Media.Knet.Ca

This morning, Jesse Terry wrote the following message from his six month placement with the Elba program in Finland ...

"spring will be coming around the same time as it does back home or just a little later.  The sea ice leaves in April, just like home. The Elba has canoes and does canoe programs which I will be a big part of.  So, am really looking forward to that.  As well, in the spring and summer, they have international camps, ranging from leadership to adventure activities, which I'll be working on.  Those I am really looking forward too!

So, glad you like the pics.  And, yes, its nice to be able to use a computer at work...

Jesse uses his web site at myknet.org to share his stories and experiences with his family and friends. Check it out at http://jesseterry.myknet.org. For more information about the international program that is sponsoring Jesse's work in Finland visit http://www.ghostriverrediscovery.com/ypi.htm

The family connections are maintained even at a distance with most members posting pictures and stories on their personal homepages. Carol Terry, Jesse's mother who is the Health Director at the Independent First Nations Alliance in Sioux Lookout, loves to use her site to share special pictures about family gatherings and adventures (http://carolterry.myknet.org). Cal Kenny, Jesse's older brother who works with Keewaytinook Okimakanak, produces some wonderful videos and stories that makes everyone want to return to this special place in the north (http://calkenny.myknet.org). Kanina, Jesse's sister who is living and working in Toronto, also maintains an "interesting" personal web site at http://kainaterry.myknet.org. Tom, Jesse's father, keeps talking about setting up a web site but always has something else to do with the folks in the north.

This is just one family's way of staying in touch using the internet. The MyKnet.org server had over 70 million hits in January alone, with an average of over 20 thousand VISITS DAILY in January. So we do know that youth and their families are on-line and using these communication tools!!

http://www.our-story.ca/index2.html

A challenge for Aboriginal youth (15 to 18 years of age) across the country to write a short story about a defining moment in Aboriginal history. Students will have the opportunity to win great prizes and be profiled on TV. 

This is a chance to educate Canadians about the moments that have shaped our country and its people from an Aboriginal perspective.

The deadline for submissions is May 6, 2005. An Advisory Committee of Aboriginal authors from across the country that includes authors Tantoo Cardinal and Lee Maracle will judge the submissions. The results of the contest will be announced on National Aboriginal Day, June 21st 2005.

Participants should read the Contest Rules in greater detail before applying and then Submit a Story following the submission process.

Prizes & Recognition:

First Place:

• The student with the first place entry will receive a $500 cash prize.
• The first place student will travel to Ottawa with a guardian to attend a special event and read an excerpt from his or her story to a group of Aboriginal leaders and authors.
• The first place student will be interviewed and profiled in a Canadian Learning Television and Book Television TV Feature.
• The First Place student will have an excerpt from his or her story published in the Beaver Magazine.

Top Ten Entries:

• Students who place in the top ten will receive a $200 cash prize.
• The top ten stories will be published on the Project Web site.
• The top ten students will receive a copy of the Our Story Publication (Doubleday Canada, 2004)

All Entries

• All participants will receive a Letter of Recognition from the Institute’s Director acknowledging their hard work and participation in the programme.

Contest Rules

Aboriginal Students are asked to pick a moment or period in Aboriginal history and create a fictional short story that is based on this history. The event selected should be tied to Canadian history and/or the participant’s ancestral history.

Entry is free for all participants. The prizes and the rules and regulations are outlined below. Participants should read the guidelines carefully and ensure that they submit all the requested material. For more information call 1-866-701-1867.

• Participants must be of Aboriginal ancestry (Status, Non-Status, Inuit and Métis).
• Participants must be between 15-18 years of age.
• Participants must be currently (at the time of entry) attending a Canadian high school or working toward a home school or long distance education equivalent.
• Participants will submit a Short Story that is previously unpublished and between 800-1400 words in length.
• Participants will also submit a 200-400 word Author’s Statement that explains the significance of the historical event/period in history selected.
• Participants will include a Letter of Support from a teacher, guidance counselor or community leader. The letter must include the educator’s or leader’s full name, address and phone number.
• Participants will include the following personal information in a covering letter or in the text of their e-mails (Name, Address, Phone Number, Grade Level and Age).

 Submit a Story

Participants should submit their entries (including the Short Story, Author’s Statement and Letter of Support) by midnight May 6, 2005. Participants can submit their entries by e-mail to staff@dominion.ca or by mail to the address below. The original Letter of Support must be sent by mail. All mail submissions should be postmarked no later than May 6, 2005.

Dominion Institute
183 Bathurst St., Suite 401
Toronto, Ontario
M5T 2R7
For more information call 1-866-701-1867.

Various international publications are highlighting some of Keewaytinook Okimakanak's work. Recent releases include:

• Community Informatics Research Network (CIRN), 2004 Colloquium and Conference Proceedings, Sustainability and Community Technology: What does this mean for Community Informatics? 29 September - 1 October 2004, Monash Centre, Prato, Italy. Contains a Jesse Fiddler's paper ... Walking the talk: Connecting remote Indigenous communities globally
  and Adam Fiser's Doctoral presentation ... ICTs for Education in Ontario First Nations
• The Journal of Community Informatics, No. 1, Vol. 2, winter 2005 issue (Sustainability and Community ICTS) contains Geordi Kakepetum's open letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin - Broadband connectivity in aboriginal communities
• Macromedia Case Study profiling the use of Breeze for the delivery of the Kuhkenah Smart International Conference - “The success of the Kuh-ken-ah Conference directly depended on our ability to deliver a platform that would work in some of the most remote areas on Earth, and Breeze delivered. Presenters were able to ramp up in no time, and it proved to be a flexible and effective way for other indigenous people to learn from one another. In the end, we were able to connect groups from as far away as Argentina, Guatemala, Australia, and Tanzania through Macromedia Breeze. It was a remarkable experience.” For the archived and final report information about this international conference visit http://smart.knet.ca/international

The Red Lake Indian Friendship Centre lays out the Red Carpet for Don Burnstick, Comedian.

For those who were not able to attend the actual event on January 19, the opening ceremonies consisting of video clips, pictures and stories are now available on-line for everyone to see. Visit http://smart.knet.ca/satellite/opening_ceremony.html to watch Geordi Kakepetum, Executive Director of Keewaytinook Okimakanak, Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic from Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Grand Chief Arnold Ouskan from the Keewatin Tribal Council in Northern Manitoba, Patrick Exekiel from the Kativik Regional Government in Northern Quebec, the Honourable Joseph Comuzzi (Minister of State for FedNor), the Honourable Roger Valley (MP for Kenora riding), and the Honourable Howard Hampton (MPP for Kenora Riding and leader of the New Democratic Party) share their stories and wisdom with the conference participants.

The background information, press coverage and other material produced and shared at this event are now all available on-line at http://smart.knet.ca/satellite

Some of this material includes:

>> History of NICSN <<

>> Partner Profiles <<

>> View the Agenda <<

>> KO Press Release <<

>> Telesat Press Release <<

>> Demonstrations <<

>> NICSN Video <<

>> Press Coverage <<

>> Community Impact Stories <<

Pelican Falls First Nations High School TRAVEL CLUB is hosting a RADIOTHON

Please support our fund raising efforts so we can visit LOS ANGELES this spring!

Radiothon starts Thursday, February 17 at 6 p.m. sharp and airs until 2 a.m. Tune into Wawatay 89.9 on your local radio channel or Wawatay on Bell Express Vu channel 962

To make your pledge please call:

Local:

807-737-4040

Toll Free:

1-800-661-5171

Thank you for your support

Please call Florence Sanderson at PFFNHS (807) 737-1110 for further information.

Tune in to listen to out exciting guests!

Libraries across Ontario are celebrating "First Nations Public Library Week" starting today. The theme, "Proud Past, Proud Future @ your library" celebrates the First Nation public library's key roles, that being, respectful keeper of the history of its community and the First Nation peoples, and vital contributor to the successful growth and development of individuals and the community overall. The winter timing for First Nations Public Library Week observes the traditional time for storytelling.

Some resources obtained from the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal to help celebrate this occasion include:

• http://www.anishinabek.ca/career/sand.html - learn about the beautiful art of sand painting
• http://www.sols.org/FirstNations/2005week/Activities.htm - ideas for activities to celebrate this week (stories, games and information)
• Books by First Nation authors for young people, including:
  • SkySisters by Jan Bourdeau Waboose
  • How We Saw the World: Nine Stories of the Way Things Began by C.J. Taylor
  • Song Within my Heart by David Bouchard
  • Morning on the Lake by Jan Bourdeau Waboose

Join the newly formed Boreal Prospectors Association and the Ontario Prospectors Association for their Symposium entitled "Exploring the Land Together" on February 22-23, 2005 in Sioux Lookout at the Sunset Inn & Suites.

Land use, economic development, and the minerals industry.  Participate, learn, and be heard!

On Wednesday, February 9, Carl Zoccole (Band Councillor responsible for Education), Terry Favelle (Economic Development Officer) and Tim Gardener (Youth Worker) met with the First Nations SchoolNet Regional Management Organization team (Keewaytinook Okimakanak) to discuss establishing a broadband connection to their First Nation school. The proposed solution is being funded by the First Nations SchoolNet initiative along with Health Canada to connect in the school and the community health programs into the Kuhkenah Network. Video conferencing and high speed internet are two planned applications to be carried on the network. The community plans to present a proposal to FedNor to develop their "last mile" solution for connecting all their houses, businesses, organizations and program services to this network.

The Ga Wiianiniiganiitamagoyak Children's Centre (GWCC) in Deer Lake First Nation is a new organization funded under Health Canada's Head Start program. It is evolving to become a fully accredited child care centre which has been its goal since its inception. Rather than being a stagnant entity the centre continues to be very proactive in its approach to reaching this goal.

The centre has achieved many successes with its innovative programming and its community based approach to developing local services that address local needs and objectives.

To achieve its goal, the Centre worked to develop an Early Childhood Education Program for its staff and interested community members in partnership with the regional college. This objective became a reality when funding was secured for a community based ECE Program to be delivered by Confederation College through the use of video conferencing. Students are able to attend classes in our community with regularly scheduled instruction and class time the college instructor who is located in Kenora. A virtual face-to-face classroom is now operating at the centre.

The broadband connectivity is being provided by Deer Lake's Broadband Community Network and the video conferencing equipment was provided to the Centre by the Regional Management Organization (KO) with Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet Program as a pilot project.

Sandy Lake's Aboriginal Head Start Program joined the initiative when they heard how the courses were being delivered. K-Net Services as a recognized leader in connectivity and telecommunications is providing the video bridge to connect Sandy Lake with Deer Lake and Confederation College for these courses.