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COO Press Release ... 

All Ontario Chiefs Conference
June 3-5, 2008

Further to the previous Announcement regarding the 34th All Ontario Chiefs Conference.   This will serve to inform you that the 34th Annual Assembly of the Ontario Chiefs will be hosted by Red Rock Indian Band (Lake Helen) from June 3rd to 5th, 2008, to be held at their Traditional Gathering Grounds. This year’s assembly represents our 19th consecutive year in hosting the Annual Conference by one of our First Nation communities.

Red Rock Indian Band (Lake Helen):

Background:

Red Rock Indian Band is a Member Nation of the Union of Ontario Indians. Red Rock Indian Band is an Ojibway Nation community with total band membership of approximately 1,500. The current on-reserve population is 300.

Location:

Red Rock Indian Band is accessible by car, bus or air. The closest airport is in Thunder Bay.  It is located approximately ¼ mile from the Crossroads of Canada, the junction of TransCanada Highways 11 and 17 “The Main Street of Canada”.

The Red Rock Band is a semi rural reserve, located 100 km east of the city of Thunder Bay (approx. 1 hour and 10 minutes drive) and 2 km east of the Municipality of Nipigon.

They are situated on the mouth of the Nipigon River, which is the largest tributary to the Great Lakes and is world renowned for its fishing.  The world’s largest Speckled (Brook) Trout was caught on the Nipigon River in 1915 weighing 14 ½ lbs. 

Finance:

This year, OFNLP (2008) has asked that their 1st AGM coincide with our meeting and the Regional Chief has agreed to this request. Under a separate notice, OFNLP will indicate what expenses they will be covering. 

In addition to this, the Chiefs of Ontario have been able to secure resources to reimburse registered official delegates for the remaining two days of the AOCC.  Travel reimbursement will include 2 night’s accommodations, dinners and incidentals as breakfast and lunch will be provided. Shuttle service will be provided to and from Thunder Bay. 

Travel claims with original receipts are to be submitted on the last day of the assembly.  There will be no cheques or advances issued at the AOCC.

AOCC Information

In preparation for the upcoming 34th AOCC, please note the following arrangements:

Travel:

For air travel, please call your travel agent and give them the convention code/promotion code numbers listed below to receive discount for travel. These discounts will apply to flights from all points in the Air Canada, Bearskin Airlines, Wasaya, West Jet and Air Canada system to Thunder Bay. Travel is valid between Sunday, June 1 to Friday, June 6, 2008.

If you don’t have a preferred travel agent, you may also call Marlin Travel and ask for Candace at 1-800-465-6922 or please feel free to email: candace.begin@marlintravel.ca

Registration (Form attached): Please complete the registration form and return by fax to the attention of Margaret Carpenter at 1-416-597-8365.  We would appreciate receiving the registration form by Friday, May 30, 2008 in order to plan accordingly including preparation of current name tags and ensuring quorum is met.

Registration Fee: No charge for delegates (Chief or Proxy), Elders and students.

First Nation Councilors, Tribal Councils, Association representatives, First Nations citizens, Media, observers, guests etc. will be charged a nominal fee of ten dollars ($10.00).  

Accommodations: For your convenience, hotels/motels have been blocked in the Thunder Bay, Nipigon and Red Rock area (please see attached listing).

Shuttle Service: daily shuttle service from assigned hotels to the conference site, the service will commence on Tuesday, June 3 to Thursday, June 5, 2008.  (Please see attached Registration Form)

Proxy Letter: In cases of a Proxy, please provide our office with your letter of proxy as soon as possible.  Attached is a sample proxy letter.  

Flag/Eagle Staff: First Nations and PTO’s are encouraged to bring their flags.  Please advise Margaret Carpenter, Receptionist at our office if your First Nation will be bringing a flag.

Craft/Food Booths: To reserve a table, please contact Kristine Metansinine Telephone 807-887-2510. The craft and food booths do not have interac or visa payment set-up therefore, cash payment only.

Maps: For your information, please find attached map(s) from Thunder Bay to Nipigon, Red Rock Indian Band, and to various Motel locations and Red Rock Community Band. 
 
For your information and review, please find enclosed a copy of the Rules of Procedure and a flyer “Call for Support Resolutions”.

Electronic copies of briefing notes that require resolutions will be forwarded during the week of May 26, 2008 to the Leadership.

For those First Nations that do not have identified email addresses, briefing notes will be faxed and we would encourage you to review this information prior to the actual Assembly.

Once finalized, the draft agenda will be forthcoming.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dianne Simon at our office, toll-free at 1-877-517-6527 or at dianne@coo.org.

On behalf of the Chiefs of Ontario, we look forward to seeing you all at the upcoming assembly.

Miigwetch