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:
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:
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
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!