Media.Knet.Ca

----------------------------------------------Chiefs of Ontario----------------------------------------

Research Contract

AFFILIATION:   Chiefs of Ontario Education Department
STATUS/ CONDITIONS:  Contract for 5 weeks, ending March 31, 2005
CONTRACT AMOUNT:  Subject to Negotiation

DESCRIPTION:

 In the spring of 2004 a joint working group consisting of representatives of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) agreed to conduct a comparative study relating to the Band Operated Funding Formula (BOFF), which supports First Nations schools on reserve.   Regional simulations were conducted to determine the amount of funding First Nations schools receive under the BOFF, and the amount of funding they might otherwise be eligible for under provincial funding formulas.   The purpose of this research project is to conduct a critical assessment of the research methodology utilized to complete the comparative study for Ontario (hereinafter referred to as “the study”) and assess the validity of the conclusions of the study. 

DELIVERABLES:

The successful contractor(s) shall be responsible for a final report, which includes the following elements:

1. An assessment of the research methodology utilized in the study for the purposes of calculating the application of the band operated formula on a per capita basis.
2. An assessment of the research methodology utilized in the study for the purposes of calculating the application of the Ontario education funding formula on a per capita basis.
3. An assessment of the validity of the final conclusions in the study.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

 Recognized post-secondary credentials in Education Administration, Economics, or related field.   Working experience with the Band Operated Funding Formula and/or Ontario education funding formula   Experience with qualitative and quantitative data analysis and synthesis.  Working knowledge of computer software MS Word and PowerPoint.  Excellent demonstrated written and analytical skills.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 

Monday February 21, 2005

PLEASE SUBMIT CURRICULUM VITAE, REFERENCES & WRITTEN WORK SAMPLE TO:

Karihwakeron Tim Thompson
Education Coordinator
Chiefs of Ontario
188 Mohawk Street
Brantford, Ontario
N3S 2X2

Telephone: 519 750-1016
Facsimile:  519 750-1316
e-mail: tim@coo.org

Nodin Child and Family Intervention Services delivered art therapy sessions utilizing the KO Telehealth private network to children in the remote First Nation Communities of Big Trout and Sandy Lake. Art Therapy is a therapeutic tool to support children with mental health needs. The sessions were extremely successful with positive comments regarding the sessions from all involved.

3rd Annual Northern Housing Conference

Work 537 2263 or Home 537 9994

Fax 537 2574 

email

Website:

A new "course" has been established by Fernando Oliveira, the on-line Grade 8 Supplementary Courses instructor, to support First Nation educators to explore and discuss different features required to support the creation of an effective e-learning environment for First Nation learners. First Nation educators are invited to join in this effort by signing up for an account at http://moodle.knet.ca

The open source Moodle environment was selected to be the main platform because it is presently being used in at least three First Nation e-learning programs with participants from across Ontario and Northern Saskatchewan. Participants in the two day planning workshop held in Balmertown and on-line produced a set of recommendations, one of which was to continue this planning work on-line using this tool. The workshop was made possible through funding from Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program and the Ontario Regional Management Organization.

The agenda and workshop report along with some video clips are posted on-line within the MoodleFN course.

As part of Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program, Cal Kenny (http://calkenny.myknet.org) joined seven students, three staff and the expedition leader (Burton Penner - http://canada-dogsled.com) on a two day dog sledding wilderness adventure.

Cal is the Graphic and Web Site Designer at Keewaytinook Okimakanak, the Regional Management Organization for the First Nation SchoolNet Program. His work is becoming more and more involved in video production and publishing this material on the internet.

Three video clips from this adventure are now available on the internet for everyone to view. As well, a special series about this educational adventure is being published in the Chronicle-Journal (click here to read the first article from the Feb 5 issue). A write up about the 2004 dog sledding trip is contained in the Wawatay Newspaper - April 8, 2004 

The three video clips include (click on either High - high speed connections or Lower for dial up type connections to view):

1. Heading out to the camp -
   High Quality  or  Lower Quality
   
2. Trapping Beaver -
   High Quality  or  Lower Quality
   
3. The Return Trip -
   High Quality  or  Lower Quality

Everyone is welcomed to share their dog sledding stories and thoughts about these videos and this experience that the students undertook.