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The following press release from the First Nations Education Council in Quebec addresses many of the same challenges facing First Nation schools across the country. Another shortfall facing First Nation secondary schools is the outdated formula funding only addressing the needs of community elementary schools and not taking into account the additional demands for providing an adequate secondary school program in the First Nations (ie. counselling services, accreditation, etc).

Press Release ...

FNEC challenges Prentice to solve long-term issues in First Nations education

     OTTAWA, May 28 /CNW Telbec/ - The First Nations Education Council (FNEC) is today embarking on a huge communications and public relations campaign designed to make the public aware of the realities of funding for First Nations schools and influence the federal government. Today, the FNEC along with a number of Quebec First Nations Chiefs, are urging the federal government to take another look at funding for First Nations schools, which are at a severe disadvantage when compared to the other schools in the province. "Our schools are attempting to survive with an outdated funding formula that has hardly changed in the last twenty years. This situation is unacceptable and intolerable." stated the Chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador, Ghislain Picard, at a press conference held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

     On the eve of the appearance of the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, Jim Prentice, before the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, Quebec First Nations have been expressing their major concerns on funding and reiterating that it does not correspond to real costs or reflect First Nations needs. "How can we possibly fight against the high dropout rate when we have nothing for sports programs, nothing for vocational training and nothing to buy books with?" continued Chief Picard.

     Lise Bastien, Director of the First Nations Education Council, recalled that numerous studies confirm that the funding formula used by the federal government since 1988 is outdated and fails to meet current needs in education. "For years, the government has been telling us that they are revising these programs. This answer is unsatisfactory. Time has come to take action in order to offer essential services in First Nations schools as of September 2007," she stated.

     The First Nations funding formula was drawn up in 1988. Some of the costs it ignores are:

• Costs connected with the integration of technology in schools.
• Costs connected with running libraries in schools.
• Costs connected to vocational training.
• Costs connected to extracurricular sports and recreation.
• Costs connected to following provincial reforms, which have considerable impact on the curriculum, teaching hours and support measures such as homework assistance, etc.

     In addition, funding of First Nations schools has not been indexed since 1996.

     Lastly, unlike all the provinces have done, the federal government has never invested to equip First Nations with modern management systems. "Its refusal to provide First Nations with the resources to access quality education means that the Government of Canada is deliberately closing the door on their future," concluded Ghislain Picard.

     Should you wish to receive further information, we invite you to visit our Web site, at www.avenir-future.com.

     The FNEC is a non-profit organization, which defends First Nations interests in the field of education.

-30-

/For further information: Lise Bastien, FNEC Director, (418) 842-7672; For requests for interview, please contact: Alain Garon, (418) 956-5720; Source: Eric Cardinal, Communications advisor, (450) 638-5159, Cell: (514) 258-2315/

Letter from FNIHB Ontario Region Director ...

UPDATE UPSTREAM INVESTMENT PROGRAMS 2007/08

To: All Ontario Chiefs, PTO Health Directors, Tribal Councils

Ontario Region has received the Upstream resources for fiscal year 2007/08 for the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative (ADI), Maternal/Child Health (MCH) and National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy (NAYSPS). This means that, to date, we have received $8.3M to implement these programs inclusive of the $1.M to establish a comprehensive cross-training package for the communities, as well as establishing a comprehensive Training Advisory Committee.

The Upstream Investment allocation of $7.3M will be distributed in accordance with the recommendations presented at the Chiefs Health Forum/SCA Meeting held on February 28th and March 1st, 2007. The implementation and communications for the rollout of the Upstream Investment programs in accordance with the recommendations will be provided at a June 26-27, 2007 meeting, to be held in London, Ontario. Once arrangements have been finalized with the hotel, details will be provided to all communities, Tribal Councils and Regional Authorities. Communities will be resourced to send a maximum of three (3) representatives as the ADI, MCH and NAYSPS sessions will be held simultaneosly. These representatives will be the contacts responsible at the community level for completing workplans and other reports in the three (3) upstream program areas (ADL, MCH and NAYSPS).

Implementation of the Upstream programs, at the community level, should begin between July and August, 2007 once the workplans have been received from the Communities with a full fiscal year allocation being provided for the applicable programs. Funding guidelines/criteria, and workplan templates will be provided to the First Nations at the June workplan meeting.

The ADI program will be implemented universally with the Region, and the individual communities who wish to maintain prior year relationships with Organizations must negotiate these arrangements internally, within the allocation provided.

The MCH program will be made available to those communities where the number of children aged 0 to 6 years plus the number of pregnant wormen (prenatal) is at least sixty (60). Communities can meet these criteria either individually or by working together, for example, through a tribal council or health service organization. Those communities not meeting the MCH program criteria may be approved for a funding enhancement to the existing ECD allocation. More specific information concerning the MCH program will be sent prior to the June meeting.

The NAYSPS program will be implemented by a proposal driven process for individual communities up to a maximum of $150K and up to a maximum of $300K for multi community initiatives through Tribal Areas or Regional Authorities. Templates for the proposals will be developed and provided at the June Workshop. Criteria for the proposals will be as presented at the Chiefs Health Forum/SCA.

If you or your staff have questions on this matter, please feel free to contact:

• Renee Crompton ADI 613-954-5699
• Nicolette Kaszor MCH 807-343-5360
• Lynda Roberts NAYSPS 807-343-5357

At this time, we would to thank the Advisory Committee Members for their participation in forming and presenting the recommendations at the Chiefs Health Forum/SCA held on February 28 - March 1, 2007. We will be asking the Advisory Committees will remain in place for fiscal year 2007/08 to assist in the review and preparation of the documents for the implementation of the initiatives.

Donna Barnaby
Director, Governance, Community Programs & Southern Operations
May 24, 2007

APTN Press Release ...

APTN Has Five Music Videos Up For Grabs

May 25, 2007

The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) has $100,000 to spend on the production of five music videos for Aboriginal recording artists from across Canada; that’s $20,000 a pop. The money will go towards production costs along with travel to Toronto, where all the videos will be shot. In order to be considered for the funding artists need to complete the application form and submit support materials by the June 30, 2007 deadline.

The final decisions will be made by the APTN programming staff, based on the strength of the application and the talent demonstrated in the music.

If you’re interested in sending in a song, here are a couple of things to consider:

• You don't need to submit a creative treatment for your proposed music video because APTN will assign an executive producer in Toronto for your project if you win;
• If you have already released a music video, APTN will still consider your submissions as they are hoping to come out of the project with five great music videos from five great recording artists or bands; and,
• Once the video is completed, APTN will require the copyright holders of the music to give them the rights to broadcast the video on their station and the Internet AND the artists may ask APTN for the rights to send the music video to other television networks, like Much Music, CMT, MTV, etc...

The details are included in the GUIDELINES and APPLICATION forms, but the basics are:

DEADLINE: June 30, 2007

AMOUNT: up to $20,000 per artist/group for production costs

FOR: One song on a current CD or a CD that is soon to be released

INFORMATION: Rebecca Morris + Tel: 888.278.8862, ext. 234 + E: rmorris@aptn.ca.

• Click here for Guidelines
• Click here for Application

You can also visit the APTN Open Call website for more information: www.aptn.ca/opencall2007/

Please feel free to contact the Aboriginal Music Program Coordinator if you live in Manitoba and you need help completing your submission.

Alan Greyeyes
Aboriginal Music Program Coordinator
T: 204.975.0284
E: alan@manitobamusic.com