Dan Pellerin, K-Net's Network Manager travelled to Muskrat Dam and Slate Falls this past week to meet with community leaders and band staff. Discussions about the installation and operation of their local community broadband network took place. As well the team, including Bill and Ivan Blair from Blair Electronics, toured the communities to determine the best hub location and construction requirements for their local community cable system.

Windigo First Nations Council applied to Industry Canada's Broadband for Rural and Northern Development program (BRAND) on behalf of Koocheching, Muskrat Dam and Slate Falls to develop a broadband connectivity solution in these communities. Funding approval was received to develop these essential services in Muskrat Dam and Slate Falls.

Each of the First Nations are hiring local staff to support and manage this local economic development initiative on an ongoing basis. K-Net Services is contracted to be the Project Manager for this development with Dan taking the lead role on this work. Blair Electronics will be the contractor doing the installation. Windigo First Nations Council is providing the project administration.

Luis Barnola, Senior Program Specialist with the Institute for Connectivity in the Americas - ICA, hosted a video conference meeting between the Executive Director of E-Panama along with other officials from Panama and the KO Telehealth evaluation team and K-Net staff.

This office is Panama's office dedicated to connectivity and development. The Panama team was interested in learning about how Canada is deploying tele-medicine and tele-health strategies so they can adjust their own e-plans.  As well, E-tourism (eco-tourism) in small islands inhabited by indigenous people (Kuna Nation) is also an important development for them so meaningful connectivity strategies can be deployed in these areas to support sustainable development of such pristine  environments.

Feedback from all the meeting participants was positive. The evaluation team with reps from the universities of Guelph and Laurentian expressed their pleasure at being able to meet with these guests from Panama.

Luis wrote in a follow up e-mail ... "My warmest gratitude for your time and interest on their "visit".  They/we were most impressed by what they saw ...".

Dan also wrote ... "The video conference went well from our end.   We learnt a couple of items from the outside such as the high importance placed on the economics of connectivity.  We also got a chance to try to explain ourselves and the program to a different audience (good sales practice) and how to work together better as a team."

The Ontario Native Education Counselling Association is leading an effort to reverse the federal government's decision to begin taxing Aboriginal students' post secondary student support funding as their income. Included in this income is tuition, book allowance and living allowance, scholarships, bursaries and travel dollars.

ONECA's Taxation Action web site contains information that can be used as back up information and actions that individuals, organizations and communities can taking, including:

• Your individual petition. (To be submitted by ONECA on your behalf)
• A printable petition form to collect signatures in your community or organization. (Just print the page that opens)
• "Letter to the editor" from President of ONECA Kimberly Smith-Spencer
• "Letter to President Bernard (Cambrian College) from Kimberley Smith-Spencer"
• "Third National Survey of First Nations On-Reserve on Education and Culture ".
• "The Impacts of the Taxation of Post Secondary Support Fund"
• "Briefing Note To The National Chief, AFN Education"
• "Motion put forth by the Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Assembly"

North Caribou Lake First Nation's
9th Annual Men's Invitational Baseball Tournament
Weagamow Lake, ON
July 29 - 31, 2004

Championship -    $7000.00 GUARANTEED

Entry Fee -     $800.00 per Team

For more information contact:

• Danny Kanakakeesic - (807) 469-1343 (H), (807) 469-5191 (W)
• Harry Kenequanash 
• Lloyd Sakakeep - (807) 469-1513 (H)
• Jason Roundhead 

KO's Geordi Kakepetum met with Roger Valley, the newly elected MP for Kenora riding... The rookie MP is looking forward to working with KO... He wants to learn more about KiHS, KO's Internet high school and other telecommunications applications... He offered to open doors for KO in Ottawa... He said he has been told he will have to remain for extended periods of time in Ottawa during the realities of Minority Government... However, he pledged to keep the lines of communication open with KO... For photos, click here...

KO Chiefs tour new Water Treatment Training Facility in Dryden during this week's chiefs' meetings.

Following the tour, the Chiefs are receiving reports from SLAMMB and NAPS... To see photos, click here.

Ashawawaga Anishnawbe Mamow-Oshka-Win

July 26, 2004 - August 2, 2004

Where: Neskantaga First Nation

Activities:

Traditional Teachings/Pow Wow

for more info call 807-479-1024 or 807-479-2530

Michikan Lake 1st Annual Mixed Volleyball Tournament
August 11-14, 2004

3 Ladies and 3 Men on at all times.
10 players Maximum

Entry Fee:
Outside $800
Local $1,000

Prizes based on the number of teams entering the tournament.

Individual Awards: Best Setter, Spiker, Digger, Blocker, MVP, and Most Sportsmanlike

Championship-Trophy/Medallions/CashPrize
Finalists - Trophy/Medallions/Cash Prize
Consolation - Trophy/Medallions/Cash Prize
Runners up - Cash Prize

Confirm Before July 30, 2004

Contacts:

• Simon McKay
  363-9980(h)
  363-2505(w)
  simckay00@yahoo.com

• Darlene Beardy
  363-9905(h)
  morningstar_50116@yahoo.com

• Monica Chapman
  363-9926(h)
  monnie04@yahoo.com

• Anita Kam
  363-2517(H)
  anita_kam44@yahoo.com
  
  Entry Fee Requested Upon Arrival

Chief Shepherd Ministries
Presents
1st Annual Camp Meeting 2004
With
Evangelist Bruce Shisheesh - Thunder Bay, On
Pastor Roma Fisher - Thunder Bay, On

When: August 19, 20, 21, 22, 2004
Where: Current River Park - Thunder On
Time: 7 p.m Nightly

Attention!
Saturday  August 21
10:30 a.m & 7:00 p.m.

Sunday August 22
1:30 p.m  &  7:00 p.m.

Info: Evangelist Bruce Shisheesh 1-807-473-8516

Everyone Welcome!

On Friday, K-Net Services completed the 100M LAN Extension connection to the Keewaytinook Okimakanak office in Thunder Bay. This connection provides the broadband connectivity for a number of First Nation organizations in Fort William First Nation and Thunder Bay. This Thunder Bay consortium is lead by Nishnawbe Aski Nation and includes Matawa First Nations Management, Oshki, Nishnawbe Aski Legal Services, Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund, Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corp and Fort William FN Adult Learning Centre.