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On Friday, Minister of State for FedNor, Joe Comuzzi announced a commitment of 10 million dollars to bring broadband access to every community in Northern Ontario. Click here to read the entire FedNor press release.

North Spirit Lake, Sandy Lake and Weagamow were visited by writer Louise Brown and photojournalist Rene Johnston from the Toronto Star to produce a series of four articles called "Ontario's Forgotten Children". The stories describe some of the challenges facing remote First Nations in this part of northwestern Ontario.

The Auditor General's November 2004 report guided the reporters in their search for examples and stories. In particular the parts of the report that examined the dollars spent by INAC on funding native education across Canada including:

• While the Indian and Northern Affairs Department did some studies and began a few new programs, it made little progress on a range of problems cited in 2000, including a large gap in the number of native vs. non-native high school graduates.
• The time estimated to close that education gap had actually grown slightly, from 27 to 28 years.
• The department couldn’t say whether the more than $1 billion it spends funding native education is enough, and whether the results are acceptable.
• There is a large young native population. About 40 per cent of the registered Indian population is under 19, compared with 25 per cent in the Canadian population.
• Most native schools are in communities with fewer than 500 residents, making it difficult to offer a range of services.
• The department should clarify its duties and goals, and better track funding.

The first of several articles appeared in Saturday's issue of the Star. Click on the article title to read each of them. The third story was posted on Sunday. As well, there is a photo journal (requires Quicktime) about their trip.

• Making the grade (Apr. 23)
• Poverty, despair - and hope (Apr. 23)
• These shelves speak volumes (Apr. 24)
• No skyscrapers in this culture (Apr 25)
• Even the littlest can help (Apr 28)
• Fly-in schools taking action (Apr 30) 
• Short-sighted Ottawa fails native students (May 1)
• writer Louise Brown and photojournalist Rene Johnston talk about their experiences at three native reserves in Ontario’s northwest in a slideshow of images from their trip
• Building bridges to native schools (May 2)
• Canada must nuture aboriginal talent - National Chief Phil Fontaine (May 2)
• Hiding Canada's ugly past (May 2)

Mr. Barkman is continuing his fundraising efforts to raise funds for a Traditional Food Bank for individuals who have had to relocate to urban areas due to medical requirements.  He has already completed 400 kms of walking via winter road travel.

Participants include:

1. Jimmy Barkman, Sachigo Lake
2. Rhoda Barkman, Jimmy’s wife, Sachigo Lake
3. Marsha Wood, Jimmy’s daughter, Winnipeg, MB
4. Dillon Wood, Jimmy’s grandson, Winnipeg, MB
5. Bella Chapman, Jimmy’s sister-in-law, Big Trout Lake, ON

Estimated travel from Sioux Lookout to Thunder
Bay, ON, will be another 400 kms, commencing today, April 22, 2005.

Friday April 22nd 2005 – Depart Sioux Lookout @ 1:00 pm to Dinorwic (Sioux Lookout Accommodations)
Saturday April 23rd 2005 – Dinorwic to Ignace (Sioux Lookout Accommodations)
Sunday April 24th 2005 – Rest (Sioux Lookout Accommodations)
Monday April 25th 2005 – Ignace (Ignace Accommodations)
Tuesday April 26th 2005 – Ignace (Ignace Accommodations)
Wednesday April 27th 2005 – English River (English River Accommodations)
Thursday April 28th 2005 – English River (English River Accommodations)
Friday April 29th 2005 – Upsala (Upsala Accommodations)
Saturday April 30th 2005 – Upsala (Upsala Accommodations)
Sunday May 1st 2005 – Rest (Thunder Bay)
Monday May 2nd 2005 – (Thunder Bay Accommodations)
Tuesday May 3rd 2005 – Thunder Bay Arrival

Jimmy Barkman and family will be walking Monday to Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday – Rest day

Volunteers are required to walk 5 kms each.

Photo taken by Carol Terry, at WFNC’s BBQ.

A new five year Bachelor of Education is being developed for those people who want to become teachers working with First Nation students. The official signing of the partnership agreement to develop this new program took place this past March (click here to view the pictures of the negotiations and the signing).

The Sioux Lookout District Native Teacher Education Program (NTEP) management committee has been working on developing a culturally sensitive teaching program for the past few years. This committee consists of representatives from Shibogama, Windigo, IFNA, Keewaytinook Okimakanak, Sandy Lake and the Northern Nishnawbe Education Council. The Sioux Lookout district chiefs' approved the development and design of this new teacher degree program, in assembly.

Members of the consortium include Brock, Nippissing, and Lakehead universities which have signed an agreement-in-principle with Northern Nishnawbe Education Council to work together to create this new bachelor of education program. Click here to read the April 7 Wawatay story about this event.

We are having our 5th Annual Spring Traditional Gathering.

Friday, April 29, 2005 is CULTURAL EDUCATION DAY!

Check out the website for more info.

http://www.nnec.on.ca/pffnhs/gathering/

Educational Puppet-play over video-conference!

Access Suicide Intervention & Prevention training in your community by video-conference or by audio connection.

KO Telehealth invites you to participate in education events offered through video conferencing.  The topics range from Sign Language to Physical Activity for Elders.

Please visit the web site to view all education events www.telehealth.knet.ca (Health Professionals, Education Sessions).  Contact Gayle Reid at gaylereid@knet.ca or 807-735-1381 ext 51304 if you wish to register for an education session.  All are welcome.

The Sioux Lookout Area Aboriginal Management Board (SLAAMB) met with federal government officials from Human Resources Skills Development (HRSD) on Wednesday in Thunder Bay to continue the negotiations to re-open the Sioux Lookout based operation. Members of the Chiefs political group, the board and Bob Bruyere, SLAAMB Program Manager attended this meeting. An agreement in priniciple was worked out where "it would business as usual" for the SLAAMB office once the chiefs meet on April 26 in Sioux Lookout to review the terms and conditions that are being submitted this week to HRSD.

The story about this meeting was also reported in Thursday's Chronicle Journal (Thunder Bay) on the front page.

Click here to read last week's article about the closure of the office that was in the April 7 issue of the Chronicle Journal.

Click here to read's Wawatay's coverage of the closure.

The Multicultural Association of Northwestern Ontario (MANWO) and Regional Multicultural Youth Council (RMYC) in Thunder Bay present the Where Are The Children? -Healing The Legacy of the Residential Schools Exhibition at the Victoriaville Mall.

A press conference was held at the Victoriaville Mall in downtown Thunder Bay on the opening of the Where are the Children? - Healing the Legacy of the Residential Schools Exhibition Thursday, April 14, 2005.

Speakers at the opening included Garnet Angeconeb, former residential school student and Secretary of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, Angie Bruce, Development Manager of the Legacy of Hope Foundation, Gabrielle Blais, Director General of Programs at Library and Archives Canada and Jeff Thomas, Curator of the exhibit. Other speakers included Moffat Makuto, Executive Director of the RMYC, David Paul Achneepineskum, NAN Executive Director and representatives from the Mayor’s office and MP Ken Boschoff’s office.

The Exhibit was created to promote an awareness of the Residential School Experience and is targeted to educate Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Youth. Everyone is encouraged to come out and view the exhibit at the Victoriaville Mall in Thunder Bay.

The Where are the Children? - Healing the Legacy of the Residential Schools Exhibition can be seen starting March 28 to July 22, 2005 from 10 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday and from 2 pm to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday.

For more information or for group reservations and special hours call (807) 622-4666.

To reach the Aboriginal Healing Foundation call 1 888 725 8886

To see the Where are the Children website click here

To visit the Aboriginal Healing Foundation site click here

To see pictures of the opening ceremony click here