutions acknowledge the reality of racism and be prepared to act against subtle and sometimes subconscious prejudices and stereotypes that too often result in discrimination”, said Keith Norton, Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission today as he announced the release of the Commission’s Policy and Guidelines on Racism and Racial Discrimination.

The backgrounder for the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Policy and Guidelines on Racism and Racial Discrimination contains the information about the process used to develop this new policy guideline. The entire table of contents for the new policy guidelines provides a wealth of information for everyone.

• Part I - Setting the Context: Understanding Race, Racism and Racial Discrimination
• Part II - the Policy Framework
• Part III - Guidelines for Implementation: Monitoring and Combatting Racism and Racial Discrimination
• Appendix - Workplace Policies, Practices and Decision-making Processes & Systemic Discrimination

Some of the papers used in helping to formulate its policy on racial discrimination and race are very relevant in this region. They include:

• Systemic barriers to racially representative law enforcement agencies
• Stereotyping and its consequence for racial minority youth
• Racial Discrimination and Mental Health: Racialized and Aboriginal Communities
• Racial Inequality in Access to Health Care Services

On July 12, the Chiefs of Nishnawbe Aski Nation will gather in Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the signing of Treaty Number 9. Here is the agenda for this full day of activities that will webcast on-line for all to see. For those who are able to attend this historic event in person, see the map below the agenda ...

National Chief Phil Fontaine presented a list of First Nation priorities to the Federal government at the May 31 Cabinet Retreat. This gathering was the follow up to the roundtable discussions hosted over the past winter. At the meeting, Chief Fontaine highlighted the need for "enabling broadband connections and access in all communities". Click here to read the entire AFN press release.

At the June 14 - 16, Chiefs of Ontario gathering in Eagle Lake First Nation, the new Regional Chief Angus Toulouse spoke about the need for broadband connections for all the First Nations across Ontario. On the last day of this gathering National Chief Phil Fontaine shared the AFN priorities with the Chiefs in Assembly and once again emphasized the need to deliver broadband connections in all First Nations across the country.

Now the challenge will be to ensure First Nations receive the support required to meet the MINIMUM broadband requirement of two-way symmetrical bandwidth of T1 (1.5M) capacity that will support interactive two-way video conferencing that is necessary for telehealth applications. This definition of broadband was established by the National Broadband Task Force in 2001. Unfortunately various internet-only service providers are advertising their connectivity solutions as broadband when in fact these connections will not deliver two way symmetrical bandwidth. 

As a result of our June 21 roundtable (click here to Knews story about this meeting), The Star is launching a public on-line discussion of aboriginal education. I'll be writing a story about it in the next few days, but you all get a sneak peak. It's up and running, and I'd encourage anyone who is interested to post a comment. There is a section for thoughts on the broader issue, and another for requests for specific items and services - and offers of the same, under "help wanted/help offered." Here's the link. http://thestar.blogs.com/nativeforum 

We also have launched a native education page with articles dealing with the issue. http://www.thestar.com/native. This link also provides a link to the Fort Severn story shared with the group on June 21 by grade 8 student Florence Thomas (click here to read her story).

If you have copies of remarks you made that day, feel free to post them on the forum, or, if they're really long, email them to me and we can post them on the web page. Feel free to suggest a link for the native education page. 

We're also talking with Ryerson University about the best way to privately continue the discussion that began at our roundtable. We'll keep you posted on that in the days to come.

Louise Brown
Education Reporter
Toronto Star

Dan Pellerin, K-Net's Network Manager and Jeannie Carpenter, K-Net's Operations Manager met with officials from the United Nations via video conference on June 9. They shared a presentation about how KO is using ICTs in the support of health services in remote First Nations during an afternoon forum  that was being held at the United Nations. The title of session hosted by "Promoting An Enabling Environment: Music, Technology, Culture and Healthcare".

From the United Nations Webcast portal (at http://www.un.org/webcast/2005.html)

International Council for Caring Communities (ICCC) in collaboration with the United Nations ICT-Task Force, Programme on Ageing, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA); the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University Medical Center, Global Music Healing Institute ; NGOs and the private sector.
[Webcast: Archived Video - Part 1: 2 hours 17 minutes]
[Webcast: Archived Video - Part 2: 1 hour 56 minutes]
[Link to Programme]

The session was organized by Professor Dianne Davis, Founding President of the International Council for Caring Communities (ICCC). This unique interrelated event is part of a series organized by the International Council for Caring Communities (ICCC) in collaboration with the United Nations ICT-Task Force, Programme on Ageing, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA); the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University Medical Center, Global Music Healing Institute; NGOs and the private sector. The Conference will address applications related to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals in terms of creating partnerships and improving health of citizens worldwide.
 
Music and its effects on the individual have been recognized and practiced for centuries. But what is new is that now, for the first time, we can now prove through technology what happens plus enhance lives more rapidly using ICT as an enabling tool.

Conference addresses: 

• ICT as an enabling tool for rural and urban delivery of health care services
• Emerging technologies in music and medicine
• Power of music in creating a dialogue among children 
• New understanding of the impact of musical rhythms and its utilization as a  “Medical Tool”

International Council For Caring Communities (ICCC)
24 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019, USA
Tel: 212 688-4321  fax: 212  759-5893  
E-mail: icccworld@earthlink.net   
www.international-iccc.org

Brian Beaton, K-Net Coordinator for Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet visited three First Nation schools in the Union of Ontario Indians territory on June 6 and 7. The schools in Nipissing, Dokis and Wasauksing First Nations were visited on this trip. A short meeting with the Union's Education Director also provided some important insights into the efforts of this region to address the educational needs of the students. Click here to view the pictures from these visits.

As part of the First Nations SchoolNet program, Keewaytinook Okimakanak is the Ontario Regional Management Organization (RMO) supporting First Nation schools across Ontario in the use of ICTs. In completing this work, visits to different regions and schools is assisting the RMO team to determine needs and priorities with the First Nation schools across Ontario. Each school across the province is completing surveys highlighting their existing resources and developments along with their ICT requirements and priorities for the 2005-2006 school year.

On Friday, June 3 George Ferreira, Carl Seibel and Brian Beaton travelled to Ottawa to meet with representatives from different federal government departments and First Nation organizations to showcase the new video production, "Turning the Corner - Effective use of broadband in Canada's North". Representatives from the Assembly of First Nations, the Aboriginal Peoples Congress along with officials from Industry Canada (FedNor, Aboriginal Business Canada, First Nations SchoolNet, Computers for Schools, National Satellite Initiative, BRAND, etc), Heritage Canada, Human Resources Skills Development, Health Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs, Privy Council and Treasury Board gathered in Ottawa. Connected to the session via video conference were Regional Management Organization offices in La Ronge Saskatchewan, Sydney Nova Scotia and Thunder Bay and Balmertown in Ontario. Over forty people participated in the two sessions that were offered throughout the morning. FedNor's Minister of State Joe Comuzzi dropped by to meet everyone and endorse the work that Keewaytinook Okimakanak and his team are doing in northwestern Ontario.

Everyone view the video and discussed the use of broadband to affect the necessary changes required in programs and policy that are affecting and influencing the present situations and issues affecting remote and rural communities across Canada.

All the video material produced by Keewaytinook Okimakanak is available on-line for everyone's access. We can send over additional DVD copies of the various material that is posted on-line (much better quality) if we have your mailing address. The following list of on-line material might be of interest to everyone ...

1. DVD - video production “Turning the Corner – Using Broadband Effectively in Canada’s North”. The content of the DVD is available on-line at (May 2005) …http://streaming.knet.ca/turning_the_corner_high.wmv
2. Turning the Corner with First Nations Telehealth position paper - May, 2005 http://knet.ca/documents/KOTelehealth-Position-Paper-May2005.pdf
3. E-Community Concept paper (April 2005) - http://knet.ca/documents/EComm-concept-final.pdf
4. Community Aggregation Model (April 2005) - http://knet.ca/documents/community-aggregation.pdf
5. Report of Keewaytinook Okimakanak C-Band Public Benefit Initiative (March 2005) - http://research.knet.ca/images/upload/05-03-29-Summative-Overview-C-Band-Public-Benefit-KNet1[1].pdf
6. KIHS information video http://streaming.knet.ca/KiHS/KiHS_300k.wmv
7. Keewaytinook Okimakanak Telehealth (KOTH) information video http://streaming.knet.ca/telehealth/TH-Evaluation_300k.wmv
8. DVD video entitled "The K-Net Story ... Weaving the Networked Economy in Kuhkenah First Nation Communities" … (Dec 2004)
   • Introduction 13:04 - http://streaming.knet.ca/fednor/intro_300k.wmv
   • Economic Development 2:36 - http://streaming.knet.ca/fednor/economic_300k.wmv
   • Partnerships 9:51 - http://streaming.knet.ca/fednor/partnerships_300k.wmv
   • Building the Network 2:36 - http://streaming.knet.ca/fednor/network_300k.wmv
   • Education 5:58 - http://streaming.knet.ca/fednor/education_300k.wmv
   • Health 3:29 - http://streaming.knet.ca/fednor/health_300k.wmv
   • Visions for the Future - http://streaming.knet.ca/fednor/future_visions_300k.wmv
9. The Case Studies produced for the Institute for Connectivity in the Americas (ICA) entitled “Harnessing ICTs: A Canadian First Nations’ Experience” (December 2003) – http://smart.knet.ca/kuhkenah_flash.html (contains videos for each case study listed below)– contains the PDF files along with video footage for five case studies including:
   * Executive Summary – http://smart.knet.ca/flash/eng/pdf/summary.pdf
   * Introduction to K-Net – http://smart.knet.ca/flash/eng/pdf/introduction.pdf
   * K-Net Network Development - http://smart.knet.ca/flash/eng/pdf/network.pdf
   * K-Net Case Study on Economic Development - http://smart.knet.ca/flash/eng/pdf/economic.pdf
   * K-Net Case Study on Health - http://smart.knet.ca/flash/eng/pdf/health.pdf
   * K-Net Case Study on Education - http://smart.knet.ca/flash/eng/pdf/education.pdf
10. If you go to the K-Net news archives at http://knews.knet.ca and do a SEARCH (on the left hand column) for the word video ... you will get a list of the various video products that have been produced for distribution.

EAGLE LAKE FIRST NATION (June 14, 2005) - In a traditional election ceremony, representatives of all First Nations across Ontario elected a new Ontario Regional Chief today. Angus Toulouse, of Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation was chosen in a traditional standing vote, succeeding Charles Fox who is stepping down after five years.

“This process has invigorated the resolve of the Ontario First Nations leadership. Today marks a new day - of unity and a renewed focus on our rights based-agenda,” said Ontario Regional Chief Toulouse.   “I am humbled by this honour bestowed upon me by the Chiefs and I will be unrelenting in my approach to carrying out this mandate.” 

“We will continue what the Chiefs of Ontario have started in fostering a new and cooperative relationship with both the federal and provincial governments,” said Regional Chief Toulouse. “I have pledged to move forward on issues such as housing, healing and wellness, forestry and obtaining a greater share in the resources of our treaty territories.

Outgoing Regional Chief Fox provided words of congratulations to the new Ontario Regional Chief.

“I have every confidence that the Chiefs of Ontario have selected a leader who will unite our Nations and fulfill the mandate entrusted to him,” stated outgoing Regional Chief Charles Fox. “This is an historic time for our Peoples, the federal and provincial governments have signalled their commitment to re-establishing meaningful working relationships. Our leadership are prepared to engage these governments, on a government to government basis, and Angus has the leadership skills to facilitate these processes.” 

Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse has been Chief of the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation, located near Massey, Ontario for the past eleven years. He has also served six years as a band councillor in his community. In addition to his duties as Chief, Toulouse is also the Lake Huron Region Grand Chief for the Union of Ontario Indians and has served as Chairman of the North Shore Tribal Council. He is a strong advocate for a rights-based agenda, including a focus on advocating for treaty and aboriginal rights. He has held a number of portfolios over the years including education and natural resources with a focus on forestry.

Seven candidates were nominated for the position, including runner-up Wally McKay who placed a close second behind Toulouse. Other candidates included: Lorraine Rekmans (Serpent River), Art Petahtegoose (Whitefish Lake), Allan Luby (Dalles) Chris McCormick (Batchewana), Larry Jourdain (Lac la Croix), Eli Mandamin (Shoal Lake #39).

Ontario Regional Toulouse was elected for a four year term, instead of the customary 3-year term as directed by the Chiefs in Assembly.

The Chiefs of Ontario is the coordinating body for all 134 First Nations across Ontario. The Ontario Regional Chief is also the chair of the Ontario Political Confederacy and is Ontario First Nations representative on the Assembly of First Nations (AFN).

From Chiefs of Ontario web site ... http://chiefs-of-ontario.org/news/june22-05.html

June 22, 2005

Dancing to a different drummer
Native students' needs discussed by key figures at forum

Great money divide between north and south highlighted

ISABEL TEOTONIO STAFF REPORTER The Toronto Star

Florence Thomas attends school in a restaurant. She's not a budding chef but an eighth-grader from Fort Severn First Nation, the most northerly community in Ontario.

She and about 100 students from her elementary school were forced out last June after it was discovered that the school's walls were infested with mould. But with no money to build a new site or erect portables for the start of the 2004 school year, students were home-schooled for the first few months until space was found in buildings that could accommodate them.

Students from kindergarten to Grade 3 were schooled at a teacher's home; those in Grades 4 through 6 were schooled at a youth centre, and students in Grades 7 and 8 ended up in a restaurant.

As a result of the amount of school missed, those in Florence's grade are being held back a year, which means she will return to the restaurant come fall. That is, if they can find a new teacher to replace the one who quit last week.

Money from Ottawa has been promised toward the construction of portables.

"It's upsetting. I'd like a new school," said the shy 14-year-old yesterday after the plight in her community was raised during a private three-hour brainstorming session at Ryerson University about the urgent need to improve the education of aboriginal children in Ontario.

The round-table discussion, hosted by the university and the Toronto Star, attracted dozens of key figures, including educators, native leaders and government officials, both from the federal and provincial levels.

The need for such an event surfaced after a Star series, titled "Ontario's Forgotten Children," was published in April. Reporter Louise Brown and photographer René Johnston visited some of the 24 communities that make up the Sioux Lookout District First Nations. They chronicled the woeful state of education and highlighted the gap between Canada's native and non-native children.

For years, educators of the province's native schools on reserves, which are paid for by the federal government, have been complaining that there is little help for children with great need. Yesterday's workshop was designed to let key players start developing solutions.

The discussions were kick-started with a speech by Ontario's Lieutenant-Governor James Bartleman, who pointed out that, according to Auditor-General Sheila Fraser's report in November 2004, aboriginal children lag so far behind that it will take 28 years to close the gap between the numbers of native versus non-native high school graduates.

Throughout the discussion, which was moderated by Dr. Charles Pascal, executive director of the Atkinson Charitable Foundation, many of the issues raised in the Star's series surfaced repeatedly, such as the need for more teacher training, rampant staff turnover and more money to fly in experts to assess the needs of students. But the main issue threaded throughout the discussion was the need for greater partnership and more federal dollars from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

"The main issue is lack of equality in education and that means the whole service delivery," said Mary-Beth Minthorn-Biggs, a psychologist who conducted a study of 1,800 children in reserves across the Sioux Lookout District and found 86 per cent were at least two years behind grade level.

She questioned the government's goodwill, along with many others, when she pointed out that Indian and Northern Affairs Canada this year deemed a $1.2 million surplus in education for Ontario, and sent it to Alberta for that province to use.

However, Line Pare of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada pointed to last month's policy retreat for federal ministers and aboriginal leaders as evidence that Ottawa is listening.

A sobering comment made by Nishnawbe-Aski Nation Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic seemed to sum up the sentiments of many: "Aboriginal students are not failing. It's the system that's failing aboriginal students."

The round table was followed by a public discussion hosted by the lieutenant-governor at Queen's Park, an evening event that started with a traditional drum and dance ceremony to celebrate National Aboriginal Day.

"We're not asking for special treatment," Saul Williams of Sioux Lookout District Education Planning Committee told the Star. "We want our children to have the same opportunities as those in the southern part of the province."

He pointed out that in his community of North Caribou First Nation, eight students out of 120 can't speak, but there's no money to fly in speech pathologists.

The final consensus statement adopted by Canadian civil society groups representing a diverse range of peoples, backgrounds, expertise, and perspectives is now available. The group of 200 people met in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on 13-15 May 2005 at a conference entitled “Paving the Road to Tunis” organized by the Canadian Commission for UNESCO with the support of Foreign Affairs Canada, Industry Canada, Canadian Heritage, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, the International Development Research Centre, and the Canada Council for the Arts. The purpose of the meeting was to canvass the views of the civil society organizations in Canada on the Plan of Action that emerged from Phase I of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva and the prospects for Phase II in Tunis.

Keewaytinook Okimakanak staff participated in this gathering along with Chief Raymond Mason of Keewaywin First Nation. The following statement concerning Indigenous People is included in this communique.

Indigenous Peoples have the right to be part of the Information Society on their own terms and to shape their future without risking loss of their cultural identity. The survival and development of the living cultures of Indigenous Peoples should be supported by ICT use, not replaced by it. The traditional and cultural knowledge of Indigenous Peoples, held individually and collectively, is integrally linked with the exercise of their right to maintain and strengthen their spiritual and material relationships with ancestral territories.

We support a culturally appropriate approach to ICT use in compliance with cultural protocols and customary laws of Indigenous Peoples.  We object to the commodification of Indigenous traditional knowledge and cultural heritage, in particular any characterization of them as raw material, a commercial resource, or the inclusion of such knowledge in the public domain without the consent and full participation of the individual and collective holders of such knowledge.  We recognize the challenges and obstacles faced by Indigenous Peoples with respect to ICTs, specifically the existing digital divide and its causes. We support the Indigenous right of access, and promote Indigenous participation as partners in action and stakeholders.

Actions to be taken: 

1. Creating a high-level mechanism that brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous actors of the Information Society to promote its cultural diversity, co-operate in its evolution, develop an ethical code and standards for best practices and jointly monitor its impacts;
2. Enabling the realization of Indigenous research projects to support aboriginal communities by bridging the digital divide on their own terms and by developing culturally appropriate ICT applications, content and capacity-building programs;
3. Establishing special grant programs addressing the particular needs of Indigenous Peoples enabling "Indigenous-to-Indigenous" co-operation.

Click here to read the entire six page communique. There are lots of great references contained in this document.