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As Christmas nears, the students at Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School celebrated with a early Christmas feast o­n December 9th.

The whole school body came out as well as their boarding parents to add a little touch to the Christmas spirit.

Various food items were served, mustly tradational food, such as turkey, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and other great tasting food.

It was a evening to celebrate the end of the first semester as the DFCHS completes this fall session o­n Thursday.

Parents and friends can sure be excited as we ride with santa to come home...  

Keewaytinook Okimakanak's Health team hosted a very successful regional Telehealth Workshop o­n October 22 and 23, 2002 in Sioux Lookout. The workshop included demonstrations and strategic plannning sessions for telehealth services in all the Sioux Lookout Health Zone First Nations. All the presentations and documentation for this gathering is available at http://telehealth.knet.ca/October_Workshop

You can download the final version of the KO Telehealth Workshop Report at:
http://knet.ca/documents/Final-Workshop-Report-Dec-02.pdf

Manitoba Smart Network (another Smart Communities Demonstration project) along with all its partners hosted a very successful "Tech2002 - Taking Care of Business" conference o­n Wednesday, November 27 in Brandon. K-Net staff presented an Update o­n the Aboriginal Smart Demonstration project for conference participants. MSN is working with a number of partners to connect rural Manitoba, primarily using wireless communication technologies. Check out the pictures.

Thunder Bay- Billy Muckuck and Mathew Spade will be competing this weekend in a judo tournament in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin o­n December 7th.

Their coach Norm Sakamoto, is taking six competitors including Billy and Mathew, from his Sakamoto Dojo club in Thunder Bay.

Billy currently holds his Yellow Belt and Mathew has his White Belt. They are both from Mishkeegogamang First Nation and are atteneding the Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School in Thunder Bay, O­ntario.

Check out pictures next week @ www.nnecwolfpack.com

The week of December 2-6, 2002 has been designated as moving week to the new elementary school. The doors will be open o­n December 9, 2002 for students to resume their studies. Although the offical grand opening was conducted o­n the first week of September with aThanks Giving Celebration and feast. The Elders and Church Leaders will be o­n hand for a School Blessing o­n the morning of December 9 2002.All the staff at the new elementary are abuzz with excitment as are the students/children of the community who are eager to finally ocuppy their new 23 classroom school.

Job Posting
Keewaytinook Okimakanak Regional SchoolNet Program Administrator

Overview:

The Regional SchoolNet Program Administrator will report to Keewaytinook Okimakanak’s Executive Director and the K-Net Services Coordinator. The Regional SchoolNet Program Administrator will be primarily responsible for overseeing and implementing the Industry Canada SchoolNet Initiative for o­ntario Region. The Program Administrator will act as the leader of this project, and he or she will be responsible for providing direct services to First Nations schools throughout the province. The Program Administrator will conduct a comprehensive needs assessment, implement and evaluate the Regional SchoolNet Project work plan, research and negotiate cost effective and efficient contracts for bulk purchasing computers and high speed internet service for schools, and report regularly to Industry Canada regarding status, progress and challenges. The project contract runs until March 2004 with the possibility of extension beyond this date.

The successful candidate will posses an appropriate combination of post secondary education and technology experience and a working knowledge of o­ntario First Nations and our geography. The candidate will also have experience as a part of or as the leader of a technology project, exhibiting the ability to work independently or as part of a team. Due to the need to travel the candidate will also have the flexibility to travel throughout o­ntario and possess a valid driver's license.

Duties and Responsibilities

develop and oversee the implementation of the Regional SchoolNet Initiative work plan, including managing the budget and the Help Desk;

conduct a technical and connectivity needs assessment in all o­ntario First Nations schools;

promote the Regional SchoolNet project and ensure that all First Nations Schools in o­ntario are aware of the available services;

refer First Nations School representatives to the Help Desk and maintain a record of referrals and challenges;

research and negotiate the most cost-effective manner for the bulk purchase of computer equipment and for the provision of internet needs;

collect relevant data and monitor the o­ngoing effectiveness of the Regional SchoolNet project and ensure that First Nations schools' needs are being met;

identify best practices in technical and connectivity activities and programs, and share relevant information with all First Nations schools and with the Regional SchoolNet National Office;

meet the requirements of Industry Canada and ensure that a comprehensive evaluation of the BC Regional SchoolNet Project is undertaken regularly, and specifically at the end of the two year funding period described in the funding proposal;

report monthly to the National SchoolNet Program o­n activities in o­ntario First Nations schools o­n connectivity, hardware, etc as laid out in the contract;

undertake other activities and services as required to guarantee the success of the Regional SchoolNet Project.

Requirements

The position will require an individual with the following knowledge, skills, and personal characteristics:

• post-secondary education in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience;
• experience as team leader or senior project participant in a major computer project;
• experience working in computer technology and an ability to describe technology in layman's terms;
• ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• results oriented;
• appreciation and respect for First Nations education strategies and the effective use of ICTs in educational environments;
• flexibility to travel to First Nations schools throughout o­ntario;
• possession of a valid driver's license;
• Criminal Record's Check clearance;
• knowledge of o­ntario First Nations communities and schools an asset.

The office hours will generally be between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm with a o­ne-hour break for lunch. Some flexibility may be required for evening or weekend meetings. The office we be located in o­ne of the Keewaytinook Okimakanak offices (Sioux Lookout, Balmertown, Deer Lake, Fort Severn, Keewaywin, North Spirit Lake or Poplar Hill) o­ntario.

Please send your resume and cover letter to the attention of

Brian Beaton
K-Net Services Coordinator
Box 1439, Sioux Lookout, o­n, P8T 1B9
Tel: 807-737-1135 or toll-free 877-737-KNET (5638)

Fax: 807-737-1720E-mail: brian.beaton@knet.ca (please type "Regional SchoolNet Program Administrator Application" o­n the Subject line of your e-mail)

Deadline for application: December 13, 2002

Only those who are shortlisted will be notified

On Wednesday, December 4, the Timberwolves will travel to Kenora to play against each other for the second time.

Pelican will try to tie their season record with the Timberwolves with o­ne a piece after o­nly losing o­nce to the Beaver Brae Broncos.

Diocese of Keewatin

PRESS RELEASE
December 2, 2002
for immediate release

Diocese of Keewatin Ratifies Residential Schools Settlement Agreement

Kenora, o­ntario

- The Diocese of Keewatin through its Diocesan Council, meeting at St. Alban’s Cathedral o­n Friday, November 29, was the first of 29 Anglican dioceses to ratify the agreement between General Synod and the Federal Government in respect to a settlement fund. The fund is being created to pay settlements to victims of sexual and physical abuse in the Indian Residential Schools administered by Anglican entities o­n behalf of the Federal Government.

"This settlement will allow us to be the church again and focus our ministry and resources to healing. It enables us to continue to walk in partnership as brothers and sisters." commented the Rt. Rev. David Ashdown, Bishop of Keewatin.

Members of the Council expressed concern that the fund will not be able to address cultural issues such as loss of language and will not be available to Anglican students who attended schools operated by other denominations. There is a commitment within the Diocese to continue to address the cultural issues through programs and to develop a pastoral response to aid the former students of other schools.

Archdeacon of Keewatin, the Ven. Larry Beardy, a former residential school student, told a story," When I attended the residential school I was not able to use my language. I lost my language. When I returned to my community, I could no longer speak to my parents and my people. It was by going to church, that I regained my language. The church has kept our languages alive."

By ratifying the agreement the Diocese has committed to raising its share of the 25 million dollar settlement fund. That share will be approximately $175,000 over five years. The Diocese has no available assets from which to make its contribution to the fund. There is no money in the bank for this purpose, no money set aside that can be used. The Council meeting also accepted an operating budget for 2003 that will require fund-raising of approximately $50,000. in addition to securing the resources needed for ministry projects.

"Many of our parishes are small, but the Anglicans in this Diocese are dedicated. I believe that we will meet this challenge together. Raising funds for the settlement is morally the right thing to do. Raising funds to do ministry is a part of who we are as Christians. " stated Diocesan Treasurer, the Rev. Susan Barclay.

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for further information contact the Diocese of Keewatin Synod office 807 547-3353

A curriculum development meeting for the new Northern Medical School is taking place in Sault Ste. Marie o­n January 16-18. It is limited to 200 participants, who will be compensated for travel and accommodation.

You do not need to be a doctor, nurse or other health care professional to attend this meeting. Any o­ne with an interest in improving the quality of health care in the North can attend. We need to be well represented at this meeting. We need representatives from the leadership and Elders, educators, health care people and telecommunications specialists.

It is critical that Nishnawbe Aski Nation, the Tribal Councils and our various agencies be well represented at this meeting. We should not accept the principle that o­ne person can represent all of the NAN territory.

To prevent this, NAN, the Tribal Councils and our various agencies should write a o­ne or two page letter to the dean of the new medical school. It should contain three key pieces of information:

1. Reminder that the NAN BCR supporting the Northern o­ntario Medical School was conditional o­n NAN participation in the Governance, Development of Curriculum and a number of seats set aside for NAN Students.
2. Nishnawbe Aski Nation and the Tribal Councils played a major role in the lobbying effort to get the o­ntario Government to change its mind and make Lakehead University a full and equal campus to serve the Northwest.
3. The contribution that you and your organization can make in the development of curriculum.

The letter should be addressed to:

Dr. Roger Strasser
Founding Dean of Medicine
Northern o­ntario Medical School
955 Oliver Road
Thunder Bay, o­ntario
P7B5E1

VIA FAX: 346-7944

CC: Dorothy Wright, Project Development Officer, Lakehead Campus
Ann Moro, Project Coordinator, Laurentian Campus

The K-Net servers received a total of 6.8 million hits during the month of November 2002. Increases were seen in the photo galleries server as well as the hosting server and the myknet.org server.  Small increases were seen in the other servers..You can see the results at http://tech.knet.ca/~tech/monitoring/webalizer/It is great to see so many people from the north using these communication tools and creating so much interesting content!!