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The Aboriginal Healing Foundation board of directors presented their final report summary, "A Healing Journey", at their Winnipeg meeting for residential school survivors (click here to see the press release about these regional gatherings). From the "Final Report - Summary Points" document that was distributed at the gathering ...

Description of the Final Report ...

The report is published in three volumes that record the formation and accomplishments of the AHF between 1998 and 2005.

Volume I: A Healing Journey: Reclaiming Wellness

• places the work of the AHF in the wider Aboriginal healing movement, summarizes what the AHF has learned from research and evaluation, and recommends upon the future healing needs of residential school Survivors and their families.

Volume II: Measuring Progress: Program Evaluation

• synthesizes the data collected through the 3 national surveys (2000, 2002, 2004), 5 focus groups, 13 case studies, 1,479 individual participant questionnaires (IPQs), and file review of 36 AHF-funded projects.

Volume III: Promising Healing Practices in Aboriginal Communities

• reports on AHF-funded healing programs with practices and interventions that are working well for Aboriginal communities or communities of interest based on questionnaires, file review, survey data and focus groups.

AHF Recommends ...

• The Government of Canada renew the mandate of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation to enable it to continue its mission for a period of 30 years.
• The renewed mandate address the legacy of abuse, and social, psychological, cultural and spiritual injuries, inlcuding intergenerational impacts.
• The mandate be designed to complement and advance the interrelated goals of acknowledgement, redress, healing and reconciliation.
• The AHF be funded to support a public education role to conduct research and share knowledge related to the legacy of abuse in residential schools and promote healing and reconciliation.
• $600 million as a one-time grant be invested to generate income and be expended over 30 years to fulfill a renewed mandate of the AHF.

A New Healing Fund ...

• An endowment of $600 million will support a 30-year healing strategy
• $28.4 million per year will be available for community-based projects, based on a 2.5% inflation rate and a 5% return on investment
• By year 30, the AHF will have invested $1.2 billion in community-based healing

AHF Funding Priorities ...

• Continue outreach to underserved or special needs of Aboriginal communities to provide for an opportunity to begin healing
• Continue support in Aboriginal communities and communities of interest for AHF-funded projects for an average of 10 years
• Continue to document and evaluate effective healing practices to share with stakeholders
• Support self-determination and self-reliance in Aboriginal communities through culturally appropriate healing services, training and networks.

The Sioux Lookout Area Aboriginal Management Board (SLAAMB) is hosting a career fair at the Queen Elizabeth District High School in Sioux Lookout on February 16. The event is being webcast with video conferencing links available for all the First Nations across the region.

The fair will provide students and First Nations across the Sioux Lookout Zone region with information about the employment and training opportunities that are becoming available with the construction of the new hospital and hostel in Sioux Lookout.

Community members are invited to participate in the career fair by joining us in Sioux Lookout or via video conference from your community.  The live video conference is scheduled to take place on February 16, from 6 to 10pm.  A toll free audio conference line will also be made available for the conference so people can call into the session with their questions. This event will also be broadcast live over the internet so everyone with a computer can watch it and call in with their questions.

For a copy of the information package (letter to Chief and Council, agenda and poster) visit - http://knet.ca/documents/SLAAMB-Career-Fair.pdf

For further information contact Bob Bruyere or Stephan Kudaka at the SLAAMB administration office:

SIOUX LOOKOUT AREA ABORIGINAL MANAGEMENT BOARD
P.O. BOX 56, 115 KING STREET
Sioux Lookout, Ontario, P8T 1A1
TELEPHONE:  (807) 737-4047 ·  FAX:  (807) 737-4048

TOLL FREE: 1(800)563-2183

EMAIL: bbruyere@slaamb.on.ca
skudaka@slaamb.on.ca

The NAN Winter Chiefs Assembly will take place in Thunder Bay, ON March 21-23, 2006 at the Travelodge Airlane Hotel.

Click here for the registration form.

 Click here for the proxy letter template.

 If you have any questions regarding the Winter Chiefs Assembly please contact conference coordinators Wendy Caruk (wcaruk@nan.on.ca) or Brenda Iserhoff (biserhof@nan.on.ca) at 1-800-465-9952.

The Northern Nishnawbe Education Council is requesting proposals from consultants to develop an organization-wide Sports and Physical Activity Plan.

This will include a needs assessment and the development of a Risk Management Plan and Communication Strategy.

The lowest or any of the proposals not necessarily accepted.

The proposal call will close: 4:00 PM (Central Standard Time), Thursday, February 16, 2006.

Consultants may obtain a Request for Proposal (RFP) package from:

Ms. Rachael Paquette-Flanagan
NORTHERN NISHNAWBE EDUCATION COUNCIL
Box 1419,21 King Street
Sioux Lookout, Ontario
P8T 1B9
Phone: (807) 737-2002 ext. 234
Fax: (807) 737-2614

E-mail Address for Inquiries only: rpaquette@nnec.on.ca

Last week all the First Nation Community Telehealth Coordinators (27 coordinators) working in their home communities gathered in Balmertown to complete their certification process as CTCs working with the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Telehealth initiative. The training workshop provided all the CTCs with the opportunity to share their stories and experiences as well as learn new skills.

Click here to view some pictures from the training workshop.

Cal Kenny, K-Net's Multimedia Producer, video taped a various parts of this workshop. He has posted some of the video clips online for the CTCs to use in their communities to help explain their work.

Click here to see the video clips from this Certification workshop

From Timmins Daily Press

North gets all-season road funds

Trevor Terfloth - Thursday, January 26, 2006

Northern Native leaders are praising a provincial commitment to get the ball rolling on an all-season road to the James Bay Coast.

The Ontario government has promised to invest $38,800 for the first phase of the Mushkegowuk Council’s transportation study, which will obtain input from various communities as to the feasibility and logistics of such an endeavour.

Grand Chief Stan Louttit said the lack of road access has always been an issue and he’s pleased to finally see some action.

“It’s something that has been long outstanding being able to do the work that is required to get the facts,” he said.

“Now we’re able to do that late, mind you but better late than never.”

The partnership for the project includes the First Nation communities of Moose Factory, Fort Albany, Kashechewan and Attawapiskat, as well as the Town of Moosonee.

These areas are connected via a winter road for approximately three months of the year, with air service the only other transportation method the remaining nine months.

The winter road that normally connects coastal communities along the James Bay has only been able to withstand light traffic because of this year’s unseasonably warm weather

Louttit believes the warm weather’s effect on the winter road and various businesses, such as De Beers, may have expedited the government’s announcement.

“That may be a factor,” he said. “They’re not able to get to the site to do the work that they require. What are the options? The options are limited.

“You can’t take things in by air, it’s just too costly. And the summer barge season is just not feasible.”

Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci made the announcement Wednesday in Sudbury on behalf of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC).

He said James Bay communities face unique transportation issues that are amplified by remoteness and prohibitive costs.

However, Bartolucci, who is also the NOHFC chair, doesn’t believe it to be an insurmountable challenge.

“There are many building blocks, including cost-effective transportation, to be put in place for sustainable development in the Far North,” he said.

“Our government believes in working together to strengthen communication and understanding around development opportunities for the benefit of Far North residents.”

MPP Gilles Bisson (NDP Timmins James Bay) called the funding a token gesture, although he admitted it is a good start.

He said he’s been working for a long time with the Mushkegowuk Council and MP Charlie Angus (NDP Timmins-James Bay) to raise awareness for the cause.

“(The funding) is not a bad thing,” said Bisson.

“But basically if the (provincial) government is really serious about ponying up, they should not only provide dollars for the feasibility study, they should be an active participant with both the Mushkegowuk Council and the federal government.”

Bisson feels Ottawa and Queen’s Park need to commit to a timeline for the project, saying that will ensure the wheels stay in motion.

Like Louttit, Bisson feels the mild temperatures played a role in capturing the government’s attention.

“It’s a blessing in disguise, in a funny way,” he said.

“It’s making the rationale for a road that much more important.”

However, Bisson said it isn’t just First Nations who stand to benefit from increased access.

He said the province’s entire economy could see a dramatic boost.

“What we have learned in the history of Ontario is that whenever we have built roads or railways into areas that we have not done so before, it has led to the ability of people to go up and do mining exploration and take a look at other business opportunities that have basically paid the province back big time,” he said.

“When they built the Ontario Northland Railway, it was because of that we found the silver mines of Cobalt and the gold mines of Timmins and Kirkland Lake.”

Well known Aboriginal leaders were elected in their northern ridings in Canada's federal election on January 23, 2006.

Some of these winners include:

• Gary Merasty, former Grand Chief of the Prince Albert Grand Council, won the Northern Saskatchewan seat of Desnethé-Missinippi Churchill River by 106 votes.
• Tina Keeper, a well-known actress from the North of 60 program, won the Churchill seat in Northern Manitoba.
• Nancy Karetak-Lindell was re-elected to represent the Nunavut region for a fourth time.
• Todd Russell, former president of the Labrador Metis Nation, was re-elected to represent the people in the Labrador riding.

As well, Ethel Blondin-Andrew, a well-known champion for Aboriginal rights and former cabinet minister, lost her seat in the Northwest Territories after six terms when another Aboriginal leader from the region ran against her for the Conservative party. In the end, the NDP candidate was able to capture that seat with the split Aboriginal vote across the region.

CBC online news reports highlighted some of the other challenges to the election results that these candidates faced in these ridings ...

From http://www.cbc.ca/sask/story/harrison-appeal060124.html

Seat was 'stolen,' defeated MP says - Jan 24 2006

A Conservative who lost his seat in northern Saskatchewan last night is claiming the riding was stolen.

Jeremy Harrison says he will ask for an examination of the results in Desnethé-Missinippi Churchill River.

Harrison, who was elected to the northern riding in the 2004 election, lost to Liberal Gary Merasty Monday by 106 votes.

However, Harrison is alleging various irregularities. He said he's received reports that the Liberals were threatening native voters, telling them if they didn't vote Liberal they wouldn't be getting their cheques and other benefits.

The Harrison camp also had reports from individuals about plans to stuff ballot boxes at the end of the night, he said. It's also alleged there were Liberal pamphlets and signs and in polling stations and even inside polling booths, he said.

"We feel the election was stolen," he said.

"We're going to be appealing. We're asking for an investigation to be launched into what happened. There are many things that were concerning but I think the thing we're most concerned about is what happened on some of the Indian reserves."

Harrison said he has also heard accounts that voter turnout in some places was higher than 100 per cent of eligible voters.

He's now at work collecting formal statements, or affidavits, on alleged irregularities.

Harrison said his campaign did not have enough people to have scrutineers at all voting places.

Merasty said he has not heard any details of the allegations and will not be able to comment until he knows more.

According to the rules, a candidate can apply to the courts for a supervised recount if he or she believes the tally was not correct.

People can also ask Elections Canada officials to conduct a formal inquiry of how a vote took place.

from http://www.cbc.ca/north/story/nunavut-fax-24012006.html

Snafu delays Nunavut election results - Jan 24 2006

Some sloppy fax work by local election officials led to a sleepless night for Nunavut's chief returning officer.

Ranbir Hundal says polling in most locations went smoothly, though he had some problems with Sanikiluaq and Taloyoak.

Hundal says deputy returning officers in both communities tried to fax their poll results in, but the fax didn't come through to his office in Iqaluit.

"The poll was closed right on time, everything went on very well," he says. "The counting was done, the only thing they didn't do was fax the result. So we tried to get hold of the people but it was pretty late, because the poll closed at 9:30 and the people went home. So that's why there was a gap."

That "gap" resulted in Nunavut being one of the last ridings to report results in the country.

Despite not having the final results, Elections Canada declared Liberal Nancy Karetak-Lindell the winner in the early hours of Tuesday morning, because the votes from the two polls wouldn't have changed the results.

Karetak-Lindell won the riding with 3,683 votes, while David Aglukark Sr. of the Conservatives came in second with 2,692.

from http://www.cbc.ca/manitoba/story/mb_churchill-20060124.html

Actress Tina Keeper wins Churchill for Liberals - Jan 24 2006

Liberal Tina Keeper sprinted across the finish line in first place in Churchill Monday night, ending a long, three-way race for the northern riding's seat.

The fight between Keeper and rookie NDP candidate Niki Ashton was too close to call for several hours as polling numbers rolled in, but in the end, a final push saw Keeper take the seat by just over 3,000 votes.

The incumbent in the riding, Bev Desjarlais, was elected as a New Democrat in 2004 but quit the party this fall. She ran as an Independent this time around, finishing in third place about 2,800 votes behind Ashton.

Early in the evening, Ashton appeared to have a strong lead in the race, but as the night wore on, Keeper gradually caught up and then passed Ashton as the vote counts came in from remote aboriginal communities.

Keeper, a Gemini Award-winning actress who played a police officer in the 1990s television show North of 60, said she tried not to let the early results get her down, recalling the 1993 race in which Elijah Harper became the riding's Liberal MP.

"I think that when Elijah ran that another candidate had been declared, and in fact when those last polls came in, that's where Elijah won the riding. So I knew that in this riding … not to get too excited," she said.

Keeper, a member of the Norway House First Nation, said that as an aboriginal MP, she'll work hard to ensure Ottawa doesn't forget about aboriginal issues such as treaty rights.

Ashton, 23, was buoyed by the hard work of her supporters. She said she may one day try to run again for the NDP.

"So many people worked very, very hard, gave up so much time, so many sacrifices and so many people came out in support," said Ashton, daughter of Manitoba MLA Steve Ashton.

"We've taken the high road from beginning to end, and that's the way I'm going to keep it."

Unseated incumbent Bev Desjarlais didn't let her loss get her down, even visiting Keeper's campaign headquarters to give her rival a hug and a congratulatory message.

"There's nothing wrong with being a good sport when there's been a good, clean fight in place," Desjarlais said. "We were up-front and honest with each other through the whole election process."

Desjarlais, who represented the area for eight years, said she felt she had accomplished a lot for the NDP in the province's largest riding. Desjarlais left the party shortly after rejecting the party line in the House of Commons by voting against same-sex marriage.

Desjarlais said she's planning to spend more time with her family, and she has not yet considered taking another run at politics.

The Sioux Lookout Anti-Racism Committee is calling for nominations for its Annual People Making Changes - Mary Carpenter Award.  If you know of someone who has contributed to the community in exceptional ways to create positive changes in race relations, please request a nomination form at the SLARC office 737-1501. 

Past recipients included the late Marcel Angeconeb, Garnet Angeconeb and Monika Orzechowska. 

All nominations must be received by March 10, 2006 and the award recipient will be announced at the Multi-Cultural Potluck as part of Race Relations Week March 19-26, 2006. 

For more information visit www.slarc.ca or contact Pierre at 737-1501.

Plans are underway for a week of activities to be hosted during Race Relations Week, March 19-26/06 in Sioux Lookout.

A planning committee will be meeting over the next couple of months to plan a week of different events as part of Race Relations Week to celebrate the cultural diversity of this community.  Activities for children, youth and the whole community will focus on a theme that will be determined by the planning committee. 

On Sunday, March 26/06, the Multi-Cultural Potluck will once again bring many ethnic groups and their food to the same table. 

For more information, please contact the Sioux Lookout Anti-Racism committee at 737-1501, email slarc@bellnet.ca or visit www.slarc.ca.