Media.Knet.Ca

Outdoor Gospel Rally 2004

Weagamow Lake, Ontario

On June 25, 26 & 27, 2004

Featured Guest Speaker: Henry Mckay - Sachigo Lake, Ontario

Guest Singers: Ernie Kematch - Pelican Rapids, Manitoba

Hank Williams - Shoal Lake, Ontario

For more information you can contact

Edna Quequish at (807) 469-7501 (home)

Or Stephen Kenequanash (807) 469-1320 (home)

Services will be aired on the WRN Radio on Saturday and Sunday.

There are many issues and concerns that require a unified direction so that as Nishnawbe Aski Nation we can move forward as one.

Download for more info (WORD 26KB)

Twila Kakegamick, a grade 8 student attending Keewaywin Elementary School in Keewaywin First Nation, won this year's Creative Writing Challenge. The writing contest was hosted by the On-line Grade 8 Supplementary English Literacy course being facilitated by Fernando Oliveira as part of Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program.

Click here to read Twila's winning poem, "One Day" (scroll down to see the news story) and to see the other winning participants who submitted their stories and poems.

The students attending Pelican Falls developed an on-line presentation documenting all the different traditional educational activities undertaken during the 2003-2004 school year. Wayne Mercer, Pelican Falls Principal reported that Paige Mawakeesic who is seen in many of the pictures used many of the skills gained during her cooperative education placement at K-Net to coordinate the production of this web site. Click here to see their Traditional Activities home page.

The different activities documented include:

• Trapping
• Dog Sledding
• Ski Trip
• Snowshoeing
• Fish Net Setting
• Quinzee Building
• Spring Hunting
• Canoe Building

The project is described as ...

"This project was part of a joint effort between NIS (Network Of Innovative Schools) and Pelican Falls First Nations High School. The project's goal was to introduce & enhance ICT's into the classroom and use it as a tool to communicate the students unique First Nation culture and heritage to others around the world. Two curriculum areas worked in partnership to make this project a reality. Two Interdiciplinary studies classes with curriculum focus on traditional technologies and traditional skills provided material for the website recording and writing about their endeavours. The computer class learned to construct & build webpages then used the material to create the unique website seen here. Native Language classes and student volunteers also helped with the project.

Partnerships were also created with the Ojibway & Cree Cultural Centre in Timmins, Ontario, to produce a book of the bark canoe project. Overall, the project was a big success and teachers and students look forward to next years projects."

.Poplar Hill's new KiHS building is nearing completion. Located near the local elementary school, this new building will be used by those students wishing to stay in their community for their Grade 9 and 10 programs. Click here to see all the pictures of the construction process.

The other four KO First Nations (Deer Lake, Fort Severn, Keewaywin and North Spirit Lake) are also getting similar KiHS buildings for their students to be able to participate in the Keewaytinook Internet High School. As well, Deer Lake, Keewaywin and North Spirit Lake are constructing new e-Centres to better meet the needs of their community members. Langreen shipped these modular units on the winter road and is working with Keewaytinook Okimakanak Public Works and Neegan Burnside to get them built this summer for the start of the new school year in September.

Funding for these eight modular units came from the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Smart Communities project with the actual funds coming from FedNor and the Smart Communities program.

In September 2004, Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute, in partnership with Cambrian College, will offer the Native Early Childhood Education Program. This 2-year program will be delivered through a modular format and is designed to prepare graduates for employment in licensed child care settings.

For further information please contact Joan Hardy at (807) 346-2784, or by email at jhardy@oshki.ca.

In September 2004, Oshki-Pimache-O-Win, in partnership with Cambrian College will begin delivery of the Business Administration (First Nation Specialization) Certificate Program. This one-year program will be delivered through a modular format, providing students with the flexibility of earning a BA certificate, while remaining employed in their home communities.

For further information please contact Joan Hardy at 1 807-346-2784 or by email at jhardy@oshki.ca.

The contractors and the satellite dish pieces arrived in Sioux Lookout on Wednesday, June 2. Thanks to some great coordination by the team from Cygnial (Tom Wolstencroft), K-Net, and everyone else involved, it now looks like everything is now in place to begin constructing the new satellite earth station. 

Two large transport trucks delivered the various components that will be assembled over the next two weeks. Paul and Pat arrived from Toronto to begin putting the various pieces together.

K-Net will be documenting this ongoing development on-line. Watch this construction project unfold by visiting the photo gallery and clicking on each of the days to watch this new dish become a reality.

Eagle Lake First Nation is working with a number of different partners to host a Residential School/Family Wellness Gathering scheduled for July 1 to 4, 2004 on their famous camping grounds on the shore of Eagle Lake.

Everyone is welcomed at this important event, as are financial contributions to ensure the gathering is a success for everyone attending.

An important part of the gathering is the youth day and daily youth sessions for learning and sharing with the youth. Workshop leaders and speakers are well known facilitators who will help make this special event another strong step in the healing process required to address First Nation, family and personal issues created by the residential school system. Click here to view the tentative agenda.

Visit the web site at www.piiwaseya.knet.ca, regularly for updates on the information.

In partnership with Trican Multimedia and Statistics Canada, Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute has developed Statistics Canada’s Aboriginal Statistical Training Course for distance delivery. The course is designed to prepare participants to locate, collect and effectively utilize statistical data, and may be of interest to anyone involved in organizational or community-based planning, programming, evaluation, or decision-making.

The course will be piloted beginning June 22, 2004 and we are looking for participants to be part of this initial offering. Because this is a pilot course, only ten participants will be accepted. All participants must have a working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and be familiar with using the Internet and e-mail. The deadline for applications is Thursday, June 10, 2004. Qualified applicants will be accepted on a first-come basis. There is no fee for this pilot offering of the course.

For further information, or to register for the course, contact Stephen Chase at (807) 346-2779, or by e-mail at schase@oshki.ca.