Media.Knet.Ca

Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation is developing their  community broadband telecommunications network. The community obtained FedNor funding in 2004 to begin planning and building their local community network. The Mishkeegagamang project also helped provide some support funding for the development of the Pickle Lake broadband cable system which began operating in the summer of 2004 (Click on the KNews story - Pickle Lake gets assistance for high speed internet services - Aug 2004).

A K-Net T1 connection was installed by Bell Canada in the local nursing station in the fall of 2004 as the first step. The nursing station was networked (Health Canada and KO Telehealth) so all the computers and the new telemedicine suite could be on-line. In January of this year, the telehealth facilities were staffed and operational (click here for pictures of the Mish telehealth opening).

The Mishkeegogamang Broadband Community Network is using a wireless design to connect the various locations across this dispersed community. Access to the Bell tower and getting the proper radio equipment that can manage video, audio and high speed data traffic with Quality of Service (QOS) did result in some delays in completing this project. In the end, Superior Wireless' team and the K-Net team (Dan and Adi) were able to put together an operational network in time for the 100 year commemoration ceremonies of the signing of treaty nine that occurred this past week.

On Tuesday, the First Nations SchoolNet team were in Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation for these celebrations. Several activities were able to be supported using this community broadband network including:

• Video taping of the entire event at the old post site (click here for pictures);
• Taped interviews with elders from across Nishnawbe Aski Nation about the treaty and its historical significance to the Nishnawbe Aski (working in partnership with Wawatay Native Communications Society, Shibogama First Nations Council and Kwayaciiwin Education Resource Centre staff);
• Information display booth about the ICT applications being supported by Keewaytinook Okimakanak;
• Establishing a wireless broadband connection at the site of the afternoon ceremonies that included the IP video conferencing unit (for the webcast), IP telephones for connecting to others, and computers for high speed data connections;
• Webcasting and archiving of the entire afternoon session (click here to watch the archive - NOTE: the first 2 hours and 30 minutes is mainly set up so SCROLL forward to 2:36 to get to the start of this 3 hour event);
• Using the archived sessions to web stream the various guest speakers (click on the name to watch their presentation), including:
  • National Chief Phil Fontaine, Assembly of First Nations;
  • Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse, Chiefs of Ontario
  • Grand Chief Stan Beardy, Nishnawbe Aski Nation
  • Chief Ronald Roundhead, Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation
  • The Hon. James K. Bartleman, Ontario's Lieutenant Governor
  • The Hon. Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Minister of State (Northern Development)
  • The Hon. Jack Layton, MP, Leader of the NDP
  • The Hon. David Ramsay, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs
  • Catherine Cheechoo, NAN Youth Representative

One event that happened that day that highlights the importance of broadband communication networks was when an INAC communications officer was trying to get pictures from the event to the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal to include with their press release. Because he was not able to contact his INAC co-workers at the ceremonies, he called K-Net to see if there was a way to get pictures to the editor.

While speaking on the IP phone with Jamie Ray and Jeannie Carpenter who were setting up the network at the ceremony site, the editor of the newspaper called the K-Net Sioux Lookout office. He was able to speak directly with Jamie and Jeannie by teleconferencing the two together using the IP phone network. While they were trying to figure out how to get some pictures for the newspaper article, David Paul Achneepineskum, NAN's Executive Director walked into the tent site and was seen on the live internet webcast that was being broadcast over the network. The team was then able to ask David Paul about who would have pictures to share and he suggested Jenna Young, NAN's Communication Officer. Jeannie took on the task of getting the pictures from Jenna, zipping them together into an e-mail to the editor and sending them over to the newspaper and to the K-Net office where they were posted.

This is a great example of broadband in action by being able to see David Paul to get his help (video), to speak with people at the site (audio) and to send the information required (data). All this was done in less than an hour. Click here to see the pictures that were sent.

July 14 2005   

Chief

Archie Meekis       204 votes

Evelyn Meekis      125 votes

Deputy Chief

Henry Meekis      210 votes

Delbert Kakegamic     119 votes 

Councillors

Albert Mamakeesic     193

George Rae       192

Randy Meekis      162

Cory J. Meekis      158

Lydia B. Meekis     144

Oscar Meekis          142

North Caribou Lake
First Nation
Ladies Baseball Tournament

August 4 - 6, 2005

Entry Fee: $300.00 Per Team

Championship - $4,000.00 Guaranteed
Consolation - $2,500.00

Plus Trophies & Medallions

Bring your own Blankets & Toiletries

Assembly of First Nations National Conference on Residential Schools

“A fair and just resolution of the Residential Schools Legacy”

July 19, 20 & 21, 2005 - Vancouver, BC

National Chief Phil Fontaine invites you to participate in an information and interactive conference on Residential Schools

Conference Poster - Small | Large (pdf)
Registration form - (pdf)

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Other on-line resources from the AFN Residential School web site:

• AFN's Report on Canada's Dispute Resolution Plan to compensate for Abuses in Indian Residential Schools (Nov. 17/2004) Download the Report here: Residential Schools Report.pdf
• Residential School Survivors Contact information Database - Please download the form here: Survivors Contact Sheet.pdf (complete and mail to the AFN)
• Residential School Records and personal information by filling out an Informal Request form from www.irsr-rqpi.gc.ca (do not mail this form to the AFN)

To all the northwestern ontario communities:

We, the people of the Pikangikum First Nation are requesting for your assistance. As you might be aware, one of our young people, Jeffery Turtle is missing. He's been gone since the 5th of July, 2005. Today is day 10.

We need assistance in food or money to help with the search. All donations will go towards helping the search parties. We need to feed the search parties. There are 2 other communites here at Pikangikum, helping out in the search plus the OPP search & rescue team.

Your donations would be very much appreciated.

For more information phone 807 773 5557 and ask for Lyle or Colin.

Thank you in advance.

Eabametoong First Nation
12th Annual Traditional Pow-wow
July 14, 15, 16, 17,2005

Traditional Host Drum: Kitchinoodagoose
Host Drum: Bushtown Eagles
Co Host: Red Spirit Eagles

Emcee: Elmer Atlookan
Arena Director: Wayne Slipperjack

Thursday July 14
7:00am Sunrise Ceremony
- lighting of Sacred Fire
6:00 pm Ceremonies to be held
- Traditional drum- Kitchinoodagose
- Specials
- Honor songs/ healing songs
- welcoming in new dancers
- feasting of the drums
- feasting of the regalia's

Friday July 15
6:00 pm Grand Entry
- Birthday song
- etc..

Saturday July 16
1:00 pm - Grand Entry
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm - SUPPER BREAK
7:00 pm - Grand Entry

Saturday July 17
1:00 pm - Grand Entry
5:30 pm Community Feast
9:00 pm - Give away Song by Traditional Host Drum - Kitchioodagose
10:00 pm -Retreat of the flags
Traveling song

We'll be having Specials during the pow-wow
such as 49er's, spotdance, and many more ...
so come on to Eabametoong First Nation to celebrate with us.

Contacts
Naomi & Wanda - 242-7250
Isabelle - 242-7353
Wayne - 242-1466

Muskrat Dam First Nation 2nd Annual Women's Invitational Volleyball Tournament

August 24 - 27, 2005
Confirmation deadline: August 17, 2005

Entry Fee:

• $ 400.00 for outside teams
• $ 500.00 for local teams
•  To be paid before first game
• Prizes will be determined by number of confirmed teams

Accommodations will be provided. Please bring sleeping gear.
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For more information call: Dawn Beardy @ 471-2573 / 2574 Madeline Duncan @ 471-2544 / 2577

Muskrat Dam First Nation 2nd Annual Men's Invitational Volleyball Tournament

August 24-27, 2005
Confirmation deadline: August 17, 2005

Entry Fee:

• $ 500.00 outside teams
• $ 600.00 local teams

100% payout to the Championship

• one cash prize only and trophy
• Accommodations will be provided.
• Please bring sleeping gear.

For more information, please call: Dawn Beardy @ 471-2573 / 2574 Madeline Duncan @ 471-2544 / 2577

Join us at the Town Beach in Sioux Lookout July 29th to July 31th for the annual Sioux Mountain Music and Cultural Festival.

The Festival features over 100 exhibitors of the finest crafts, drumming workshops, visual arts, food products, music, along with children's craft activities and cultural entertainment. There will be musical performances by local artists such as YXL, the Most Certain End and Elizabeth Hill. The event will be held at the town beach.

For more information contact Patty Chabbert at 737-1501.

Sponsored by the Sioux Lookout Anti-Racism Committee

• Music Festival Pamphlet
  

• Sioux Mountain Sponsorship Letter
  

• Festival Registration
  

From the official Treaty Nine Commemoration web site at http://treatyninecommemoration.on.ca/ ...

An exhibition of original Treaty 9 documents (including the original treaty) are on loan from the National Archives of Canada and available for viewing at the Sioux Lookout Library. The Treaty 9 Exhibit is free and open to public.

Dates and times of Showing are:

• Wed July 13 11am to 5pm
• Thu July 14 2pm to 8pm
• Fri July 15 11am to 5pm

Contact Sioux Lookout Public Library at 807-737-3660 for more information.

As a way to demonstrate broadband applications, Keeweaytinook Okimakanak is hosting a web cam at their Sioux Lookout office. Click here to check out the current image

A second web cam is located in Jamie Ray's home to overlook Pelican Lake with the float planes landing. Click here to click that Sioux Lookout scene.