Media.Knet.Ca

Health Canada press release ...

Canada's New Government Invests $3.7M to Establish a Third Wait Times Guarantee: for First Nations Diabetes Care

WINNIPEG, MB, Jan. 5 - The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, today announced that Health Canada is developing an innovative pilot project in partnership with Saint Elizabeth Health Care and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, to establish a wait times guarantee for First Nations people living on reserve in Manitoba who face debilitating infections and possible amputations arising from diabetes.

Diabetes rates are high among Canada's First Nations and they also have a higher rate of complications such as vision loss, kidney damage and foot ulcers leading to amputations. More than 90 per cent of lower limb loss among Manitoba First Nations occurs in those with diabetes. This compares with 10 percent of the general Canadian population. These facts underscore the need to improve First Nations access to diabetes care.

"This wait time guarantee pilot project for First Nations diabetes care will benefit Manitoba First Nations and all Canadians," said Minister Clement. "This third wait time guarantee clearly demonstrates that Canada's New Government is delivering on its promise to make sure that all Canadians receive essential medical treatment within clinically acceptable waiting times."

The project brings expertise from Saint Elizabeth Health Care, a non-profit organization, to work in an innovative partnership with First Nations and the federal government toward an effective solution to this serious problem.

"This pilot project will improve accessibility to treatment for First Nations in Manitoba and should reduce the need for debilitating amputations," said Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Evans.

"This partnership with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs builds on our ongoing work with First Nations. The current gap in health and quality of life between Aboriginal people and other Canadians requires action. With this initiative, we're moving ahead," said Michael Decter, Chair of the Board Saint Elizabeth Health Care.

Shirlee Sharkey, president and CEO of Saint Elizabeth Health Care, added: "We are pleased that the Honourable Tony Clement is supporting innovative approaches to care, understands the importance of training to ensure the successful application of clinical guidelines and we hope to see better wound care and patient outcomes as a result."

This guarantee will test a defined time frame for diabetic foot ulcer care and establish a set of alternative care options, should that time frame be exceeded. Establishing these alternate care options should ultimately lead to certainty, clarity and confidence for Canadians that their health care system will be there for them when they need it.

The goal of the project is to reduce the damage caused by foot ulcers in individuals with diabetes. The key elements of the project will be: the establishment of data collection tools; consultation with patients, health care providers, experts and stakeholders; and reporting on the data collected and the effectiveness of the Patient Wait Times Guarantee.

The eighteen-month pilot project will be implemented in selected First Nations communities in Manitoba in partnership with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. Saint Elizabeth Health Care will work with these communities, Health Canada staff and other health professionals in areas related to training, the transfer of knowledge, and the implementation of changes to improve practices.

The benefits of this project will be numerous:

• an increase in the emotional and physical wellbeing of families and individuals - which keeps people out of the hospitals;
• a decrease in unnecessary transportation;
• savings to the health care system; and
• the knowledge that will be shared throughout our health care system, which will help countless other patients who need wound care.

Saint Elizabeth Health Care is a non-profit charitable organization that is a leader in Canada in identifying gaps, aligning resources, and maximizing resources to the benefit of health care providers and - most importantly - patients. In terms of direct service, they currently make 1.5 million wound care visits per year and have worked closely with Manitoba First Nations to improve health service delivery.

For further information: Media Enquiries: Carole Saindon, Health Canada, (613) 957-1588; Erik Waddell, Office of the Honourable Tony Clement, Federal Minister of Health, (613) 957-0200; Public Enquiries: (613) 957-2991, 1-866 225-0709; Health Canada news releases are available on the Internet at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/media

NAN press release ...

NAN and Kakegamic Family Disappointed with Decision by Chief Coroner to Deny Appeal

THUNDER BAY, ON, Jan. 4 - Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler together with Margaret and Isaac Kakegamic are disappointed with the decision of the Chief Coroner to deny the appeal made for an inquest into the death of Max Kakegamic.

"This is just another example of how the system has failed Max and his family at every level. There seems to be a double standard when it comes to applying these laws on First Nations. There is no consistent application of rules," said Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler who, together with Margaret and Isaac Kakegamic, appealed a previous regional decision to deny an inquest to Chief Coroner Dr. Barry McLellan on March 27, 2006. "This would have been a good case for an inquest."

North Spirit Lake First Nation community member Max Kakegamic was killed on the streets of Kenora October 4, 2000. When the case went to trial January 2004, charges against the only suspect were stayed because of irregularities in the investigation. Kenora Police Services' Lloyd White, Tom Favreau, and Const. Chris Ratchford were cited for police misconduct in the ruling by Superior Court Justice Peter Hambly.

Kenora Police Services confirmed with NAN shortly after the 2004 judgement the investigation into the death of Max Kakegamic was not proceeding.

"We had hoped the appeal would have been approved. We have been waiting for answers for the last six years and we really thought this was going to be our opportunity to get those answers. It's difficult for our family to heal without knowing that justice has been served," said Max's mother Margaret Kakegamic from her home in North Sprit Lake First Nation - one of 49 communities part of NAN.

Among the reasons cited in Chief Coroner Dr. McLellan's letter denying the appeal was that in this case he did not feel a jury would be in a position to make recommendations that would help the avoidance of death in similar circumstances nor did he feel it was desirable for the public to be fully informed of the circumstances of the death through an inquest.

For further information: Kristy Hankila, Communications Assistant, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, (807) 625 4902, (807) 472 9604 (mobile.); Kimberly Murray, Executive Director, Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto, (416) 408-4041 ext 225

Conference announcement and Call for presentations ...

Promising Practices in the North Workshop 2007
with a focus on: 
Behavioural Difficulties and Early Intervention & Screening

Goal: 

The workshop will provide an educational and networking experience for caregivers and professionals who support youth living in northern and rural Canada.

Focus of the Workshop

• Behavioural Difficulties
  Examples:  conduct disorder, aggressive & disruptive behaviour, juvenile offenders, substance abuse, and behaviour management strategies
• Early Intervention  &  Screening
  Examples:  development milestones, small and large motor, nutrition, speech and language,  social development and healthy development

Anticipated Audience
·             Families/caregivers
·             Community service providers
·             Education providers
·             Health care providers
·             Early Childhood Educators
·             Remote, rural and Northern community members

Workshop Date:  March 22 & 23, 2007 at the Valhalla Inn, Thunder Bay. 

Hours:  Thursday 9am to 4pm & Friday 9am to 3:30 pm

Workshop Displays/Posters:

Vendors and service providers will be invited to have a display or poster presentation.  Please complete page 2 to register (see attached).  

How to submit your proposal (deadline January 22, 2007).

1. Complete page 2 (see attached) and submit via fax or mail to the contact information listed below.   
2. Please attach a 150-300 word summary of your presentation to this application.

Videoconferencing:  It is our goal to have the workshop sessions presented to remote and northern communities through video conference and online (webcast) technologies which will archive sessions to be available for viewing at any time.   Currently, our team is negotiating to have  videoconferencing available for the first time.  Details will follow.

Presentations should:

1. Provide access to evidence-based information.
2. Promote culturally appropriate theories, models, and strategies. 
3. Reduce isolation by increasing networks of rural, remote and northern resources. 
4. Educate the audience about interventions that can be immediately implemented.
5. Initiate dialogue and exploration about the unique needs of families in the North.

Please contact Jodi with further questions.

Jodi Kurzhals, Site Coordinator
Centre of Excellence for Children and Adolescents with Special Needs
Learning and Communication
955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON  P7B 5E1
Phone:  807.343.8196
Fax:  807.346.7956
Email: jodi.kurzhals@lakeheadu.ca
Website:  www.lcnorth.ca  and www.coespecialneeds.ca

Eabametoong Fort Hope Ladies Broomball Tournament

January 25-28 2007

@ Joseph Jacob Nate Memorial Arena Eabametoong First Nation.

Entry Fee $1000.00 requiring 50 % deposit or in full prior to schedule inclusion
deadline16th of January 2007

Maximum 16 Teams

Open-Status not required, Imports allowed

For more information call 1-807-242-7295 or leave a brief message with the Tournament's hosts e-mail addresses eabametoongforthopebraves@knet.ca or eabametoongtournaments@knet.ca

OPEN to Ladies Broomball Teams and to Bingo Players Everywhere!

3rd Annual Ladies Broomball Tournament

Pickle Lake Arena

February 16-18, 2006

Entry Fee $1500.00

1st Place    $8000.00

2nd Place  $2500.00

3rd Place  $1500.00

Prizes Based on 8 teams.    100% payout.

Contact Michael Bottle (807)928-2490/ 2837

Destani Skunk   (807)928-2881

10th Annual Thomas Ash Memorial Hockey Tournament

Pickle Lake Arena

February 9-11, 2007

Entry Fee $1500.00

1st Place $8000.00

2nd Place $2500.00

3rd Place $1500.00

For more information contact
Michael Bottle (807)928-2490/2837

From Heritage Canada press release (for more information about applying to become a Cultural Capital of Canada visit http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/progs/ccc/index_e.cfm)

Wendake Designated a 2007 Cultural Capital of Canada

OTTAWA, December 18, 2006 - On behalf of the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages, today announced that the Huron-Wendat Nation of Wendake, Quebec, has been designated a 2007 Cultural Capital of Canada, in the less than 50,000 population category. Comox Valley, British Columbia; Edmonton, Alberta; Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec, and Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan have also been named Cultural Capitals for 2007.

"Canada's New Government is dedicated to enriching the lives of Canadians by supporting projects that increase their access to the arts and culture," said Minister Oda. "The Cultural Capitals of Canada Program celebrates the unique character of Canadian municipalities and recognizes the important role they play in highlighting the richness and diversity of our culture."

"I'm proud that this community has been recognized for its commitment to nurturing arts and culture as a part of life here in Wendake," said Minister Verner.

Located 10 kilometres north of the city of Québec, Wendake has a strong sense of place, and this is reflected in its cultural programming. Carrefour des Nations, a festival of contemporary Aboriginal arts and culture, will showcase the First Nations artists and their unique culture. There will also be theatrical productions, exhibitions, literary readings, musical performances, and a traditional pow-wow, which will include exchanges with First Nations from around the world. These initiatives will leave a lasting legacy as a testimony to Wendake's commitment to the arts and culture.

The Cultural Capitals of Canada awards recognize the achievements of communities that demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the arts and culture. Funding is awarded for special projects that celebrate arts and culture and create a cultural legacy for the community. The Huron-Wendat Nation of Wendake could receive a contribution of up to $500,000.

An independent advisory committee, composed of the mayors of the 2006 Cultural Capitals of Canada and experts in the arts and culture fields, unanimously recommended the communities to be designated to Minister Oda.

Canadian municipalities and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities can apply to this program. The Department is currently evaluating applications for the 2008 and 2009 awards. The application deadline for the 2010 Cultural Capitals of Canada awards is October 15, 2007.

A list of all applicant communities, a summary of the projects of the designated communities, and the maximum possible funding they can receive can be found on the Department of Canadian Heritage website at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Media Room.

Fact Sheet 1 - 2007 Cultural Capitals of Canada

Edmonton, Alberta - Category: Population over 125 000
Maximum contribution: $2 million

"Building Connections" emerges from Edmonton's recognition of the contribution made by culture to quality of life. In keeping with this vision, 2007 will set the scene for a series of projects, which includes a year-long poetry festival. "Nightworks," a series of performances and light displays, will highlight the city's urban landscape. "Edmonton Explorations" will feature visual and media arts productions and exhibits by local artists. The year 2007 will truly be dedicated to "building connections" as Edmonton showcases its cultural vitality and the diversity of its population and strengthens ties between citizens and artists.

Comox Valley, British Columbia - Category: Population between 50 000 and 125 000
Maximum contribution: $750,000

"Land of Plenty" brings together five communities in the Comox Valley, whose name comes from the First Nation word k'omoks, which means "a celebration of creative abundance." From the creation of an original musical theatre production immortalizing local legends to the preservation of Aboriginal cultural traditions and public art installations and performances, "Land of Plenty" celebrates the cultural history and vitality of all five communities and involves residents and visitors in exploring and celebrating the links between these communities' landscape, heritage industries, and creative sector.

Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan - Category: Population under 50 000
Maximum contribution: $500,000

Moose Jaw's commitment to the arts and culture shines through in its "Year of the Creative Person." Celebrations include an art project and workshops to introduce the public to works and techniques of an Aboriginal painter and a sidewalk artist, a summer play exploring Moose Jaw's colourful reputation as the "Chicago of the Prairies," drama camps for children, and song-writing workshops. Moose Jaw's strong sense of community spirit will be highlighted throughout the year as a 2007 Cultural Capital of Canada.

Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec - Category: Population under 50 000
Maximum contribution: $500,000

"Célébrer le passé, construire l'avenir" features cultural heritage and its place in contemporary times. Among the many projects planned are a contemporary symphonic work based on The Lord of the Rings, screenings of documentaries about the region in store windows, and a publication of quotes by local residents. This community has demonstrated a strong commitment to celebrating the past while focusing on the future. Pride in its achievements is a theme reflected throughout its proposal and a concept embraced by the entire community.

Wendake, Quebec - Category: Population under 50 000
Maximum contribution: $500,000

Located 10 kilometres north of the city of Québec, Wendake has a strong sense of place, which is reflected in its programming. Its artists and unique culture will be at the forefront, with "Carrefour des Nations," a festival of contemporary Aboriginal arts and culture. There will also be theatrical productions, exhibitions, literary readings, musical performances, and a traditional pow wow, which will include exchanges with First Nations from around the world. These initiatives will leave a lasting legacy as a testimony to Wendake's commitment to the arts and culture.

From The Aboriginal Human Resource Development Council of Canada (AHRDCC) conference web site at http://www.ahrdcc.com/HRconference/index.php 

Unlocking Aboriginal Potential in the Workforce - National Aboriginal Recruitment, Retention & Advancement Conference

Conference Dates:

April 3, 2007 - Pre-conference Workshops
April 4 & 5, 2007 - Conference

Location: Fairmont Château Laurier, Ottawa

About the Conference
Unlocking Aboriginal Potential in the Workforce is the council's first national Aboriginal recruitment, retention and advancement conference. The conference will bring 250 human resource and Aboriginal diversity professionals from the employer, Aboriginal education and career development communities together for two-days of learning and networking in the eloquence of Ottawa's premier hotel, the Fairmont Château Laurier. The conference answers the call from Canada's employers and Aboriginal communities for an opportunity to advance new solutions toward Aboriginal workforce development and employment inclusion strategies in Canada.

Who Should Attend: Employers, Aboriginal employment practitioners, human resource & diversity managers, educators, and the career development community.

Call for Presenters
Deadline for submissions: January 26, 2007
Read the complete submission guidelines for workshop topic suggestions and details on submitting a prosposal.

Call for Presenters Guidelines - Deadline: Friday, January 26, 2007

The Aboriginal Human Resource Development Council of Canada (AHRDCC) invites submissions for conference workshops that highlight promising strategies/case studies/research and workforce partnership strategies that may generate creative new workforce solutions about:

• human capital leadership initiatives
• the implementation of Aboriginal workforce inclusion strategies
• innovative concepts for recruitment, retention or advancement strategies
• new methods to reach and engage the Aboriginal labour market.

Workshops should be concise, dynamic and interactive presentations that provide participants with resource tools and concepts that can be put to practical use in the workplace. Presenters are asked to focus on the lesson that needs to be delivered.

Workshops will be approximately 1.5 hours in length and as interactive as possible. Space is available for up to 50 delegates to attend each workshop. Some workshops may be offered more than once.

To show our gratitude to presenters we will provide each presenter with one complimentary conference registration. Presenters will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs.

Suggested Workshop Topics

• building a workplace strategy upon the business case for Aboriginal inclusion
• how to recruit the best Aboriginal talent
• Aboriginal people with disabilities
• overcoming barriers to employment
• addressing social issues through employment
• labour market trends and Aboriginal people
• engaging and retaining an Aboriginal workforce
• emerging human resource issues and trends in corporate Canada
• communication and protocols for effective collaboration
• marketing Aboriginal talent to employers
• effective networking and business relationship building tips
• employment law, legal issues, legislation, policies
• partnership solutions among industry, education and Aboriginal Human Resource Development Agreement holders (AHRDAs)
• organizational development and employee investment for success
• strategies for lifelong learning and Aboriginal employee advancement
• overcoming the cultural divide in partnerships,
• workplaces and training
• matching training to industry demands
• growing trades opportunities
• preparing the Aboriginal candidate for apprenticeship
• retention of Aboriginal learners in secondary and post-secondary contexts
• results and lessons learned from pilot projects in Aboriginal workforce development

Submitting a Proposal
Workshop presenters are encouraged to focus on one or two quality submissions rather than proposing a large number of presentations. The conference committee will consider a submission based on its appeal to a wide range of conference delegates and its relevance to the conference theme. You will be notified by email by Friday, February 9, 2007 if your presentation is selected.

Please provide the following:

• a description of your workshop (approximately 100 words)
• a brief description of what participants will learn and target audience
• how your workshop addresses the conference theme
• why your proposal should be selected
• a brief biography/curriculum vitae or up-to-date resume including your experience as a speaker/presenter

Please forward the above information by email to the conference organizers before
4:00 p.m. PST, Friday January 26, 2007.

For more information, contact:

Unlocking Aboriginal Potential in the Workforce
c/o First Nations Training & Consulting Services
PO Box 5000
Saanichton, BC  V8M 2C5
p - 250.652.7097
f - 250.652.7039
e - fntcs@telus.net
w - www.firstpeoplescanada.com

Press Release ...

NAHO Nomination Call for 2007 Aboriginal Youth Role Models

- GET YOUR NOMINATIONS IN! -

We are pleased to announce a "Nomination Call for 2007" for Canada's top Aboriginal youth role models.

What:

Lead Your Way! the National Aboriginal Role Model Program provides an opportunity for Aboriginal youth to be recognized for their achievements, leadership and innovation. Role models may be First Nations, Inuit or Métis youth between the ages of 13 and 30 years old.

Who:

Aboriginal youth (between the ages of 13 and 30 years old) can nominate their role model by filling out the nomination form. The nomination form has various attributes that fit your role model.

When:

Nominations will close on Monday, April 2, 2007.

How:

You can nominate an Aboriginal youth for Lead Your Way! by completing a nomination form. Please download one of the following nomination forms:

1. Nomination Form (MS Word Document)
2. Nomination Form (PDF)

Please mail your nomination form to:

National Aboriginal Role Model Program
National Aboriginal Health Organization
220 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 1200
Ottawa, ON K1P 5Z9

Or fax to: (613) 233-1853

Checklist - Make sure that:

• The role model and nominator must be Aboriginal (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) youths between the ages of 13 and 30 years old.
• The nomination form is fully completed along with signatures (nominator and references).

You have the option of submitting the following:

• A short biography of your role model, 1-2 pages.
• Letters of support from references.
• Copies of other supporting documents.
• Photo of your role model.

For more information please contact:

Karin Kettler
National Aboriginal Role Model Program
National Aboriginal Health Organization
220 Laurier Ave. West, Suite 1200
Ottawa, ON, K1P 5Z9

Toll-free: 1-877-602-4445
Tel: (613) 237-9462 ext. 548
Fax: (613) 233-1853

E-mail: kkettler@naho.ca / leadyourway@naho.ca

Click here to read the following Globe and Mail story online

Revealing new layers of dark history
BILL CURRY - From Tuesday's Globe and Mail - Posted ON 02/01/07

OTTAWA — The painful, personal stories of Canada's residential schools will soon include the perspective of the alleged abusers, as teachers' private journals and thousands of other documents held by churches are gathered and released for the first time.

The massive exercise is part of a five-year project to document one of the darkest chapters in Canadian history.

Called a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the $60-million project is a key, but mostly overlooked, aspect of Ottawa's residential-schools agreement. The $1.9-billion settlement was officially approved by the courts last month.

The project bears the same name as the six-year commission led by former Anglican archbishop Desmond Tutu in South Africa, where people of all races shared searing personal stories of violence and racism during the country's apartheid past.

The purpose of Canada's exercise is to give former students a formal opportunity to tell their stories and to create a final report that will be Canada's official historical record of the period.

But while the report will focus on the broad perspective, many natives will also want to access the papers and photos to learn about their own experiences and family history, said Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, himself a victim of residential-school abuse.

Seeing the meticulous church records will be an important new part of the story, he said.

“We will learn what transpired on a daily basis — because the officials kept daily journals — and come to understand how they viewed these schools, the children that they were responsible for,” Mr. Fontaine said. “This is an important missing piece at the moment. Because all we've heard is the stories of the survivors, and this is just now coming out. But we haven't heard from the churches.”

Amid widespread claims by former students of physical and sexual abuse, the process presents the possibility that victims could look up the diaries of their abusers.

A statement of principles in the terms of reference states that the commission must “do no harm” and that all involvement must be voluntary, but the process is sure to be difficult for many who take part.

Mr. Fontaine conceded that the process will be painful at times, but he said it will ultimately help natives move on and allow all Canadians to understand the impact residential schools had on native society.

“We have to be prepared to expose the ugly truth of the residential-schools experience because that's part of the healing and reconciliation that has to occur. We know that it's been traumatic for survivors . . . this is not easy because we're dealing with painful experiences. But it's all very important. This is not about causing further harm to individuals. It's really about making things better and fixing things and making sure people understand this experience in a way that will enable us to turn the page.”

Three commissioners will be named to hear from former students and teachers and comb through the historical records currently archived by churches and governments.

The records include thousands of photographs, student profiles, reports by visiting church officials and teachers' personal journals.

Residential schools were originally an extension of the missionary work of European religious settlers who sought to convert aboriginals to Christianity. The federal government became involved in joint ventures with the churches in 1874 and took over the schools completely in 1969. The last residential school closed in 1996.

While specific lawsuits dealing with sexual and physical abuse continue, the $1.9-billion settlement recognizes that all students suffered through loss of culture and language and by being forcibly removed from their homes to live at the schools.

Although the commission will have access to any records it wishes, meetings are under way to determine the level of access extended to individual survivors.

Public release of the records will be subject to the federal access-to-information and privacy laws, meaning that individuals named in the documents will likely have to be consulted. Library and Archives Canada will be closely involved in the effort, but the undertaking is clearly daunting for those in charge of the records.

Nancy Hurn, the national archivist for the Anglican Church, manages the church's records with the help of one part-time assistant.

The church is willing to share whatever is needed, she said, but she is concerned about meeting the volume of requests that are likely to flood her desk. The commission's terms of reference says a report on “historic findings and recommendations” must be produced within the first two years.

“I think that is the one thing in the agreement that gives me concern. One is the timing and the other is how the [access and privacy] legislation is going to be applied,” she said. “We're doing everything we can to make them available.”