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Keewaytinook Okimakanak Telehealth's capacity to continue to serve First Nations in the Sioux Lookout Health Zone and future opportunities for Aboriginal people to gain access to telehealth services in the province of Ontario has successfully demonstrated how comrprehensive telehealth can improve integrated access to health and wellness services on reserve, reduce health service worker and professional isolation and reduce patient and system travel burden. Our partnerships with Ontario First Nations, Health Canada and the Ontario Telehealth Network have supported the growth of our network from five pilot sites in  2002 to 25 sites in 2006.

Now entering our fifth year of operation, KO Telehealth faces the on-going challenge of securing program funding. Independent evaluations in 2001 (Telesychiatry Pilot), 2003 (CHIPP) and most recently in  2006 (PHCTF), demonstrates KO Telehealth's capacity to make more effective use of existing health and human resources. The findings of the most recent evaluation completed in March 2006 by the Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research and the University of Guelph suggests that.... the Expansion Project has successfully improved access. The program has the ability to reach the economic breakeven point based soley on averted travel. Ohter benefits, not included in the model could push the program beyond the breakeven point. Feedback from numerous stakeholders spoke of the many improvements in access and the potential to improve health.

The purpose of the 12 – 13 September meetings is to share with stakeholders current and planned evaluatory and research activities that will impact future delivery of regional and province-wide telehealth service development and to use this opportunity to connect principals involved in these evaluation and research activities with community, provider and policy stakeholders. Specifically, the gathering will address the capacity of telehealth services to remove longstanding barriers and support Aboriginal and First Nations health policy objectives, its ability to make more effective use of health human resources and how evaluation and research will attend to First Nation and Inuit Health Branch requirements to show medical transportation savings. This workshop also provides participants with an opportunity to understand what is necessary to sustain telehealth in remote and northern places -- such as the Sioux Lookout Health Zone – and what might be required to extend this service model to rural and near-urban Aboriginal settings in Ontario.

We are inviting representatives from the Community Health Directors Advisory Committee, Telehealth Elders Committee, Chiefs Committee on Health, Tribal Council Health Directors, KO Evaluation Team, Sioux Lookout First Nation Health Authority, Health Canada, Canada Health Infoway, Ontario Ministry of Health, the Ontario Telehealth Network, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Assembly of First Nations, Chiefs of Ontario and Nishnawbe Aski Nation to attend the meeting. KOTH is dedicated to improving health for all First Nations communities through a sustainable First Nations Telehealth program that is holistic, community driven and culturally appropriate.

Five researchers from the Universities of Ryerson, York and Toronto arrived in Thunder Bay on Tuesday and then travelled to Sioux Lookout and Lac Seul.

The Community Wireless Infrastructure Research Project, funded by Infrastructure Canada is another spin off initiative from the Canadian Research Alliance for Community Innovation and Networking (http://cracin.ca). As part of this project, the researchers are producing a series of publications about four case studies about the use of community wireless networks in Fredericton, Montreal, Toronto and Lac Seul First Nation.

From their Background Information .. Purpose of the Study ...

This study is invertigating various models of public internet infrastructure provision and the benefits associated with them. In particular, the study is considering how wireless internet access can be made available to Canadian citizens in ways that ensure access to everyone, regardless of georgraphic location, income or other potential constraints. The study will do so by investigating cases of wireless internet in a number of communities in Canada. Results of the study will be made available to the project funding agency, Infrastructure Canada and to all interested parties.

Benefits of the Study:

The research investigates issues to the development, deployment and use of wireless internet. As a public policy issue, it is important to understand the benefits and disadvantages of both private and public ownership and control of wireless internet infrastructure. The researchers will be reporting their results back to Infrastructure Canada, the funding agency, and it is hoped that the findings of this study will be taken into account in future public policymaking with respect to the stucture of ownership for wireless internet infrastructure in Canada.

Click here to see the pictures of the meeting at K-Net

Click here to see the pictures of the meetings in Thunder Bay (KORI)

INAC Press Release from http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/nr/prs/m-a2006/2-02782_e.html

MINISTER PRENTICE PRAISES EFFORTS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO FIRST NATION COMMUNITIES

THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO (August 16, 2006) - The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, today praised progress made to improve water quality on First Nation reserves in northwestern Ontario.

"Earlier this year, I stated that all Canadians, regardless of where they live, should have access to safe, clean drinking water," said Minister Prentice.  "In Ontario, First Nations are working with Canada's new government and other partners to reach this goal."

Some projects currently under way in Ontario include:

• Kasabonika Lake First Nation has completed construction of a new $5 million water treatment plant upgrade.
• Ochiichagwe'Babigo'Ining (Oh-chee-chag'-way Bab'-eego In'-ing) First Nation is constructing a new $4.4 million water treatment plant.
• Cat Lake First Nation has completed a $1.2 million upgrade to their water treatment plant.
• Chapleau Ojibway First Nation has commissioned a new $856,000 water treatment plant, replacing its current plant.

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada invested approximately $11.3 million in these projects, and the First Nations managed the design and construction of these plants.

On March 21, 2006, Minister Prentice announced a plan of action to address concerns over the safety of drinking water for First Nations communities.  This plan includes:

• implementation of a Protocol for Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Communities;
• mandatory training for all water treatment plant operators and a regime to ensure that all water systems have the oversight of certified operators;
• complete remedial plans for First Nation communities with serious water issues, starting with 21 communities most at risk;
• a expert panel to advise on the appropriate regulatory framework; and
• a clear commitment to report progress on a regular basis.

Since 2003, INAC has invested more than $168 million in upgrading and building new water plant systems in Ontario.  In 2006-2007, it will focus on investing and assisting First Nations in:

• meeting water standards and regulations;
• inspection and compliance; and
• capacity development at the community level.

The Kasabonika Lake First Nation, which is located approximately 570 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, has a total of 910 members, 882 of whom live on reserve

The Ochiichagwe'Babigo'Ining First Nation, near Kenora, has a total of 323 members, 119 of whom live on reserve.

The Cat Lake First Nation, located about 180 kilometres north of Sioux Lookout, has a total of 591 members, 493 of whom live on reserve.

The Chapleau Ojibway First Nation, near Chapleau, has a total of 38 members, 30 of whom live on reserve.- 30 -

This release is also available at: www.inac.gc.ca.

For further information, please contact:

Tony Prudori
Communications Officer
INAC Communications
(807) 624-1535

Chief Elsie Gray
Cat Lake First Nation
(807) 347-2100
Chief Gordon Anderson
Kasabonika Lake First Nation
(807) 535-2547

Chief Vernon Barry Henry
Ochiichagwe'Babigo'Inning First Nation
(807) 548-5876

Chief Anita Stephens
Chapleau Ojibway First Nation
(705) 864-2910