Media.Knet.Ca

PRESS RELEASE ...

January 15, 2007 - Iqaluit, Nunavut

Alianait Arts Festival organizers are looking for musicians to perform in Iqaluit, Nunavut June 21 to July 1.

Musicians who are interested in performing at the Festival are invited to apply between now and the deadline of February 25th. Percussion and rhythm (vocal, instrumental, etc.) musicians will be featured at this festival to align with this year's theme of Polar Rhythms.

Application forms and requirements are available on the Alianait website at www.alianait.ca or by phoning (867) 975-6131.

You can download an application here.

For more information contact: Heather Daley

Background:

From June 21-July 1, 2007, Nunavut’s capital city will host the Alianait Arts Festival. This marks the third year of the festival – this time around, it promises to deliver an even bigger, more diverse and exciting array of performers and artists from across Nunavut, Canada and the circumpolar world.

For eleven days, and sunlit Arctic nights, festival audiences will be treated to music, dancing, arts, crafts, theatre, Nunavut films, storytelling and more.

Alianait is presented by a coalition of arts groups including the Iqaluit Music Society, L’Association des francophones du Nunavut, the Nunavut Arts & Crafts Association, Ajjiit Nunavut Media Association, Qaggiq Theatre Company, Part-Time Players, the Office of the Languages Commissioner and the City of Iqaluit.

For more information about the Alianait Arts Festival, or for details on how to sponsor or volunteer, please visit our website at: www.alianait.ca or send an email to info@alianait.ca

The National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation (www.nnapf.org) hosted their annual training conference in August 2006 in conjunction with the Healing Our Spirit Worldwide (HOSW) 5th Gathering in Edmonton (http://www.hosw.com) . The report from this training conference is now available online (Click here to download NNAPF National Training Report 2006)

The National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation recently had its new liaison office in Ottawa officially opened with Tina Keeper, MP participating in its launch.

NNAPF’S TRAINING CONFERENCES

From the National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation, Strategic Plan, June 2003 ...

Annual Training Institutes and idea exchange Forums will be hosted annually by NNAPF. These institutes will not only provide formal Training but will serve as venues for the sharing of ideas, consulting and securing input into program renewal Plan.

MISSION OF NNAPF

Building on the national Review of NNADAP in 1998, and other Regional and individual studies, our challenge is to advocate, develop, facilitate, and monitor strategies designed to continuously upgrade and enhance the quality of ideas, information, program methodologies, financial allocations and skills of service providers comprising the program.

In its short form

The National Native Addictions Foundation is committed to promoting a capacity building strategy to renew NNADAP.

Created in January 2000, the National Native Partnership Foundation Inc. is the National Voice for Aboriginal Addictions issues.

Members of NNAPF’S National and regional network consider Community empowerment as the key to sustainable, long term healing and NNAPF’s structure, representation and mandate ensures that community needs and solutions in the area of wellness and addictions are tabled at regional, provincial, territorial and federal levels.

To serve our Vision and Mission, our efforts are focused on the building of a strong and cohesive network of Aboriginal Health and Addictions Specialists – traditional Healers, paraprofessionals and professionals – and in forging and maintaining partnerships at local, regional, provincial, territorial and federal level.

NNAPF’s efforts are also dedicated to the development and maintenance of a qualified Aboriginal workforce involved in the field of Aboriginal Wellness and Addictions and the recognition of its existing, unique expertise and experience.

We strongly believe in our role as a catalyst for change and believe this change is facilitated by the opportunities our conference offers us to listen to your concerns, your successes, your challenges, hopes and dreams.

Further information is available from our Information Kit and our website at www.nnapf.org

From http://cgi.bowesonline.com/pedro.php?id=3&x=story&xid=281731

Grassy Narrows renews calls for clearcutting ban

By Mike Aiken - Miner and News - Thursday January 18, 2007

Grassy Narrows Chief Simon Fobister declared a moratorium on all industrial activity within the First Nation’s traditional land use area Wednesday.

The chief targeted forestry companies Abitibi and Weyerhaeuser, as he continued to criticize the province for allowing resource extraction without consulting the First Nation.

“We have been seeking, for many years, a constructive solution to this untenable situation, but the response has always been to talk and log,” he said.

“We cannot sit back and watch the demise of our way of life, which disappears every time more cutting areas are extended to Abitibi and Weyerhaeuser,” he added.

Fobister said the moratorium doesn’t have any legal weight, but is a strong statement that clear-cutting is hurting the aboriginal community and nothing else has worked.

The community of about 1,250 set up a permanent blockade along the Slant Lake Road four years ago, and they have set an end to the controversial logging practice as a precondition for a settlement with Abitibi, who own the wood rights for the area.

Weyerhaeuser also uses wood from the Whiskey Jack Forest in its Kenora plant, and it’s been the subject of demonstrations, including the closure of the Trans-Canada and the English River Road last summer.

MNR willing to talk

Representations of the Ministry of Natural Resources extended an invitation to restart talks last July, following the roadblock on the bypass, but negotiations haven’t restarted. Staff have noted the province’s laws for logging meet international standards.

The ministry has invited band members to take part in consultations for the 2009 to 2019 forest management, which is currently underway. Spokesman Anne-Marie Flanagan noted the ministry has also offered band leaders the opportunity to create their own consultation process.

Representatives from Abitibi and Weyerhaeuser say they are following the rules set out by the province. While Abitibi has closed their operation in Kenora, Weyerhaeuser points to an ongoing relationship with Wabaseemoong (Whitedog) First Nation, which includes benefits sharing.

KFP decision not delayed

Flanagan noted a decision on the proposal from Kenora Forest Products won’t be delayed because of the declaration by Grassy Narrows. She hoped a decision would be made by the end of February or early March, as previously suggested.

She noted the province has set aside the harvesting of 112,000 cubic metres of wood a year within the forest management area for First Nation businesses. Aboriginal companies are also welcome to bid on the remaining 495,000 cubic metres up for bid in the Red Lake, Kenora and Dryden area.

Kenora Forest Products is hoping to be awarded the wood rights previously owned by Abitibi, so it can finance an expansion project that could bring 250 jobs to the city.

CPAWS Wildlands League and Sierra Legal press release ...
http://www.cpaws.org/news/archives/2007/01/groups_slam_ont.php

Groups slam Ontario for poor oversight of public forests - Complaint highlights mismanagement of northern timber resources

Toronto -- Two of Ontario's leading conservation organizations, CPAWS Wildlands League and Sierra Legal, filed a critical submission to the Environmental Commissioner today highlighting serious concerns over how public timber resources are allocated to the logging industry. The groups state that the province’s current approach to managing and accounting for public forests fails to adequately protect the environment and the rights of Aboriginal Peoples, and is delivering a dreadful return on investment for Ontarians.

“If a bank were to manage the finances of its clients in the manner that the Ontario government manages the wood from its public forests, it would be bankrupt very quickly,” says Trevor Hesselink, Director of Forests for CPAWS Wildlands League.

This complaint comes on the heels of Grassy Narrows First Nation calling for a halt to all development in its traditional territory in the Boreal Forest, and after the province called for proposals to redistribute wood volumes that were originally assigned to the closed Abitibi mill. This redistribution process or tendering has raised the ire of First Nations, industry, and environmentalists. Much of the woodshed in question is the subject of a long-standing conflict with Grassy Narrows, who has asked for a halt to clearcut logging on their traditional territory.

“This tendering process is the tip of the iceberg of an allocation system fraught with problems,” says Hesselink. In their application to the Commissioner, the organizations describe the overarching transparency and accountability gaps in the system, including a lack of consistency of approach across the province and systemic reporting problems from the companies operating in the forests. Moreover, because the management tools used to oversee the entire undertaking are inordinately complicated, oftentimes the numbers don’t match up, are missing, or are out of date.

“Moving forward with the tendering process is a slap in the face to the community,” says Dr. Anastasia Lintner, Staff Lawyer & Economist for Sierra Legal. “It is as if the people of Grassy Narrows can’t be heard over the felling of trees in the forest.”

“This is a serious concern because it is communities like Grassy Narrows and the public that ultimately bear the costs of this mismanagement,” says Lintner. “Without a rational, transparent and fair allocation process we can expect to see more conflict and uncertainty in the Boreal Forest in the future,” Hesselink adds.

The groups are calling for a new model: one that would deliver business stability, forest conservation and public trust, without generating conflict for northern communities.

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Contacts:
Trevor Hesselink CPAWS Wildlands League (416) 707-9841
Dr. Anastasia Lintner Sierra Legal (416) 368-7533 ext. 30

Background:
Background materials available at www.wildlandsleague.org

1. See full text of the submission: “Request for Review Of Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Crown Timber Allocation Regime”
2. See Grassy Narrows Press Release: “Grassy Narrows Declares Moratorium and Challenges MNR Tender Process Currently Underway”

Ontario government press release ...

REPORT OF THE HATE CRIMES COMMUNITY WORKING GROUP - Provides Recommendations On Fighting Hate Crimes And Strengthening Communities

TORONTO — The McGuinty government is marking International Human Rights Day by releasing the report of the Hate Crimes Community Working Group, Attorney General Michael Bryant and Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Monte Kwinter announced today.

“Our society has zero tolerance for hate crimes, so I thank the chair and members of the working group for their thoughtful proposals,” said Bryant. “Our government is committed to maintaining its leadership role in promoting human rights, equality, diversity and tolerance. I will also work with the federal government to consider those recommendations that fall within its jurisdiction.”

Bryant said that the Ontario government is striking an inter-ministerial team to consider those recommendations that fall within its jurisdiction and to plan the investment of $1.3 million to help strengthen Ontario’s communities by taking action against hate crimes.

“I offer my congratulations to members of the working group, who have given so freely of their time and contributed their depth of understanding of Ontario’s diverse communities to completing this report,” said Kwinter. “The government looks forward to working with community groups and stakeholders to better protect Ontarians and to prevent future hate crimes.”

The Hate Crimes Community Working Group began its deliberations in January 2006 and met with stakeholders in Toronto, Windsor, Ottawa, Thunder Bay and Kenora. More than 600 Ontarians provided input. The working group reviewed best practices in other provinces and countries and conducted an on-line questionnaire to gather stakeholder views on hate crime issues, incidents and victimization. The group provided recommendations on ways to improve services for victims of hate crimes and to prevent further victimization.

“I was honoured to have been asked to chair the working group on this very important and timely issue,” said Dr. Karen Mock. “It has been a privilege to work with such a dedicated group of individuals representing diverse communities, and to be able to reach out to so many communities and stakeholders across the province. Many communities look forward to continuing to work with the government to implement a strategy to counter and prevent hate crime in Ontario.”

International Human Rights Day, December 10, is celebrated around the world, commemorating the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the General Assembly of the United Nations. This declaration affirms the human rights of people everywhere – the right to be treated with dignity, the right to freedom of religion and expression, the right to equality before the law and to protection from discrimination.

The McGuinty government has taken other significant steps to combat hate crimes, including:

• Expanding the categories of projects eligible for funding under the Community Grant Program to include community-based projects that support victims of hate crimes
• Providing specialized training in hate crimes legislation for a team of Crown counsel that provides legal advice to police and other Crown prosecutors on matters related to hate crimes
• Updating the Crown prosecution policy on hate crimes to ensure that it reflects legal developments and addresses the current social environment relating to hate activities.

The Hate Crimes Community Working Group was appointed by Attorney General Michael Bryant and Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Monte Kwinter in December 2005. The group's mandate was to advise the ministers on approaches to address hate crimes in the province, including measures to enhance services to hate crime victims and to reduce hate crime victimization directed at both individuals and communities at large.

The 10 members brought to their task a diversity of community perspectives, expertise and experience in addressing hate crime. The working group reviewed published research, held regional community meetings and focus groups, circulated an electronic questionnaire to agencies involved in hate crime work, and met with academics, lawyers, government officials, victim services staff, prosecutors, police and educators. The working group heard directly from representatives of many victimized groups, such as the Aboriginal, African Canadian, Jewish, Arab, Muslim, South Asian, East Asian, and Lesbian /Gay /Bisexual /Transgendered /(Two-Spirited) /Intersexed communities. In all, the working group received input from more than 600 stakeholders and community members.

Proposed Strategy

The working group proposed a strategy to encourage proactivity, inclusiveness, innovation and effectiveness in response to hate crimes and hate incidents, and in support for victims of hate. The strategy goes beyond the hate offences identified in the Criminal Code. It addresses not only individual acts of hate but also attitudes, systems, structures and arrangements that may facilitate or excuse them.

The working group included goals and objective statements under each component of the strategy, and made recommendations to help achieve these. The strategy includes a broad range of areas in relation to hate and hate crimes, including the unique position of Aboriginal peoples, the role of communities, education and training for professionals who deal with victims, services to victims, response and remedies within the justice system, and public awareness and understanding.

The full report is available on the ministry website at http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/about/pubs/hatecrimes

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Contacts:
Brendan Crawley
Ministry of the Attorney General
Communications Branch
416 326-2210
 
Anthony Brown
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services
Communications Branch
416 314-7772

Joyce Atcheson (joycea@kanen.on.ca), Policy Development Officer with Ka:nen Our Children Our Future in Thunder Bay worked on getting the Summary Report translated into Cree, OjiCree and Ojibway. Click on the links below to view this summary document in these languages.

• Cree
• Oji-Cree
• Ojibway

Kwayaciiwin Education Resource Centre is hosting a conference for Immersion teachers and Native language teachers and it will be taking place on Feb. 13, 14, and 15 at the Sunset Suites in Sioux Lookout.

Day 1 of this conference will be a training session on how to use the Phraselator P2 Language Companion. The Resource Centre is purchasing a number of these units and two trainers will be coming from California to do this session. For more information on the phraselator, check out the Thornton Media website at http://ndntv.com 

Click here to also read the CBC news about these devices being used in Alberta on KNews.

Day 2 and 3 of the agenda will focus on assessment.

Please call Charlotte at 807-737-7373 or 1-866-326-1077 ext 21 if you would like to register for this conference.

Sandy Lake First Nation Nation Presents:

Youth Invitational Hockey Tournament

March 1, 2, 3 & 4 , 2007

Margaret Angeconeb, from Kwayaciiwin Education Resource Centre, reports ... We are purchasing 10 phraselator units (7 to go to our Immersion schools, and 3 for our Centre).

From http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2007/01/18/language-device.html

First Nation uses translation machine to save language
January 18, 2007 - CBC News

A translation device developed for the U.S. military after the Sept. 11 attacks is helping an Alberta First Nation and other aboriginal groups across North America preserve their languages.

The Phraselator (http://www.phrasalator.com/products.aspx), used by U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, translates English phrases into the language chosen by the user. The hand-held device, about 10 by 18 centimetres, is programmed with thousands of phrases deemed to be useful in a specific situation.

When a person speaks English, it repeats the phrase in the programmed language.

A teacher at the Siksika First Nation just east of Calgary said young people in particular could be helped by the device.

"Siksika is one of the languages that is decreasing. It's not being taught at home anymore," said Herman Yellowoldwoman. "The only people that are teaching the language are the schools, and very little is being taught at home."

Developed by VoxTec International of Maryland for military use in Afghanistan after Sept. 11, 2001, it has now been adopted by U.S. law-enforcement organizations and aboriginal groups.

Thornton Media of California, owned by an American Indian, has worked with more than 40 tribes in the U.S. and Canada to help them control their own language destiny, the company website said.

"If your kids aren't learning the language, it doesn't matter how many speakers you have. If your kids aren't learning it, then your language is in trouble," Don Thornton said.

Most Siksika speakers older 

On the Siksika reserve, about 40 per cent of residents are fluent in the language, but most of them are over 45. Yellowoldwoman said even teachers have a hard time giving lessons to students.

"One of the biggest things is the sounds. When you write and read the Siksika language, the sound is not correct. And the only way they can ever get the correct sound is by listening."

The Phraselator has the sounds. And the machine can be programmed.

"You can also enter songs or words," Thornton said. On its website, Thornton Media promises the hardware, software and training so users can program "in YOUR language" — at $3,300 US a unit.

On the Siksika reserve, teachers want to use the tool one on one with students. They like the idea.

"It's [the language] a very important part of our culture. We want to keep it alive before it slowly disappears," said Larissa Calfrobe, 18.

Staff at the medical centre will also use the Phraselator so they can better communicate with patients who are more comfortable using their mother tongue.

Algorithms key to device

The Phraselator uses speech recognition algorithms, but is based on a different concept from most machine translation systems, the VoxTec website said.

Most efforts over the past 50 years of intense research have been based on the problem of recognizing phonemes — the smallest phonetic units that convey a distinct meaning, such as the "b" in bat — and universal translation.

Progress on the phoneme front has been slow, but VoxTec went at the problem by looking for a way to deal with phrases, recognizing that for most situations, there is "a specific lexicon that can effectively be communicated using a pre-defined, well-organized set of functional phrases."

Phraselator uses modules, groups of phrases in a given language designed by experts for specific uses such as disaster relief, the military or law enforcement, and then translated by linguists from the region where the language is spoken.

The modules advertised on its website range from Albanian to Vietnamese.

Don Thornton (and his wife) will be at our office on Monday, Feb. 12 to show us how to use the units and to start recording voices. We have invited a couple of elders to join us and we will be getting them to input some phrases.

INAC press release

Federal Government Announces $2.46 million in First Nations Economic Development Investments in Northern Ontario

Backgrounder

DRYDEN, ONTARIO (January, 18, 2007) – Mr. Rod Bruinooge, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, is pleased to announce approximately $2.46 million in investments towards economic activities that will advance development opportunities for First Nations peoples in Northern Ontario.

Speaking in Dryden, Mr. Bruinooge said, "We are working with native leaders and communities to improve opportunities and provide real results for Aboriginal people. Maximizing First Nations participation in economic opportunities is important to ensure a prosperous economic future for all Canadians. Robust economic opportunities are essential to the development of sustainable, healthy communities, and Canada's New Government is pleased to be doing its part to make this happen."

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) has committed to support the following projects in 2006-2007:

• $745,000 to the Attawapiskat/Fort Albany/Fort Severn First Nations to develop opportunities linked to diamond mining in Northern Ontario;
• $560,000 to the Pikangukum First Nation for the Whitefeather Forestry Project (Sustainable Forestry License);
• $317,500 to the Eabametoong First Nation for community-based resource planning at Eabametoong and Mishkeegogamang;
• $200,000 to the Seven Generations Education Institute for a Community Economic Development Officer Training Course;
• $141,900 to the Big Grassy & Ojibways of Onigaming First Nations for activities related to the Assabaska Ojibway Heritage Park;
• $100,000 to the Pic Mobert First Nation for a Forestry Situational Assessment;
• $100,000 to the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation for the Two Feather Forest Products Business Development initiative;
• $64,700 to the Ojibways of Onigaming for a Water Bottling Manufacturing Feasibility Study;
• $48,000 to the Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek (formerly known as Sand Point) to explore forestry initiatives;
• $48,000 to the Ochiichagwe’Bagigo’Ining Ojibway Nation to explore economic ventures;
• $40,000 to the Mattagami First Nation for mining strategy initiatives;
• $40,000 to the Pic Mobert First Nation for a Mining Sector Opportunities Assessment;
• $31,900 to the Batchewana First Nation for a Fisheries Management Plan; and,
• $25,000 to the Nishnawbe-Aski Development Fund for a Hydro Project Development Workshop.

More information on each project can be found at the INAC web site at http://inac.gc.ca

In 2005-2006, INAC Ontario Region invested approximately $15 million in economic development funding to assist First Nations to improve their socio-economic conditions to help close the gaps between First Nations peoples and other Canadians.

For more information, please contact:

Linda Britt, Communications Officer
INAC Communications
(807) 624-1559

Chief Andrew Solomon
Fort Albany First Nation
(705) 278-1044

Chief Roy Gray
Fort Severn First Nation
(807) 478-2572

Chief Bobby Kelly
Ojibways of Onigaming
(807) 484-2162

Chief Esther Pitchenesse
Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation
(807) 938-6684

Chief Charlie O’Keese
Eabametoong First Nation
(807) 242-7221

Chief Connie Gray-McKay
Mishkeegogamang First Nation
(807) 928-2414

Mr. Mike Fox, Sector Specialist
Nishnabe-Aski Nation Development Fund
(807)623-5397

Mr. Delbert Horton
Seven Generations Education Institute
(807) 274-2796

Chief Charles Pascal
Pikangikum First Nation
(807) 773-5578

Chief Jeffrey Florent Desmoulin
Pic Mobert First Nation
(807) 822-2134

Chief Vernon Barry Henry
Ochiichagwe’babigo’ining First Nation
(807) 548-5876

Chief Dean Sayers
Batchewana First Nation
(705) 759-0914

Chief Albert Comegan
Big Grassy First Nation
(807) 488-5614

Chief Willis McKay
Mattagami First Nation
(705) 894-2072

Kristen Sills
University of Windsor
(519)256-3113 ext 25

Ms. Audrey Gilbeau
Economic Development Officer
Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek
(807) 623-2724

AFN Press release ...

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine Statement Regarding Appeal by Attorney General of Canada on Residential Schools Settlement Approval by Saskatchewan Court

OTTAWA, Jan. 17 - "We are very disappointed to learn that the Attorney General of Canada has appealed part of a Regina Court decision to approve the Indian residential school class action lawsuit. We strongly encourage the Government of Canada and the Saskatchewan Court to sever this legal issue so that the $1.9 billion settlement process can proceed without further delay in settlement payments for survivors."

"We have now heard from all nine courts. All agree the settlement agreement is fair and just. Some courts have raised some concerns that need to be addressed immediately to ensure survivors get their money in a timely fashion. Compensation payments for the approximately 80,000 residential school survivors should likely begin later this summer."

"We want to emphasize to the courts and the government the importance of getting this historic settlement completed in a timely matter. Many of the survivors, who are elderly and sick, are dying at a rate of four a day. We all agree we want to see an end to this sad chapter of Canadian history."

"The courts certification also means the Truth Commission will be starting its work next summer. The Truth Commission will ensure that all Canadians will understand the significance of the serious harm done to our people. First Nations are determined to send the message to the world that "Never Again" will such actions be tolerated in Canada."

"A comprehensive communications outreach plan to inform survivors of their rights to compensation is expected to begin once the court certification process is completed."

--National Chief Phil Fontaine

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.

For further information: contact: Bryan Hendry, A/Director of Communications, (613) 241-6789, ext. 229, cell (613) 293-6106, bhendry@afn.ca;. Nancy Pine, Communications Advisor to the National Chief, (613) 241-6789 ext. 243, cell (613) 298-6382, npine@afn.ca.
 
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From http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2007/01/17/residential.html

Ottawa fights decision on residential school legal fees
January 17, 2007 - CBC News

Visit http://www.classactionservices.ca/IRS/Phase/PDFs/DOJNoticeofAppealSask.pdf to see the Attorney General of Canada's notice of appeal.

Courts across Canada have approved a multibillion-dollar residential school deal, but Ottawa wants to appeal part of one decision relating to a Regina lawyer's fees.

Canada's attorney general filed documents with the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, seeking to appeal a ruling about the fees of a Regina lawyer.

And that isn't going over well with Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine, who's worried about delays in getting money to former residential school students.

"We are very disappointed," Fontaine said in a news release Wednesday.

"We strongly encourage the government of Canada and the Saskatchewan court to sever this legal issue so that the $1.9-billion settlement process can proceed without further delay in settlement payments for survivors."

Saskatchewan Queen's Bench Justice Dennis Ball ruled last month that the Merchant Law Group, headed by Tony Merchant, should receive $25 million to $40 million, with the exact amount to be negotiated or decided through the courts.

Merchant, a Regina lawyer, has represented thousands of former residential school students and has argued he deserves to be fairly compensated.

However, the attorney general of Canada says Ball made legal errors and wants the legal fees portion of his decision set aside. The government applied to the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal for leave to appeal this week.

The residential school agreement is designed to bring closure to a painful chapter in Canadian history. Some 80,000 aboriginal Canadians attended residential schools in the 20th century. The schools were typically run by churches but were the responsibility of the federal government.

More than 12,000 former students have filed lawsuits alleging various forms of abuse, including physical and sexual.

The deal offers $10,000 to each former student for the first year attended at a residential school, plus $3,000 for each year after that. Worth an average of $25,000 per student, this segment of the deal is worth $1.9 billion. The deal also offers extra compensation to students who were physically or sexually abused while students.

Reconciliation process
The entire deal, which also includes money for memorial projects and a reconciliation process, is estimated to cost between $4 billion and $5 billion, according to court documents filed in Saskatchewan.

The deal had to be approved by courts in nine jurisdictions across Canada.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories, the last of the nine to weigh in, announced it had approved the proposed compensation package.

All nine judges agreed the package is a reasonable settlement.

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NDP condemns government’s stall tactics regarding residential school compensation - Wed 17 Jan 2007

DUNCAN, BC – Jean Crowder, MP for Nanaimo Cowichan and the NDP’s critic for Aboriginal Affairs expressed her dismay at the Conservative government’s appeal of the residential school settlement decision in a Regina court.

“All nine courts across Canada had ratified this settlement agreement and survivors were finally expecting to see some compensation for the abuse and loss of culture they suffered at residential schools. Ordinary Canadians understand this is a grave injustice.” said Crowder.

“Now the Conservative government is slowing down the whole process by appealing the agreement on lawyer’s fees. That is not fair to the First Nation, Métis and Inuit families affected by residential schools,” said Crowder.

“People are waiting for the Common Experience Payment, but they’re also waiting for the Truth Commission to start its work, so all Canadians can hear what happened behind the doors of these schools. And First Nations, Metis and Inuit are all waiting for an apology from the Prime Minister for this assimilationist policy,” said Crowder.

“At the least, the Department of Justice lawyers and the courts in Regina should agree to deal with this matter separately from the rest of the agreement. The Residential Schools Agreement is a step forward in recognizing the ill-treatment of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. It should not face any further delays,” said Crowder.

Federal government press release ...

Federal Government Supporting Northern Ontario First Nations

KENORA, ONTARIO (January 17, 2007) - Mr. Rod Bruinooge, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, announced a $18.6 million investment to northern Ontario First Nations, to upgrade infrastructure for power generation and to assist with pressures caused by remote and seasonal issues.

"Canada's new government is determined to ensure that First Nations peoples have the same access as other Canadians to the key elements of healthy and fulfilling lives," said Bruinooge. "This funding addresses the very real challenges faced by northern communities, especially remote and isolated First Nations in the Kenora region."

Canada's New Government has provided:

• $8.6 million upgrade to the Wunnumin Lake diesel generating station. The upgrade will consist of building a new, larger diesel generating station near the community's airport that will allow more power to be generated to meet the current and future needs of the First Nation. The new facility will also allow for future expansion as required. Materials are being moved to the community on this year's ice road to allow construction to being this summer.
• $4.7 million to 11 First Nations with independently-operated diesel generating systems (those operating outside Ontario's regulatory framework), in recognition of the impact of rising diesel fuel costs on generating and distributing electricity.
• $3.5 million in one-time emergency funding to assist First Nations with the financial pressures associated with last winter's road conditions. Unseasonably warm temperatures delayed the opening of some winter roads, and caused load restrictions on others, which resulted in higher transportation costs for essential fuel and building supplies. This funding was transferred through the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund.
• As part of an Ontario-wide program, INAC is also providing $1.8 million to 75 northern Ontario First Nations for the operation of designated community buildings and vehicles, in recognition of the impact of rising diesel fuel costs on First Nation communities.

In 2006-2007, INAC is providing more than $946 million to Ontario First Nation communities and organizations for the delivery of basic services for First Nations on reserve (such as education, income assistance, infrastructure and First Nation government support), as well as for claims and self-government agreements.

For further information, please contact:

Tony Prudori
INAC Communications - Ontario Region
(807) 624-1535