From Turtle Island Native Network - Federal Government Expands Urban Aboriginal Strategy - an additional $25 million added to the $50 million for cities to support Aboriginal populations living in those environments.

REGINA, Jan. 13, 2005

The Honourable Andy Scott, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, announced today the expansion of the Urban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS) pilot projects.

As a result of the $25 million, one-year expansion, four new cities will
be added to the UAS: Prince George, British Columbia; Lethbridge, Alberta; Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and Thompson, Manitoba. In addition, current pilot projects with promising results may be expanded.

"The UAS is about breaking down barriers to create synergy - combining
our forces so that our effect is greater than the sum of our individual
efforts," said Minister Scott, lead minister for the UAS. "This helps our
resources to stretch further, be more effective and will help deliver on the
Government of Canada's commitment to close the gaps that separate Aboriginal people from other Canadians."

The expansion of the UAS pilot projects will help the Government of
Canada continue its work with provincial and municipal governments, local
Aboriginal organizations, non-government organizations and the private sector to develop innovative solutions to address local priorities. In addition to the four new pilot cities, work is already underway in the eight original cities: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto and Thunder Bay. In total, the expansion represents a doubling of the UAS pilot projects budget to $50 million and an one year extension of the projects to 2006-2007.

"The UAS is an important initiative for Regina. One in ten of our citizens identify themselves as Aboriginal," said Minister Scott. "That is why I am pleased to announce $134,897 in original UAS funding for The Peyakowak
(They Are Alone) Committee Inc.'s Reaching for Success Life Skills Program.

This promising program will help Aboriginal families to better their social
and life skills, creating a stronger community."

The UAS approach recognizes that local communities are best placed to
develop solutions that meet their unique opportunities and challenges. It also recognizes that all governments, and the communities they serve, need to work together to address urban Aboriginal issues. It is with this in mind that the Government of Canada hopes to continue building strong and lasting partnerships. The lessons learned from these projects will help the Government of Canada determine how to address urban Aboriginal issues in the longer-term.

The UAS is a Government of Canada initiative that involves a number of
departments, including: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Western Economic Diversification Canada, Canadian Heritage, Health Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Justice Canada, the National Secretariat on Homelessness, Industry Canada, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada and others.

An e-book that offers a unique approach for transforming the heart of deep-rooted conflict in the world today by Jessie Sutherland and with a foreword by Chief Robert Joseph. E-books are purchased o­n-line and you can download them o­nto your computer.

Visit: http://www.worldviewstrategies.com/e-book/

Here are what people have to say.

"Jessie Sutherland's book may well be the insight that provides the greatest potential for bringing about the needed healing and reconciliation that must take place. It has the potential to provide the spark required to bring real peace, balance, and harmony between parties, between Canada and its Aboriginal people. I agree absolutely with Ms. Sutherland's assertion that at the heart of reconciliation is essentially a parallel process of personal and political transformation from systems of dominance to relationships of mutuality. Heart by heart, family by family, community by community is the most appealing way to bring about reconciliation and this I have learned from Ms. Sutherland."

Chief Robert Joseph, Hereditary Chief of the Gwa wa enuk First Nation
Chairman of Native American Leadership Alliance For Peace and Reconciliation
Special Advisor to Federal Government for Residential Schools
Former Executive Director of Indian Residential School Survivors Society of BC

"Reconciliation From The Inside Out: Worldviewing Skills For Everyone offers a fresh, insightful and great contribution to the field. I immediately requested o­ne for my library."

John Paul Lederach, PhD,
author of Building Peace: Sustainable Reconciliation in Divided Societies.

"Reconciliation From The Inside Out: Worldviewing Skills For Everyone is a tool we can all use as individuals, families, or communities. I encourage everyone to take a risk o­n a new approach. I met Jessie Sutherland at a time when I was shedding the "victim mode" of the colonizer/colonized relationships - I believe the o­nly way we can have true (authentic) reconciliation is if we "get real" about the healing that is needed o­n both sides of the colonizer/colonized fence."

Dorothy Christian, Okanagan-Shuswap Nations

"In her book Jessie Sutherland clearly and thoroughly analyses the complexities of reconciliation. Her unique approach emphasizes both the psychological and systemic aspects of deep-rooted conflict. She proposes a new and workable way of transforming cycles of conflict and domination into those of reconciliation. In my opinion, this brilliant work establishes a fundamental foundation applicable equally to intercultural as well as international relations."

Ihab Banabila, Doctor in European Law, University of Montpellier - France.

Take Advantage Of This Introductory Offer

1. To purchase Reconciliation From The Inside Out: Worldviewing Skills For Everyone for a reduced promotional price of $14.95 + GST (Total: $16CAN) Visit: http://www.worldviewstrategies.com/e-book/
*Note: Promotional Introductory offer valid until February 2th 2005. Price increases to $19.95 (+GST). Buy now and save $5.

2. To sign up for a Worldviewing Skills Teleconference Series that accompanies this e-book visit http://www.worldviewstrategies.com/courses.html
Four teleconference sessions starting February 1st at 2pm PST / 5pm EST with a special promotion rate of $49.95 (+GST), Total $53.45. Teleconferences are held over the phone for o­ne hour. Teleconference size for this series is limited to 12 people and participants are required to purchase the accompanying e-book and expected to do some preparatory reading and exercises in between sessions.

For more information contact: jessie@worldviewstrategies.com
Phone: 250-642-6184

Pikangikum First Nation will be hosting Co-ed invitational broomball tournament o­n February 10,11 & 12, 2005.

Open to four outside teams
$600.00 entry fee
Twelve player roster- six guys & six ladies
Accommodations will be provided
Open to 12 teams
Prizes will be determined o­n the number of team entries

For more information

Contact persons

Van Keeper  773-1039(work)  773-5172(home)
Lyle Keeper 773-5557(work)  773-1074(home)
Randy Moose  773-1093(work)

Aanii, Boozhoo, Hello,

Once again March 30th – April 3rd , 2005, we will be holding our annual Anishinaabemowin Language gathering with the theme being, “Mnaajtoodaa Eyaawying” “Honoring our Cultural Identity” at the Kewadin Casino and Convention Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Attached is a link to our website www.anishinabek.ca/uoi/LC/index.htm, please share it amongst your peers.

Miigwech,

Maheengun Shawanda
Anishinaabemowin Teg
2005 Language Conference Coordinator
Sault Ste. Marie, o­n
Voice / Fax 705.942.9909

An article in Tuesday's Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal provides a brief history of the signing of Treaty # 9 and several Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities. This year and next will see NAN communities coming together with people from across Canada to celebrate this historic event. See the entire article below (the link to the Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal article is at the end).

NAN prepares for anniversary
By Staff - The Chronicle-Journal
January 12, 2005

Nishnawbe-Aski Nation is preparing for two busy years as it plans a series of events commemorating the anniversary of the signing of the 100-year-old James Bay Treaty.

The treaty deals with 200,000 square miles of land in Northern o­ntario from the Quebec border to the Manitoba border, and north to James and Hudson bays.

Fifteen communities will be marking the centennial: Mishkeegogamang, Fort Hope, Marten Falls, English River, Fort Albany, Moose Factory and New Post all signed the treaty in 1905, although many of those were known by different names then.

In 1906, Abitibi, Matachewan, Mattagami, Flying Post, Ojibeways of Chapleau, Moose Factory Crees, New Brunswick House and Long Lake signed. Again, many were known under different names.

Big Trout Lake, North Caribou Lake, Fort Severn and Winisk also signed the treaty, but not until 1929-30.

NAN is helping the 15 communities that signed in 1905 and 1906 with the centennial commemoration, aiding in fundraising and organizational duties, NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy said Tuesday, and several events are planned.

Things kick off Jan. 20 with a $125-per-seat fundraising gala at Thunder Bay’s Valhalla Inn. Former Lakehead University president Robert Rosehart — who also served as NAN’s chief negotiator during self-governance talks with the government — will make a keynote address dealing with the next 100 years of Treaty No. 9.

That’s a big theme for NAN, Beardy said, adding the organization wants to begin discussions with the government to improve relations with First Nations in Treaty No. 9 territory.

NAN is working o­n a treaty “report card,” which will be presented to the government with hopes that it will identify areas of concern and act as a basis for talks, Beardy said.

“When you look across Canada at other groups of First Nations and their relationship with (government), in some areas there’s a lot of progress, and o­ntario, unfortunately, is the furthest behind in dealing with aboriginal issues,” Beardy said.

He said First Nations in other provinces have used any means necessary — including legal — to make sure the government hears and addresses their concerns. Beardy said he has a mandate to explore all the options NAN has.

Other events planned include discussion panels o­n the impacts of Treaty No. 9 o­n NAN women and youth, and a thank-you gala in May.

The main commemoration ceremony will take place July 12 at Mishkeegogamang First Nation, the site of the first signing of the treaty. Among the invitees are Prime Minister Paul Martin, Bishop Desmond Tutu and Queen Elizabeth, although it’s not known if they will be able to attend.

Tickets to the fundraising gala are available at the NAN offices in Victoriaville, and corporate tables can be reserved.

http://www.chroniclejournal.com/story.shtml?id=25263

Equay-wuk (Women's Group) Parent Support Program
is pleased to announce:

"Positive Parenting Workshop Curriculum"

Train-The-Trainer Workshop

February 7-11, 2005. - Sunset Suites

Sioux Lookout, o­n

Register Today!!

A certified instructor will conduct the training session.  This will be a session that will allow those involved to conduct Parenting workshops in their community.

Who should attend:

• H.B.H.C workers
• Early Childhood Development Coordinators
• Mental Health Workers
• Community Health Representatives
• N.N.A.D.A.P. workers
• any other community workers

Contact Equay-wuk for more information:

Jennifer Derosier       Liza Angeconeb          Felicia Waboose

Equay-wuk (Women's Group)
16 Fourth Avenue North P.O.Box 1781
Sioux Lookout, o­n P8T 1C4
Phone: (807)737-2214       Fax: (807)737-2699
Toll Free: 1-800-261-8294
email equaywuk@nwconx.net

On behalf of the people of Deer Lake First Nation, the Chief & Council invites everyone to join them during the Grand Opening of the new Deer Lake School.

The Grand Opening festivities will take place on Thursday, January 13, 2005 at 1:00 pm.

Please confirm your attendance and who will be attending to the Band Secretary Angie Meekis @ 807 775 2141 or Councillor Cory J Meekis at the same number or by e-mail to coryjmeekis@knet.ca

If you want to make a presentation, please let Cory know so that he could make arrangements with the Grand Opening Planning Committee for a time slot on the agenda.

Click here to check out the pictures of the new school

Gitchi Meegwetch,

Chief & Council
Deer Lake First Nation

Neskantaga First Nation

4th Annual

"World Youth Day"

Gospel Jamboree

February 18th - 21st, 2005

8:00pm - 1:00am nightly

• Accommodations Provided upon arrival
• Live Broadcast on WRN.
• Everyone is Welcome.

For more information, please contact:

Duane Moonias  (807) 479 2663 or e-mail: duane_moonias@hotmail.com

Kelvin Moonias  (807) 479 2570 or e-mail: moondawg932@yahoo.ca

Edward Moonias (807) 479 2570 or e-mail: edward_moonias@yahoo.ca

Or visit: http://mooniasbrothers.myknet.org

"We look forward to see you all"

Five partners in the new Northern Indigenous Community Satellite Network (NICSN) worked with the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Research Institute (KORI) to produce short stories about how ICT tools and the broadband satellite connections are impacting their communities.

• Eabametoong First Nation - Access Increases Demand for even more Bandwidth  - http://smart.knet.ca/satellite/eabametoong.html
• Fort Severn First Nation  - Supporting Local Economic and Social Development On-line -  http://smart.knet.ca/satellite/fortsevern.html
• Slate Falls First Nation  - The power of partnerships: “We’re not remote anymore”  - http://smart.knet.ca/satellite/slatefalls.html
• Weagamow First Nation  - Making education opportunities available in remote communities  - http://smart.knet.ca/satellite/weagamow.html
• Webequie First Nation  - ICTs from the Ground Up: Grassroots Demand Pushes Expansion and Growth  -  http://smart.knet.ca/satellite/webequie.html

Each story provides a glimpse into the importance of communication technologies and broadband connectivity for these remote communities that can only receive these services through their community network and the satellite network. Industry Canada's FedNor program supported each of these communities with the development of the community's satellite earth station and the community network. Other Industry Canada IHAB programs including Smart Communities, BRAND, NSI, CAP and First Nations SchoolNet have also contributed to these local developments and are continuing to support their ongoing operation.

Indigenous Community Leaders from the North in Three Provinces to Attend Opening of Satellite Broadband Network in Sioux Lookout, Ontario

PRESS RELEASE - Sioux Lookout, Ontario. January 07, 2005    

Indigenous community leaders from the remote north in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba will meet here on January 19, 2005, to launch a broadband network made possible through the harnessing of satellite technology. The leaders’ communities spanning many thousands of miles from Quaqtag on the Hudson Straits in Nunavik, Quebec, to Barren Lands First Nation close to the border of Saskatchewan in Manitoba have been connected by the Northern Indigenous Community Satellite Network, (NICSN) the first inter-provincial community-owned and operated broadband satellite network in Canada. NICSN is jointly managed through an inter-provincial partnership involving Keewaytinook Okimakanak Council in Northern Ontario, Kativik Regional Government in Nunavik, Quebec, and Keewatin Tribal Council in Northern Manitoba.

Keewaytinook Okimakanak (KO) is hosting the opening ceremonies to be held at the NICSN earth station and network hub located on the north side of the town of 5000. KO working with its partners from Manitoba and Quebec and a number of public and private investors has spearheaded the five years of development that culminate in the network launch on January 19.

“We are grateful to have been able to work with so many people to make NICSN a reality,’ said Geordi Kakepetum, Executive Director of KO. “We wanted communities other than our own to experience the benefits of full high-speed broadband services and now we can see the results of the partnerships that took place to make it happen.”

Representing the government of Canada at the celebrations on January 19 is the Minister of State for FedNor Joe Comuzzi whose department has invested more than $10 million in the Northern Ontario portion of the network infrastructure. The other key government of Canada investors in NICSN are Industry Canada’s First Nations SchoolNet (FNS), Smart Communities (SC), Broadband for Rural and Northern Development (BRAND) and the National Satellite Initiative (NSI) who, with Telesat and the Canadian Strategic Infrastructure Fund, have contributed $20 million in C Band satellite bandwidth which provides the space accommodation for the network. Bell Canada's investment in infrastructure upgrades to Sioux Lookout made it possible to located the hub here and closer to the where the services are being delivered.

Mr Kakepetum said he wants to use the opportunity provided by the network launch ceremonies to focus attention on the ways in which his and other remote northern communities are using this unique network to improve the lives of their citizens.  Guests at the opening will be invited to witness how this new technology brings world-class telehealth services to community users as well as other applications like an internet-based high school for grade 9 and 10 students throughout the north of Ontario. “Our Chiefs began to improve ICT’s in our communities over ten years ago,” Mr Kakepetum said. We have been fortunate to receive the support of governments and industry to help us, and now we are glad to see that other Indigenous communities from Manitoba and Quebec will be developing these vital services.”

For further information about the NICSN launch on January 19, 2005, please contact:

Florence Woolner, Opening Co-Facilitator
fwoolner@nwconx.net
807 7374418 – p
807 7377287 – f

For information about NICSN and K-Net please contact
Dan Pellerin, Network Manager, K-Net
Keewaytinook Okimakanak
Danpellerin@knet.ca
807 7371135  #51258

or

Brian Beaton, General Manager, K-Net
Keewaytinook Okimakanak
BrianBeaton@knet.ca
807 7371135   #51251