Media.Knet.Ca

Native youth step up to the plate in special TVO presentation

VOX Talk: On the Rez: Should I Stay, or Should I Go?

Sunday, January 22, 6 pm - 60 minutes - Produced by TVO

TORONTO, Jan. 11 /CNW/ - Young aboriginals are one of the fastest growing demographic groups in the country, yet they remain one of the most marginalized, grappling with a variety of social issues. Lack of education and career opportunities are forcing many of them to leave their reserve communities for urban centres. But leaving is a tough choice, as they weigh heritage and family against dreams and ambitions. At the heart of their dilemma, is a long legacy of colonization and racism.

Should I stay or should I go? VOX Talk explores this question with a group of dynamic and outspoken aboriginal youth at the Six Nations Reserve outside Brantford, Ontario. Guests include Thunder Jack, a youth counsellor with The Little Embers Youth Program, and Kody Doxtator, who leads the Native Youth for Life Program. Their thoughts and experiences provide keen insights into today's native youth culture, and through their stories, we learn what they are doing to take control of their own futures.

VOX Talk is TVO's weekly youth talk show hosted by Max Valiquette. On the Rez is a special hour-long edition that will air on Sunday January 22 at 6 pm.

Viewers can also participate in a live webchat and webcast by logging on to voxtvo.org.

VOX Talk is produced by Alison Bruce.

For further information: Rosanne Meandro, Telephone: (416) 484-2600 ext. 2389, rmeandro@tvontario.org

Press Release - 1/11/2006

APTN Special 90 MINUTE ELECTION Edition DEBATE 2006 -Friday January 13 @ 7 pm eastern, 4 pm pacific - Aboriginal Peoples Television Network

Join host Madeleine Allakariallak and special guest journalist David Wiwchar from Ha-Shilth-Sa newspaper in Port Alberni as we bring you DEBATE 2006.

Aboriginal affairs critics from the major parties state what they would do for aboriginal people if they made the next government.

Participants include:

• Green Party – Ian Hopfe
• Liberal Party – Ethel Blondin-Andrew (for Minister Andy Scott)
• NDP Party – Pat Martin
• Conservative Party – Jim Prentice

Also join professor Leah Gazan from Red River Community College and journalist David Wiwchar for a half hour analysis after the debate.

That's this Friday at an earlier time -- 7 pm eastern, 4 pm pacific (APTN National News Primetime is pre-empted this day only)

Call for Papers:

Northern Research Conference June 2-3, 2006 Algoma University College, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, CANADA

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) welcomes you to the First Annual Northern Research Conference to be held in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. This conference demonstrates NOSM's commitment to health care and education to the people of Northern Ontario and beyond. The conference explores research activities within Northern Ontario arising from community-based activities and will highlight projects underway from students, residents and community-based researchers. The conference is also aimed at creating collaborative opportunities and community networking.

Abstract Submission Guidelines

On behalf of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, the Scientific Program Committee is inviting the submission of scientific abstracts on the following subject areas but not limited to:

* Clinical Research
* Cancer diagnostics
* Radio-therapy (device testing, device training, research)
* Cancer Basic Research
* Mitochondrial DNA Research
* Bio-Prospecting
* Population Health/Public Health Issues
* Occupational Health
* Rural and Remote Health Care Services
* Telemedicine
* Environmental Medicine
* Aboriginal Health/Medicine
* Rural Health Economics
* Program Evaluation
* Health Education
* Medical Education (CME, CPD, FD)

The research work submitted should be original and innovative. Presentations will be either in oral form or as poster presentations. The length of the oral presentations is expected to be 15 minutes in duration including discussion. The Abstract Review Committee, which will evaluate all submitted Abstracts, reserves the right to accept or reject any paper and make a final decision on the form of presentation.

Abstract submissions should adhere to the following guidelines:

* Abstracts should not exceed 300 words in length
* Tables may be included - each counts as 75 words
* Graphics/photos are permitted - each counts as 75 words
* Abstracts will be accepted in any language with translation to English requested

Abstracts should be submitted in electronic form through this website (link will be available early in January)  www.normed.ca  However, if unable to submit form electronically, forward four copies and CD or Disk by mail to:

Denise Smith, RN
Health Professional Development Coordinator Northeastern Ontario Medical
Education Corporation (NOMEC) Health Sciences Education Resource Centre,
Laurentian University
935 Ramsey Lake Rd.  Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6
Phone: 1-800-461-8777 or 705-688-0200 x2212
Fax:  705-688-0186
Email: smithd@nomec.on.ca

* The deadline for Abstract submission is, February 15, 2006

Authors of submitted Abstracts will be informed of the Abstract Review Committee's decision March 7, 2006. Acceptance notices will be sent by e-mail to the corresponding author. Subsequent communications, including details on the format and timing of oral and poster presentations will be sent to the designated presenting author(s).

Please note:  All oral and poster Abstract presenters will be responsible for their own Registration Fees - please do not wait for official Abstract acceptance to register.

Members of the Scientific Program Abstract Review Committee include:

* Dr. Greg Ross, Associate Dean, Research (NOSM)
* Ms. Joyce Helmer, Director of Faculty Development (NOSM)
* Dr. Silvana Spadafora, Algoma Regional Cancer Program Section Leader, Internal Medicine Northern Ontario School of Medicine
* Dr. Arthur H. Perlini, Dean (Algoma University College, Laurentian University)

Potential Financial Conflicts of Interest should be reported.  Funding sources for your research should be reported.  Failure to do so may jeopardize your application submission.

Submission forms available on line early in January at www.normed.ca

For further information please contact:

Denise Smith, RN
Health Professional Development Coordinator Northeastern Ontario Medical
Education Corporation (NOMEC) Health Sciences Education Resource Centre,
Laurentian University
935 Ramsey Lake Rd.  Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6
phone: 1-800-461-8777 or 705-688-0200 x2212
fax:  705-688-0186
email:  smithd@nomec.on.ca

Eabametoong First Nation Presents: The 4th Annual President's Cup Ladies Broomball Tournament February 2 - 5, 2006 live at the Joseph Jacob Nate Memorial Arena, Fort Hope, Ontario.

Championship: $10,000.00 + Gold + Caps

Runner Ups: $5,000.00 + Silver + Caps

Consolation Champs: $3,000.00 + Bronze

Runner Ups: $2,000.00

Entry Fee: $1,500.00 cdn.

First 6 local teams and first 6 visiting teams will be accepted.

For more Information, Please contact the Tournamnet Committee:

Alex Nate: 807-242-7436

Clarence Neshinapise: 807-242-8487

Derek Yellowhead: 807-242-7361or 8168(arena) 

NAN Press Release from NAN web site at http://www.nan.on.ca

After the third suicide of 2006, NAN Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler declared suicide prevention funding must be a priority with the new federal government.

NEWS RELEASE - 1/10/2006

NAN CALLS ON HEALTH CANADA TO EXPEDITE FUNDING PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION

THUNDER BAY, ON Tuesday January 10, 2006: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler today declared suicide prevention funding must be a priority with the new federal government.

"Because service providers are busy dealing with crisis response, long term prevention strategies get put on hold," said NAN Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler. "It's time we see some of the $65 million announced as part of Health Canada's $400 million package (fall of 2004) and re-evaluate the protocol hurdles currently enforced at the regional level."

Fiddler's comments come after the third completed suicide in Pikangikum First Nation already this year.

"We're only nine days into 2006 and we've already lost three of our youth if that doesn't show the severity of the growing need for suicide prevention in our communities I don't know what will," said Fiddler when he heard of the most recent suicide Monday morning.

There were 24 completed suicides in NAN territory in 2005. The last four suicides have taken place in Pikangikum First Nation a community of approximately 2000 in the Northwest area of NAN.

Fiddler, together with NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy, is meeting with provincial Health and Long Term Care Minister George Smitherman in Toronto Wednesday. The two leaders are urgently requesting to meet with the federal Health Minister.

* * *

For more information please contact:

Jenna Young
Communications Officer
Nishnawbe Aski Nation
(807) 625 4952
(807) 628 3953 (mobile)

Pelican Falls

Second Annual

Mixed Volleyball Tournament

3 guys 3girls

Saturday, February 4

Entry fee $150.00

Open to first 10 teams

Entry fee deadline: Monday, Jan 30

This is a fund raising event

Contact: Duane Ogemah 807 582-3908(home)

or 737-1283(work)

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy and Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic are travelling to Kashechewan today to be with the families and communities as they mourn the tragic deaths of two young community members. The fire also  injured 3 NAPS workers trying to free the young men from the building.

Click here to read the Nishnawbe Aski Police Services (NAPS) press release about the fire.

From the CBC News story about the fire at http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/01/08/kashechewan-fire-060108.html

Fire kills two jailed men on Northern Ontario reserve
Mon, 09 Jan 2006

The Ontario and federal governments are facing fresh accusations that they have failed the reserve of Kashechewan, after a fire at a jail that killed two prisoners and badly injured a police officer.
 
Only two months earlier, the province ordered a mass evacuation of the reserve, which is on the shore of James Bay, after long-standing contaminated water problems became a national scandal.

Tragedy struck again on Sunday afternoon when a blaze started in the building that housed the jail and killed two young men who were locked in their cells.

An officer that tried to open the cell doors was seriously injured and has been flown to the burn unit of a Toronto hospital for treatment.

Another officer and a civilian guard were treated for smoke inhalation, the Nishnawbe-Askia police force said.

It wasn't immediately clear what caused the fire or why the officer couldn't open the doors.

But New Democrat legislator Charlie Angus, the MP for the Timmins-James Bay riding, said the jail was substandard and lacked proper doors and padlocks.

"It just was in terrible, terrible condition, holes in the walls, the cells were inadequate," he told the Canadian Press late Sunday.

"It looked more like something you see in Sarajevo than the province of Ontario."

Angus blamed the provincial and federal governments for the conditions, calling it yet another example of the lack of infrastructure on the reserve.

In late October, the Ontario government ordered the evacuation of the Kashechewan First Nation after E. coli bacteria were found in its water supply.

About 1,500 people were temporarily relocated to other parts of Ontario.

Angus also played a key role in exposing the community's plight at that time.

A December 2005 paper entitled Literacy and Digital Technologies: Linkages and Outcomes published by Industry Canada and Stats Canada highlights the links between literacy and computer usage. For example ... "adults who have average or higher literacy skills and who are intensive computer users have about three to six times the odds of being in the top quartile of personal income, compared to respondents with below average literacy skills and less intensive computer use."

The authors describe the paper as an investigation of "relationships between adult literacy skills and use of information and communications technologies (ICTs)."

Click here to read the entire 34-page paper found on the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Research Institute web site (http://research.knet.ca)

Under Findings ... "Results also confirmed an association between literacy skills and ICT use. While controlling for other factors, adults’ perceived usefulness and attitude toward computers, use of the Internet, and use of computers for task-oriented purposes increased as literacy skill levels increased. This was true for all four literacy domains examined. In most countries, for example, respondents with medium to high prose literacy skills had between two to three times the odds of being a high-intensity computer user compared to those with below average literacy skills.

Those without access to ICTs also tended to have lower literacy levels than the rest of the population. In addition, only a minority of non-users of computers expressed an interest in starting to use a computer. This has implications for all nations if those individuals who perhaps stand to benefit most from ICTs (by obtaining health, employment and government information, for example) are not in a position to access and use them."

From the NAN web site ...

NAN Treaty Education Process will host a Treaty Conference for NAN Chiefs and members in Thunder Bay January 17 - 19, 2006.

Click Here for the DRAFT conference agenda

DRAFT AGENDA # 2 - NAN TREATY CONFERENCE

Day One

Opening Prayer Elder
Opening Remarks Grand Chief Stan Beardy
Deputy Grand Chief Dan Kooses
Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic
Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler

Historical Overview Fred Kelly *to be confirmed

James Bay Treaty # 9 Overview Luke Hunter, Simon Frogg, Ben Cheechoo

Aboriginal & Treaty Rights Mr. John Olthuis, OKTLaw *to be confirmed

Impacts of Mikisew Cree Case Mr. John Olthuis, OKTLaw *to be confirmed

Overview of NAN Processes Alanna McKenzie, Terry Waboose, Carol Ann Audet

Treaty Discussions Ben Cheechoo, Frank Beardy, Greg Spence (Including Interview Summaries to date)

Treaty Commemoration Statement Negotiations *same as above 1670 Rupert’s Land Case Mushkegowuk Council Representative

Day Two

Break Into Groups Elders, Men, Women, Youth, Leadership

Discussion

“What was intended by the treaty signatories for future generations?” – Historical

“What does the treaty mean to us today?” – Modern and by sector – lands, health, housing, etc.

Day Three

Development of a Treaty Statement

May be very broad, encompassing sectors, rolled from each group (there may be commonalities which can be agreed upon by all groups).

– Example: NAN Elder’s Treaty Statement On Health.

From Wawatay Online - Thursday, January 5, 2006 - submitted by Joyce Hunter

Mild winter delays winter road openings

This year’s mild winter has delayed the opening of winter roads that northern communities have come to rely on for transporting their goods and services.

Thus far, only one winter road, the one connecting Bearskin Lake, Muskrat Dam, Sachigo Lake and Weagamow to Pickle Lake is open. It has only been open for one week.

The winter road connecting Attawapiskat, Kashechewan and Fort Albany to Moosonee will be open to light traffic on Jan. 15 and then to heavier traffic (commercial users) at the end of the month, said winter road manager Gilbert Etherington. “The weather has been a factor in delaying the start of this year’s winter road season,” he said. “We are about 10 days behind last year’s opening because of it.”

Another winter road connecting Kitchenuhmaykoosib, Kingfisher Lake and Wunnumin Lake with Pickle Lake is in the process of being groomed for an opening. However, winter road managers working on the passage say more cold weather is required before grooming is completed and the passageway deemed fit for travel.

The long spell of mild weather has prevented the opening of a fourth winter road connecting Pickle Lake to Fort Hope, Summer Beaver, Lansdowne House and Webequie.

The passageway connecting North Spirit Lake and Deer Lake to Red Lake has not been opened yet – road construction workers are not convinced the Barrens Lake is safe to cross. -JH

2006.01.05