Media.Knet.Ca

Poplar Hill Presents
1st Annual Mens 5 on 5
Volleyball Tournament 2003

April 23-26, 2003

Poplar Hill Community Centre

Entry Fee: $250.00 per Team

Accommodations will be Provided

For more Information Contact

Howard Moose (w) 807 772 8838  (h) 807 772 1146
Robin Dunsford (w) 807 772 8831 (5pm-10pm) (h) 807 772 9917
Arnold Moose (w)  807 772 9969 (h) 807 772 9917
Zack Suggashie (h) 807 772 8853

Poplar Hill by-law must be respected.
No Alcohol and drugs allowed

Keewaytinook Okimakanak is scheduled to participate in the opening video conferenced session for Canada's Information Technology (IT) week on May 2 (more information to follow). Watch the IT Week web site for additional information at http://www.itweek.ca/e/.

Canada's IT Week is a 10-day event where communities, businesses, employees, governments, teachers and students are encouraged to work in partnership and find creative ways to showcase and recognize their achievements in information and communication technology (ICT).

From May 2-11, 2003, citizens are encouraged to partake in IT Week by hosting workshops, open houses, seminars and conferences.

Keewaytinook Okimakanak staff presented a paper and a powerpoint presentation to the APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group (APECTEL) in Kuala Kumpur, Malaysia. The March 25 Broadband Workshop agenda, provided delegates with background information about the issues and developments concerning the deployment of broadband infrastructure in rural communities.

"Why Broadband for APEC Underserved and Unserved Rural Communities - Why Not!" was a paper prepared by Brian Beaton discussing some of the socio-economic benefits for bringing broadband services into rural and remote communities. The internet based video connection with the conference site was established using a software tool called Multimedia Conferencing System (MCS) and a separate Document Conferencing software package along with a live chat session. Due to the internet connections in Malaysia, everyone was able to see and hear the presentation fairly well but the return feed to Sioux Lookout from Malaysia could not provide a video image and the sound was garbled so the live chat was used as the prompt for the exchanges. The powerpoint presentation ended up being controlled by the technician in Malaysia because the document server was not set up at the conference site.

In preparation for the session there was a three hour testing of the system the week before the event where the powerpoint presentation was sent over to the firm organizing the A/V portion for the session.  Eric Tsang from the Communications Research Centre in Ottawa attended the event in Kuala Kumpur and wrote about there being problems with the audio but overall the presentation went well. Various people from Industry Canada including Susan Johnston, Kathy Fisher and Vicki Schouten worked on including the Keewaytinook Okimakanak story on the agenda.

Recently, KiHS staff members, Marlene Mckay and Jeremy Snihur, attended the Dreamcatching 2003 conference in Montreal.  Dreamcatching 2003 focused on educating First Nations youth in the areas of Mathematics and Science.  Each Dreamcatching conference also promotes a profession which requires a background in Mathematics and Science. This year's profession was Engineering and promoting Native access to Engineering programmes.

Many scientific and mathematic concepts studied today were originally used and discovered by First Nations peoples. Dreamcatching 2003 is looking to guide First Nations students in the field of Engineering. Engineers are involved in the design and construction of buildings, bridges, roads, engines and electrical machines. Engineers will be a vital resource for the development of many First Nations communities.

KiHS (Keewaytinook Internet High School) presented a workshop at the Dreamcatching 2003 conference. The KiHS workshop helped educators from all over Canada gain an understand of the role of KiHS and how KiHS is guiding First Nations students to post-secondary education.  KiHS provides local high school education through the use of computers and the internet. KiHS students have the unique opportunity of receiving high school credits while learning valuable computer skills.

To learn more, please visit the following links:

Native Access to Engineering Programme

Keewaytinook Internet High School (KiHS)

Ed and Maxine Wesley began MAX-WEAR from their home community of Ginoogaming First Nation many years ago. Ed travels across Northern Ontario visiting First Nations and their organizations to sell their beautiful fleece jackets and vests. Their operation has grown to include a Thunder Bay store front called Wolf Tracks. Everyone is invited to visit their store and their web site at http://www.tbaytel.net/maxwear.

From their web site: "WOLF TRACKS carries exclusive MAX-WEAR apparel and is convienently located in Thunder Bay's downtown core, 213 Red River Rd. Come in and view our selection of fine Aboriginal apparel including sweat-shirts, T-shirts, fleece vests, and more!

Designed and created by Maxine Wesley, a talented Ojibway artist inspired by her life's blessings...the sound of the flowing rivers, the visions of a calm lake and the cry of the loon.

Jackets are available in embroidered or applique style and come in a wide range of colours. Custom design jacket orders are accepted, including discounts on large corporate and organization jacket orders."

Contact Ed at maxwear@tbaytel.net or wolftrac@tbaytel.net

KO SMART Staff members participated at the 2nd Annual CAC today, showcasing the programs within the Smart communities, people from all over stopped over at our booth and asked questions about the ICTs that were on display and the demonstrations being done at that particular time.

A live webcast has been set up for people interested in seeing what is going on at the CAC at http://smart.firstnation.ca  

Check out Les Meekis' report and Darrell Ostamas' photo gallery.

Barb Wong, Keewaytinook Okimakanak's SchoolNet Program Administrator and Craig Hardy, Keewaytinook Internet High School Teacher joined other educators from across the province at Kenjgewin Teg Educational Institute's conference in Sudbury on March 20 and 21. The agenda for the eLearning Conference - "Learn Today For Tomorrow" listed a number of resource people and topics that supported KTEI efforts to work on a strategic plan for introducing elearning in First Nations across the region.

Barb set up the Keewaytinook Okimakanak information booth and met with First Nation school reps to complete their school's ICT SchoolNet survey. She was able to discuss various connectivity solutions and ICT needs with the people attending the gathering.

Craig Hardy conducted a workshop about the Keewaytinook Internet High School and his teaching experience working with the students in the Fort William First Nation classroom.

This week's issue of Wawatay contains stories about:

• How telehealth is making a difference in Fort Severn First Nation, featuring Jessie Matthews, Fort Severn's Telehealth Coordinator sharing information about her experience with these new communication tools along with Gibbet Stevens, KO's Telehealth Scheduler sharing about some of the services available through this service.
• Making the connections work at both ends, where Angus Miles, Fort Severn's Technician talks about his work and Adi Linden, K-Net's Network Systems Analyst describes some of the challenges involved in maintaining the network.
• As well, Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet announcement about KO becoming Ontario's Regional Management Organization is also covered on this issue's advertorial.

Be sure to check out the stories on-line or pick up this week's issue of Wawatay to read these articles.

MyKnet.org now reaches over 100,000 hits per day average based on March logs.

This K-Net service had its humble beginnings back in 1998 when Dan Pellerin introduced a site for individuals to start creating their own web site. Young people atttending First Nation schools, who were the primary K-Net target audience, quickly learned how to use the available tools to produce simple pages sharing information about themselves.

Today, Jesse Fiddler, K-Net's Multi-media Manager, has taken on the task of maintaining and developing this resource. Additional open source html production tools are being identified and added to the myknet.org toolkit. Many of the individuals producing and maintaining their own sites are using a variety of on-line services to create their own on-line environment that defines who they are.

Do check out myknet.org to see the latest changes to the sites, search for a friend's site or to see the most popular sites and the efforts of others to surpass Angie Morris' visits (early on when the hits countered was introduced, Angie figured out how not to reset the hits counter everytime she updated her page so she had an advance on everyone else).

EMPL0YMENT OPPORTUNITY

Keewaytinook Okimakanak/Northern Chiefs Council is looking for a Home Care Nurse for the Home & Community Care Program

This is a 16-hour work week position, salary dependant on qualifications and work experience. This position will commence April 22, 2003. The Home Care Nurse will report to the Home and Community Care Nurse Supervisor and the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Director of Health Services.

The ideal Candidate will possess:

• Good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
• 2 years experience delivering nursing care in the home or community setting preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work as a team member as well as independently.
• Knowledge of the Keewaytinook Okimakanak communities.
• Skills and experience in adult education training.
• Ability to prepare and submit reports.
• Basic computer skills.
• Experience nursing in remote First Nation communities would be desirable.
• Able to speak Oji-Cree, but not necessary.

Please forward: Resume, cover letter and three references to:

Orpah McKenzie, Director of Health Services or
Marney Dodic, Home and Community Care Nurse Supervisor
Keewaytinook Okimakanak Tribal Council
Box 340
Balmertown, ON
P0V 1C0

Email: orpahmckenzie@knet.ca  or marneydodic@knet.ca