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Nishnawbe Aski Press Release

NAN community leadership and members condemn hostel

     SIOUX LOOKOUT, ON, July 7 /CNW/ - Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler (NAN health portfolio holder) together with NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine, Lac Seul First Nation Chief David Gordon, Sandy Lake First Nation Chief Pardemus Anishinabie, and community members of Sioux Lookout and surrounding First Nations declared the Sioux Lookout Hostel condemned, officially closing its doors yesterday at noon.

     "The health and safety of the people who access the services of the Hostel is being compromised daily by old heat and water systems, mould, and asbestos," said NAN Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, adding the construction of a new Hostel is part of an agreement made almost ten years ago.

     "We're still committed to working with Health Canada and would reconsider re-opening the Hostel if we can secure a ministerial guarantee, however at this point in time and for the safety of our people we have no choice but to close the doors."

     A four party agreement to build a new hospital and hostel in Sioux Lookout was signed April 1997 by the Governments of Canada and Ontario, the Municipality of Sioux Lookout, and Nishnawbe Aski Nation plus four Treaty 3 communities. As part of this agreement the Sioux Lookout Hostel was deemed an essential support service for First Nation members across Ontario and the Government of Canada promised to provide or ensure the availability of funding for a new building.

     The condemnation comes after a Wednesday meeting with First Nations and Inuit Health Branch Assistant Deputy Minister Ian Potter who could not commit to the construction of a new building until the House of Commons sits again Fall 2006.

     The construction of the $84 million new Meno Ya Win Health Centre is scheduled to begin this summer with expectation to be available for occupancy 2009.

     To date there is no official plan for construction of a new Hostel that will cost approximately $9 million.

     The current Hostel with 39 beds is 57 years old and requires heat and water upgrades. There is asbestos and mould in the building and there are only 2 co-ed washrooms.

     "I urge all parties to continue to work together to address this very vital issue. We have been given some assurances by the federal government, but what we want is a concrete commitment," said AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine. "We must ensure that this essential support service - a hostel that meets the basic standards most Canadians take for granted - is in place as quickly as possible."

     Despite yesterday's condemnation of the Sioux Lookout Hostel, the current Hostel residents will continue to receive support services as part of an alternate care plan being developed by Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority and NAN.

     "The doors are closing today, but an alternate care plan in terms of transportation, accommodation, and health care is in place for the current patients residing at the Hostel," Fiddler said yesterday.

     The hostel houses patients from more than 30 First Nation communities across Northwestern Ontario when receiving medical care from Sioux Lookout Meno-Ya-Win Health Centre (Sioux Lookout Zone hospital and Sioux Lookout District hospital). Health services are provided to all residents within Sioux Lookout and surrounding area, including NAN First Nation communities north of Sioux Lookout, Lac Seul First Nation, and residents of Pickle Lake and Savant Lake.

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/For further information: Jenna Young, Director of Communications, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, (807) 625-4952, (807) 628-3953 (mobile); Bryan Hendry, Communications Officer - Health, Assembly of First Nations, (613) 241-6789 OR (613) 293-6106 (mobile)/

The Kuhkenah Network Operations Centre backup power system performed 100% last night when the main hydro line from Dryden had a massive failure starting shortly before 5 pm. 

When the blackout began the switch over from the battery system to the generators went smoothly. The generator at the satellite hub site kept the 38 satellite served communities across the northern parts of Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba online. The generator at the K-Net Operations Centre kept all the servers and services online. The battery supply for the fibre hub kept that circuit operational and the Bell Canada system was able to remain online throughout the 7 hour blackout.

The back-up system is now certified as full functional! 

Thanks to Industry Canada FedNor for the investment in the backup system.

From the Ministerial Advisory Council on Rural Health at http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/rh-sr/advis_e.html

Up to one-third of Canadians live in rural, remote, isolated or northern areas of the country ...

The report "Rural Health in Rural Hands: Strategic Directions for Rural, Remote, Northern and Aboriginal Communities" at - http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/rh-sr/rural_hands-mains_rurales_e.html

An important letter to the editor in the Sioux Bulletin, July 5 ...

Mismatch in healthcare needs

By Pete Sarsfield, MD, FRCP©, Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer Northwestern Health Unit

Health Canada’s Ministerial Advisory Council on Rural Health recently stated, "There is a fundamental mismatch between the health care needs of people living in rural Canada and the availability of health care providers and health services." (Rural Health in Rural Hands: Strategic Directions for Rural, Remote, Northern and Aboriginal Communities, p.2).

This astute and accurate statement regarding a key " fundamental mismatch" includes public health (prevention, promotion/protection) services and providers, by both implication and reality. For example, the availability of public health practitioners and public health services and programs in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts of Northwestern Ontario does not match the need for disease prevention, health promotion and health protection. We are experiencing a fundamental mismatch, especially our smaller communities, the region’s First Nation (Reserve) communities, and the residents of the unincorporated areas.

Of these three - the small communities, the unincorporated areas and the Reserves - the public health service/program situation facing First Nation communities exemplifies the greatest mismatch between need and service. I have lived, worked, and travelled in this region for over 12 years, and during that time have made the following observations:

• Public health programs and services are not symbolic but do have an impact on the prevention of disease, the protection of health, and the promotion of well-being;
• Public health programs and services for First Nation communities (Reserves) in this region lag behind those available to regional municipalities, in both number and intensity;
• Epidemiological evidence regarding the burden of preventable disease facing First Nation communities and Aboriginal peoples in this region is unequivocal and indicates a huge problem as well as a significant gap between the First Nation communities and the municipalities;
• No level of government is willing to assume responsibility for full and adequate public health services to and for First Nation communities (Reserves);
• No service providing agency has been able to obtain adequate funding and/or clarify their mandate in order to permit provision of adequate and full public health services to and for First Nation communities. This includes (but is not limited to) representative Aboriginal organizations, the federal and provincial governments, and the regional health units.

The present fundamental mismatch facing rural and remote residents is destructive and dangerous for both rural/remote and urban residents. The present situation should not continue to be tolerated, not by us or the organizations we represent, and not by our representative governments. I propose that we find remedies for this harmful mismatch of need and service, and that we do so in 2006.

"Ashawaga Anishinawbe Mamow Oshka win"

Traditional Healing Gathering and Powwow on July 26 to 30, 2006

"Absolutely No Alcohol and Drugs at any time."

More information: please call (807) 479 2530 and (807) 479 2745

Calling all dancers. 

Welcome to our traditional gathering. We are pleased to announce our Gathering of Healing and the Traditional powwow. Our healing starts from within and sharing it to move in theTraditional way.

Everyone is welcomed to join in our sacred gathering.

Join the great spirit of the dances and the songs and the gifts, the ceremonies, the anishinawbe pride all throughout the Anishinawbe Nation!

The Chiefs of Keewaytinook Okimakanak are meeting in Balmertown as a regular board of directors meeting for their organization on July 5 and 6, 2006.

Click here to see some pictures of the Chiefs and guests.

The six Chiefs of the Keewaytinook Okimakanak include:

• Chief Royal Meekis, Deer Lake First Nation
• Chief Roy Gray, Fort Severn First Nation
• Chief Joe Meekis, Keewaywin First Nation
• Chief Eli James, McDowell Lake First Nation
• Chief Isaac Linklater, North Spirit Lake First Nation
• Chief Jacob Strang, Poplar Hill First Nation

Guest presenters include:

• Grand Chief Stan Beardy, Nishnawbe Aski Nation
• Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic, NAN
• Bill Nothing, Acting Executive Director, NAN

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Press Release ...

NAN and AFN to seek commitment to former agreement to construct Sioux Lookout Zone hostel

THUNDER BAY, ON, July 4 /CNW/ - Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler together with Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine, Lac Seul First Nation Chief David Gordon, and Sandy Lake First Nation Chief Pardemus Anishinabie, will host a news conference in Sioux Lookout Thursday to announce the results of a Wednesday meeting with Assistant Deputy Minister of First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (a division of Health Canada).

• DATE: Thursday July 6, 2006
• TIME: 12:00 p.m.
• LOCATION: Sioux Lookout Hostel, 76 Seventh Avenue, Sioux Lookout

* Please note: Supporters will gather at the Nishnawbe-Gamik Friendship Centre at 11:30 a.m. prior to walking to the Hostel

The group is meeting with Assistant Deputy Minister Ian Potter to seek a formal commitment to start construction of a new hostel in Sioux Lookout - part of a 1997 four-party agreement between the Governments of Canada and Ontario, the Municipality of Sioux Lookout, and Nishnawbe Aski Nation plus four Treaty 3 communities to build a new hospital in Sioux Lookout.

Depending on the outcome of Wednesday's meeting taking place in Ottawa, First Nation community leadership and members are prepared to close the doors and label condemned the 57-year-old, 39-bed hostel containing asbestos, mould, graffiti-covered walls, and only two co-ed washrooms.

As an essential support to hospital services, the hostel houses patients from more than 30 First Nation communities across Northwestern Ontario when receiving medical care from Sioux Lookout Meno-Ya-Win Health Centre (Sioux Lookout Zone hospital and Sioux Lookout District hospital). Health services are provided to all residents within Sioux Lookout and surrounding area, including NAN First Nation communities north of Sioux Lookout, Lac Seul First Nation, and residents of Pickle Lake and Savant Lake.

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/For further information: Jenna Young, Director of Communications, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, (807) 625-4952 or (807) 628-3953 mobile; Bryan Hendry, Communications Officer - Health, Assembly of First Nations, (613) 241-6789 or (613) 293-6106
 View Photos Here

NISHNAWBE ASKI NATION OFFICIAL CANDIDATE LIST
Tuesday, July 4 2006

As per the NAN Election Code the following is the official list of candidates for the NAN Election to be held on Thursday August 3rd 2006 in Sachigo Lake First Nation. Click here for a copy of the PDF document from circulated from NAN.

PROCEDURE

A list of the candidates for Grand Chief and for Deputy Grand Chiefs shall be circulated by facsimile and mail to all NAN First Nations and Tribal Councils within seven days after the closing date for nominations, which is 30 days before the date of the election.

Grand Chief Nominations (By Chiefs)

• Stan Beardy
• Brian Davey
• Mike Metatawabin

Deputy Grand Chief Nominations (By Chiefs)

• Roseanne Archibald
• John D. Beardy
• Alvin Fiddler
• David L. Flood
• Michael Fox
• Ivan Iserhoff
• Archie Meekis
• Bill Nothing
• Terry Waboose

www.nanelection.ca
All candidates are welcome to submit their campaign information to be posted on www.nanelection.ca. Please contact Alanna McKenzie at (807)627-5606 or email amckenzie@nan.on.ca.

Prepared By: Alanna McKenzie, NAN/Canada Bilateral Protocol Coordinator
Approved By: Larry Amos, Head Electoral Officer

Contact Information:

Mr. Larry Amos
Head Electoral Officer
166 Anderson Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R2W 1E2
Telephone: (204)956-7413
Fax: (204)942-8840
Email: larry.amos@hotmail.com

From the official North American Indigenous Games web site at http://www.naig2006.com

From July 2-8, 2006, Denver, Colorado, is the cultural heart of North America as the host city of the 2006 NAIG.

The 2006 NAIG are a phenomenal celebration of sport and culture for North American Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island (North America). There are 7,500 representing 31 Delegations from across the U.S. and Canada!  An additional 30,000 supporters and spectators will also be participating.

2006 NAIG is a large-scale multi-sport and culture celebration offering competition in 16 sports for youth between the ages 13-19 and adults ages 20 and over that features an opening & closing ceremonies and cultural village featuring an Opening & Closing ceremony and Cultural Village.

The Team Ontario delegation web site can be found at http://www.oasc.net/naig2006/naig2006.htm on the Ontario Aboriginal Sport Circle web site.

Press Coverage ...

• http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_4003368 - Warriors in bridging a gap
• http://www.durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/06/news060703_4.htm - N. American Indian games start in Denver
• http://63.134.200.52/absoluteig/gallery.asp?categoryid=1 - photo gallery from the games
• http://www.durantdemocrat.com/articles/2006/07/03/sports/sport01.txt - Locals to compete in NAIG
• http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4815346,00.html - Pride the real winner at Indigenous Games

On Friday, June 30, the Northern Indigenous Community Satellite Network consortium submitted their business case requesting two additional transponders to Industry Canada's National Satellite Initiative. The business case proposes to build a second redundant hub in Montreal, construct local loops in all the partner Aboriginal communities and purchase 2 additional transponders from Telesat Canada to support broadband applications and bandwidth demands over the next ten years. Telesat Canada is partnering with the consortium to make this project possible.

Keewaytinook Okimakanak is also working with Industry Canada FedNor and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation to raise the funds necessary to complete the work proposed. This includes local community networks in those unserved communities and the purchase of the bandwidth necessary to deliver these services.

From the business case Executive Summary ...

The project submission is a result of a partnership established between the Kativik Regional Government (KRG), the Keewatin Tribal Council (KTC) and Keewaytinook Okimakanak (KO). Each organization serves as an operating partner in the Northern Indigenous Community Satellite Network (NICSN). Kativik Regional Government will be the lead agency for the project.

NICSN represents 8 underserved and 35 unserved communities in the northern regions of Quebec, Manitoba and Ontario with a combined population of 46,000 people. In order to deliver an ”equivalent to terrestrial” service, NICSN has been able to raise $8 million of the $31 million dollars as their contribution to the overall project.

We are requesting $22,138,670 from the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund in order to deliver the required equivalent to terrestrial services and applications in these communities.

The project being proposed will enable the purchase of two additional transponders to augment existing capacity, and will deploy a second hub to eliminate the single point of failure which exists now. This redundant hub will support the increased demand for critical applications on the satellite network. Broadband applications such as telehealth, distance education, justice discovery and remand hearings, as well as access to government and business products and services, have exceeded existing capacity for effective delivery. The satellite network, presently operating at full capacity, cannot support any further expansion of existing applications or introduction of new ones without scaling up.

As the additional transponders are allocated, the network staff at K-Net Services in consensus with the operators will assign transponder capacity to the network operators in support of the various application demands of their clients and communities. Traffic assignments will be done from the hub site in Sioux Lookout as it does not require travel or site visits. The second hub will be located in Montreal.

The augmented bandwidth will allow for the current and requested demand for multi-site videoconferencing and will have the capacity to support multiple, simultaneous videoconferences. Benefits will accrue from reducing travel costs by shifting them to service provision, thus increasing the quality of life for citizens living in remote areas. Access to services will be improved using Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) currently in place to a fuller extent. Additionally, this will ensure the remote communities will be able to participate fully and equitably with those in the rest of Canada and become healthier places to live, work and play as a consequence of this investment.

The PEOPLE will decide!

The Aboriginal Peoples Choice (APC) Music Awards at http://aboriginalpeopleschoice.com

The APC Music Awards is the only event where you, the fans, have the opportunity to choose which artist will be honoured in each category. Be a part of Canadian Aboriginal music history — sign up today to cast your vote.

This national inaugural event will be held Friday, November 3, 2006, at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba during the Manito Ahbee Aboriginal Festival (www.manitoahbee.com).

DEADLINES

• Artist Submissions - July 31, 2006
• Online Voting Begins - August 7, 2006
• 1ST Round of Voting Ends - September 7, 2006
• 3 to 5 Nominees Announced for Each Catagory - September 13, 2006
• Final Voting Begins - September 13, 2006
• Last Round of Voting Closes - October 13, 2006

RULES AND REGULATIONS

23 categories will be available for artists and industry people to submit. There must be a minimum of 3 submissions in order for each category to be adjudicated. 3 to 5 nominees for each eligible category will be announced on September 13.

Song or CD must have been released in the last 2 years (for 2006 awards). Releases between June 30, 2004 and June 30, 2006 will be eligible for 2006 APC Music awards program.

1. Artist must be a Canadian citizen.

2. Artist must be Indigenous – Metis, Status, Non-Status, Inuit. Proof of ancestry is the onus of the Artist. Exception to this is for Best Aboriginal Music by Non-Aboriginal Artist Category.

3. Artist(s) CD, Song or Program must have been released/aired within the last 2 years to be eligible for the 2006 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards (June 30, 2004 to June 30, 2006).

4. Released materials must be commercially accessible. Demos are not eligible.

5. All submissions must be mailed to:
 
Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards
Submissions
Lower Level – 376 Donald Street
Winnipeg, MB
R3B 2J2
 
Submissions must include a completed registration form with a Digital Media Kit (OR) CD accompanied by a 150 word artist biography with an 8X10 glossy photo.

6. Artists must complete and sign the release form, included with the entry form, granting APC permission to use submitted materials for promotion/publication purposes.

7. Submitted material will not be returned.

Click here to download your entry form at http://aboriginalpeopleschoice.com/cim/3200C5_2T62.dhtm