Media.Knet.Ca

Open invitation to everyone. 

Come and visit in our community, join our celebration for "our children, our youth and our way".  The youth committee and First Nation Council presents Adam Beach and "Elvis" Daylin James.  The theme is "live and follow your dreams" a celebration for first nation youth as they will become leaders of tomorrow.

Friday, August 31, 2007

Evening

Meet & Greet - Daylin James and Adam Beach

Opening Presentations

Fireworks Display (London Fireworks)

Live in concert with Elvis (impersonator) Daylin James

Saturday, September 1, 2007

5:00pm

Activities (2 hours)

Presentations

Square Dancing featuring Live Musicians from Webequie First Nation

Closing Remarks.

• There will be a BBQ stand & Canteen for refreshment sales. 
• Autograph sessions
• Jig Dance Contests, musical chairs, comedian dance.

Location:  Missabay School Grounds - Sandy Road

Local Transportation will be provided.

For more information please contact Destani Skunk at 928-2881 or Kendra Roundhead at 928-2820

Northern Ontario School of Medicine press release ...

NOSM Welcomes Third Intake of 56 Medical Students

For the PDF version, please click on the link:
http://www.normed.ca/comm/e/Release/20070827/default.aspx

Today officially marks the first day of school for 56 new students at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM), following a whirlwind orientation week of exposure to the diversity and vitality of Northern Ontario. 

During their unique orientation, the School’s third intake of students traveled, participated in working sessions, met physicians and community leaders, and became acquainted with their new life as a medical student.  Following introductory sessions at their home campuses at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay and Laurentian University in Sudbury, the students gathered at Laurentian, where they embarked on a week-long bus excursion to Thunder Bay.

Stops along the way included Sault Ste. Marie, where the students participated in a tour of the world famous Soo Locks, and experienced a warm welcome from physicians and local dignitaries.  In Marathon, they enjoyed beach sports and a hearty barbeque at Penn Lake organized by Dr.
Sarah Newbery and a group of community physicians.  The final stop for the group was Thunder Bay, where they attended a dinner hosted by NOSM’s Founding Dean Dr. Roger Strasser and participated in a Hippocratic Oath ceremony, before returning to their respective campuses.

In its recruitment efforts, NOSM continues to follow its mandate of social accountability, and aims to have class profiles which reflect the cultural diversity of Northern Ontario.  Demographic profiles of the
2007 incoming class show that:

* 91% are from Northern Ontario
* 9% are self-identified Aboriginals
* 27% are self-identified Francophones

More than 2,000 applications were received for the 2007-08 academic year, of which 408 were interviewed.  NOSM’s Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Admissions, Dr. Tom Szabo, noted that this was an exciting time for NOSM.  “With members of the 2006 class moving forward into their second year, NOSM now officially welcomes its third group of students, bringing our student complement to 168 aspiring physicians,”
he said.

Students will now get down to work and immerse themselves in all things
NOSM: state-of-the-art smart classrooms, a progressive distributed learning curriculum, and a community-based learning environment with placements across Northern Ontario.  Each of these elements helps to ensure that NOSM graduates physicians with an appreciation for the unique health-care needs of Northern Ontario, as well as the cultural diversity of the people who call it home.

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is a pioneering faculty of medicine.  The School is a joint initiative of Lakehead and Laurentian Universities with main campuses in Thunder Bay and Sudbury, and multiple teaching and research sites across Northern Ontario.  By educating skilled physicians and undertaking health research suited to community needs, the School will become a cornerstone of community health care in Northern Ontario.

- 30 -

For further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Lisa Kokanie
Communications Officer, West
(807) 766-7314
lisa.kokanie@normed.ca

Yonaniko Grenon
Communications Officer, East
(705) 662-7243
yonaniko.grenon@normed.ca

The First Nations of Bearskin Lake, Kingfisher Lake, Koocheching and Wawakepewin received visitors from Blair Electronics, Keewaytinook Okimakanak, Shibogama and Windigo on Thursday and Friday of this past week.

Site visits are required to complete the equipment, site plans and community consultations in preparation for the construction of the local broadband connectivity solutions proposed for each community.

This construction work, described below, is being funded by Northern Ontario Heritage Fund (NOHFC), Industry Canada's FedNor and INAC's First Nations SchoolNet. This Keewaytinook Okimakanak (K-Net) led project is being completed in partnership with the nine First Nations as well as Shibogama and Windigo First Nation.

The team from Blair Electronics was selected as the winning contractor to complete this construction work after a public Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued last month.

From the Request for Proposals that was posted on MERX on July 4, 2007 (click here to see a copy of the RFP) ...

The purpose of the broadband initiative for the nine remote First Nations, which comprise of

• Bearskin Lake,
• Cat Lake,
• Kasabonika,
• Kingfisher Lake,
• Koocheching,
• North Caribou Lake (Weagamow),
• Peawanuck,
• Sachigo Lake,
• Wawakepewin

is to facilitate the installation and delivery of affordable broadband telecommunications infrastructure to the residents, businesses, and public institutions. This service will fulfill the unique needs of these First Nations and will be a partnership that will also take into consideration the training, support and sustainability issues of the project.  This service will be at a minimum, equal to what is considered broadband to the home commonly known as cable/modem or DSL service for the residents of each community. The final solution should be capable of providing and offering competitive monthly rates for users ($39 -$59) and higher end online services for local business and organizations, such as videoconferencing, VOIP,  telemedicine, etc.

This service will allow residents access to services not previously possible with dial up services. Telehealth, distance education, online research and file transfer will now be possible for those that utilize the service. For small business and public institutions remote access to centralized systems, application service providers and tele-work will be possible.

Ontario government press release ...

PREMIER THANKS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOR SERVICE TO ONTARIO - New Writing Awards Honour James K. Bartleman’s Commitment To Literacy

TORONTO, August 23, 2007 — Premier Dalton McGuinty today thanked outgoing Lieutenant Governor, the Hon. James K. Bartleman, for his service to Ontario and announced new writing awards for Aboriginal youth created in his honour.

"His Honour made a real difference in the lives of many Aboriginal young people in Ontario with his unwavering commitment to promoting literacy," said Premier McGuinty. "We want to honour his work by helping more Aboriginal youth reach their full potential and achieve their dreams."

The James Bartleman Awards for Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing will recognize excellence in short story and poetry writing. Four awards, worth $2,500 each, will be handed out annually to Aboriginal youth up to 18 years old.

During his four-year term, the Lieutenant Governor launched two book drives, collecting over a million books for Aboriginal youth. His Honour also established summer literacy camps and reading clubs for Aboriginal youth and launched a Twinning Program for Native and non-Native schools in Ontario and Nunavut.

"On behalf of all Ontarians, I want to thank His Honour for his leadership and his dedication to helping others," said Premier McGuinty. "Ontario is an even better place to live thanks to his efforts."

++++++++

From the Toronto Star ...

Aboriginal writers offered $2,500 awards
Louise Brown, Education Reporter - Aug 24, 2007

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has created four $2,500 awards for young aboriginal writers to honour outgoing Lieutenant-Governor James Bartleman.

To be presented each year to promising aboriginal poets and short story writers up to 18 years old, the new James Bartleman Awards for Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing are a bid to "help more aboriginal youth reach their full potential and achieve their dreams," said McGuinty in unveiling the scholarships at a farewell reception Bartleman, Canada's first aboriginal representative of the Queen.

He will be succeeded in September by Toronto broadcaster David Onley.

During his five-year term, Bartleman - whose mother is Ojibwa - ran two book drives that collected more than 1 million used books for children in remote northern reserves where school library shelves had stood empty for lack of funds. As well, he has created a long-distance book club that sends four new books a year to each of 5,000 northern aborginal children, where many homes have few reading materials.

Bartleman, who has written four books himself, made literacy a cornerstone of his tenure as lieutenant-governor.

First Nations "Major Bantam" Hockey Tournament is scheduled in Sioux Lookout on December 14-16th, 2007.

First 12 major Bantam Teams to register will be accepted.

To confirm the registration, a non-refundable deposit of $500.00 is required, due to a number of teams interested in playing.

To submit your deposit, please make cheque payable to, and mail to:

First Solutions Inc. c/o Eno C. Anderson
P.O. Box 414, Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1A5.

For further inquiries: please call 1 807 737 7653 ( leave a message )

Thank you.

Eno C. Anderson, Convenor 

Keewaytinook Okimakanak's K-Net team is working with 13 First Natons across northern Ontario along with the Kativik Regional Government (KRG) representing 15 remote communities in northern Quebec and Keewatin Tribal Council representing 16 satellite seved communities in northern Manitoba. Together, these three organizations and 44 remote communities established the Northern Indigenous Community Satellite Network (NICSN) to secure, manage and share satellite bandwidth to deliver a full suite of online services including telehealth, e-learning, e-justice, video conferencing, VOIP, etc in each partner community. For more information about this consortium, visit http://smart.knet.ca/satellite

Today's announcement from Infrastructure Canada is a result of more than 10 years of development work that began back in 1997 when Keewaytinook Okimakanak staff began meeting with Industry Canada's FedNor program about providing equitable access to bandwidth in satellite-served communities as that enjoyed by other Canadians.

Click here to watch the video of the webcast announcement (Windows Media, 33 minutes)

Infrastructure Canada News Release ...

August 24, 2007

Canada’s Government Provides $20.65M for Wider Broadband Access to 43 Northern Communities

Kuujjuaq, Quebec - Residents of 43 northern communities in Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba can soon expect wider access to broadband service and its benefits thanks to a commitment from Canada’s New Government to provide up to $20.65 million to purchase new satellite infrastructure.

The announcement was made today by the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and Ms. Maggie Emudluk, Chairperson of the Kativik Regional Government, representing the Northern Indigenous Community Satellite Network (NICSN). The NICSN involves a partnership among three Organizations: the Kativik Regional Government (KRG) in Quebec; the Keewatin Tribal Council (KTC) in Manitoba; and the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Tribal Council (KO) in Ontario.

“Broadband is a key piece of infrastructure for 21st Century communities to help support their economic growth and prosperity,” said Minister Cannon. “Canada’s New Government is pleased to partner with the Kativik Regional Government and the Northern Indigenous Community Satellite Network on this initiative that will provide residents with improved access to a wide range of services and will help stimulate economic development and enhance people’s quality of life. E-health and tele-eduation are just two services this investment will open up.”

“With the ever increasing use of technology in a very short period of time, we have witnessed an increased consumption of broadband use to the point that important services such as tele-health and tele-education could not benefit from this technology. Therefore, this announcement will allow us to provide these important services to the region,” said Ms. Emudluk.

Canada’s Government is contributing up to $20.65 million, or 75 per cent of the $27.5 million cost, for the procurement of two satellite transponders and the required earth station and local access network upgrades. The funding is made available through the Government of Canada’s National Satellite Initiative (NSI). The remaining 25 per cent ($6.88 million) will come from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund ($1.8 million), the Government of Québec’s Villages branchés program ($2.2 million) and Telesat Canada ($2.88 million).

This project complements an initiative of the first round of the NSI, which allocated one Public Benefit Transponder (PBT) to NICSN to provide service to public institutions in the 43 communities. The funding announced today will enable the provision of broadband services to all members of the community.

Financial support for this project is conditional on meeting applicable federal requirements, including the successful completion of environmental assessments required under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, and the successful negotiation of a contribution agreement.

This is the first NSI project to be announced in Quebec. Two other NSI projects have received funding to date: one in Nunavut, and the other in the Northwest Territories.

Through its unprecedented $33-billion “Building Canada” plan, Canada’s New Government will help meet infrastructure needs across Canada through long-term, stable and predictable funding. “Building Canada” will support a stronger, safer and better country, through infrastructure projects that support cleaner air and water, a stronger economy, and a better quality of life for our communities.

-30-

Contacts:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary to the Honourable Lawrence Cannon
613-991-0700

Infrastructure Canada
Communications and Promotion
613-948-1148

Jean-Francois Dumoulin
Assistant-Director Administration Department, IT section
Kativik Regional Government
Montreal: 514-745-8880 ext. 246
Kuujjuaq: 819-964-2961 ext. 2343

---------------------------------------------------------------BACKGROUNDER

Project Description
Canada’s New Government is contributing up to $20.65 million, up to 75 per cent of the $27.5 million cost, for this multi-jurisdictional project that will provide additional bandwidth to 43 communities in the northern regions of Québec, Manitoba and Ontario, serving over 46,000 people.

These communities currently have access to limited bandwidth that can not meet current or future community needs. The project announced today involves the provision of two satellite transponders that will provide bandwidth not only to public institutions, but to the entire communities they serve. To support this bandwidth, the project will also upgrade the satellite earth stations and local access networks within the communities where required.

This additional bandwidth will enable enhanced delivery of government services through e-governance; improved delivery of justice, education and healthcare services with the use of videoconferencing; and improved economic development and e-commerce for communities.

Canada’s New Government will provide this funding to the Kativik Regional Government (KRG) on behalf of the Northern Indigenous Community Satellite Network (NICSN). The NICSN involves a partnership among three organizations: the Kativik Regional Government (KRG) in Quebec; the Keewatin Tribal Council (KTC) in Manitoba; and the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Tribal Council (KO) in Ontario.

NICSN currently operates a satellite network that provides the 43 communities with broadband capacity for public institutions. Each of these communities is equipped with a state of the art satellite earth station. A master earth station located in Sioux Lookout, Ontario serves as the Internet gateway and network management center.

The remaining 25 per cent of the funding for this project ($6.88 million) will come from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund ($1.8 million), the Government of Québec’s Villages branchés program ($2.2 million) and Telesat Canada ($2.88 million).

Project Benefits
This project will enable the provision of broadband services to all members of the 43 communities. Through this project, increased access to broadband will help to improve quality of life and social development. It will also increase the potential for innovation and economic development in Canada’s communities by connecting Canadians and improving the electronic delivery of public services such as health, education and government services.

Government of Canada Funding Sources
Funding for this broadband project falls under the National Satellite Initiative (NSI), which was launched by Industry Canada in partnership with Infrastructure Canada, and the Canadian Space Agency. NSI was created to make available affordable satellite capacity for the deployment of broadband services (such as tele-health, tele-education, e-commerce, etc.) to communities in the far to mid-north, and in isolated and remote areas of Canada, where satellite technology is the only practical solution.

ROUND 1: The Industry Canada Component (C-Band Credit), which is now completed, consisted of providing satellite capacity from Telesat Canada’s Public Benefit Transponder (PBT), valued at $20 million over 15 years, to deploy public and community-based services to remote communities.

Under Round 1, one PBT was allocated to NICSN to provide service to public institutions in the 43 communities. The PBT provides NICSN with 36 MHz of satellite capacity supporting 31 Mbps of usable bandwidth.

ROUND 2: The Government of Canada’s Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund allocated $85 million to the NSI to fund the acquisition of satellite capacity and common ground infrastructure for satellite-based broadband projects in isolated and remote communities across Canada.

Under Round 2, up to $20.65 million is being provided to fund two satellite transponders and to upgrade the satellite earth stations and local access networks for 43 communities in the northern regions of Québec, Manitoba and Ontario.

Two other projects have been announced under the NSI to date from Round 2:

• Nunavut – $7.83M to provide broadband service via satellite to all 25 communities in Nunavut
• Northwest Territories – $7.0M to provide broadband service via satellite to 31 communities in the Northwest Territories

Northern Indigenous Community Satellite Network Communities

Manitoba

Barren Lands FN
Garden Hill FN  
Manto Sipi Cree Nation              
God’s Lake FN
Northlands Dene FN
Bunibonibee Cree FN
Poplar River FN
Mathias Colomb Cree Nation      
Shamattawa First Nation           
Sayisi Dene FN
Ste Theresa Point FN
Red Sucker Lake FN
Wasagamack   
Berens River
Mosakahikan Cree Nation          
Bloodvein FN

Ontario

Attawapiskat First Nation
Cat Lake First Nation
Fort Severn
Fort Hope
Kasabonika Lake
Lansdowne House
Marten Falls
Muskrat Dam
Peawanuck
Sachigo Lake   
Slate Falls
Weagamow Lake
Webequie

Quebec

Aupaluk
Akulivik
Inukjuak
Kangiqsujuaq    
Kangiqsualujjuaq
Kangirsuk
Kuujjuaq
Kuujjuarapik
Ivujivik  
Puvirnituk
Quaqtaq
Salluit  
Tasiujaq
Umiujaq

+++++++++

From the Toronto Star ...

Backpedalling on native rights
Carol Goar - Aug 22, 2007

Canada is one of seven countries blocking the quest for a universal declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. The other holdouts are Colombia, Guyana, Suriname, Russia, Australia and New Zealand.

Most members of the United Nations would like to see the charter, which has been under discussion for 20 years, adopted by the General Assembly at its fall session.

Sixty-seven states are co-sponsoring it. The UN Human Rights Council approved it last summer (over Canada's objections). Former foreign affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy calls it a test of "Canada's influence as a credible and influential voice for the protection of human rights."

As the vote approaches, native and human rights groups are appealing to Ottawa not to thwart the declaration. They've sent an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper urging him to uphold the rights of the world's most marginalized and vulnerable people.

"Canada must abandon its campaign against the declaration before further harm is done to the safety and well-being of indigenous peoples worldwide and to Canada's reputation as a principled defender of human rights," the signatories say. They include Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations; Beverly Jacobs, president of the Native Women's Association of Canada; Alex Neve, secretary-general of Amnesty International Canada; Ed Bianchi, aboriginal rights co-ordinator for a church consortium called KAIROS and a number of regional chiefs.

The government's position is that the declaration is too vague to be effective.

It also maintains that some of its provisions could be interpreted in ways that are inconsistent with Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs cites six specific concerns:

• The declaration might be used to support aboriginal claims to territories already ceded by treaty.
   
• It might interfere with Canada's approach to settling land claims, which balances the rights of aboriginal peoples against the interests of other Canadians.
   
• It might be interpreted to give aboriginal peoples a veto over defence activities.
   
• It confers on indigenous people a right to conserve and protect the environment, which is not recognized in international law.
   
• It provides no guidance about the financing of aboriginal self-government.
   
• And it fails to state clearly that federal and provincial laws are paramount on matters of overriding national importance.

This is nonsense, Axworthy says. International human rights declarations have never been legally binding. Moreover, this one has an explicit clause – included at Canada's insistence – stating that it must be interpreted in accordance with existing domestic laws.

Until recently, Canada was one of the leaders in rallying support for the declaration.

In the early years of the negotiations, some states wanted nothing to do with it, fearing it would give indigenous peoples rights and powers that would undermine their authority and drain their budgets.

Canada worked tirelessly to bring these countries on board, explaining and defending the concept of aboriginal self-determination. Craig Benjamin of Amnesty International sat in on some of those talks. "Canada was instrumental in breaking the deadlock between state governments and indigenous peoples. We acknowledged the right to self-government. We said we don't find it threatening."

Shortly after Prime Minister Stephen Harper was elected, Canada's stance changed.

It voted against the declaration – with Russia – at the UN Human Rights Council on June 29, 2006. It is now lobbying other countries to join its call for a re-negotiation of all the substantive provisions of the document. So far, it has found six allies. Several African countries are wavering.

"We have grave concerns that Canada is encouraging states with appalling records on human rights to take positions against the recognition and protection of indigenous people's human rights," the petitioners say in their public letter to Harper.

There is still time for Canada to change course.

For more than a century, we have failed our original citizens abysmally. We have ignored their needs and stunted their development.

The least we can do now is offer them the tools to do better.

Kwayaciiwin Education Resource Centre is proud to  present Sagatay Band live in concert at the Legion Hall in Sioux Lookout. 

The concert will be held August 29 8PM- 12AM

Admission $2

For further information contact

Kwayaciiwin Education Resource Centre

737-7373

From the Ontario Government press release ...

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation is receiving more than $700,000 over three years to provide services to male victims in northern Aboriginal communities who have suffered sexual abuse from the provincial Victims Services program (see below) ...

McGuinty Government Expands Services To Help Children Overcome Trauma Child Victim/Witness Centre Program Helps Children Through Court Process

    OTTAWA, Aug. 21 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is expanding the province's innovative Child Victim/Witness Centre program, Attorney General Michael Bryant announced today.

    "The expansion of this program to all regions of the province will provide effective support services and court preparation for children, including many who have been abused or exposed to domestic violence," said Bryant.

    The government currently funds Child Victim/Witness Centres in London and Toronto. The expansion, which includes an investment of $1 million, will allow for a new centre in Ottawa and fund two existing centres in the Regions of Peel and Waterloo.

    The new centre in Ottawa, to be operated by Catholic Family Service Ottawa, will provide the following services free of charge:

• Educating children on court proceedings and the role of witnesses
• Providing updates to children and parents or guardians on the progress of cases
• Assisting with the preparation of victim impact statements
• Offering support and assistance through each stage of the court process, including accompanying children into the courtroom
• Explaining the verdict.

    Children will be referred to the centre by community partners such as police, Crown prosecutors and Victim/Witness Assistance Program staff.

    The McGuinty government's $1 million investment will:

• Establish the new Ottawa facility
• Provide provincial funding to two existing centres - the Child Witness Centre of Waterloo Region and the Peel Children's Centre
• Add three new centres in the central, northwestern and northeastern regions of Ontario, bringing the total number of provincially funded centres to eight. Specific sites for these regions have not been chosen, and proposals will be accepted in the fall.

    The Child Victim/Witness Centre program complements the work of the Victim/Witness Assistance Program, which provides information, assistance, referrals and support to victims and witnesses of crime, throughout the criminal court process, in all 54 court districts across the province.

    The service expansion responds to the release of the "Best Practices in Child Victim/Witness Programs" report. The government commissioned this report to provide information on the effectiveness of the province's Child Victim/Witness programs. The executive summary of the report is available on the ministry website at www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca. To obtain a copy of the report, please call 416-326-2220 or 1-800-518-7901 toll free.

    "Child witness support provides substantial benefits to children involved in the justice system," said Franca DiDiomete, Catholic Family Service Ottawa. "We are proud to deliver these services that will benefit many children who are victims of violence or witnesses of violence."

    "The Ottawa Community Committee on Child Abuse led the long effort to establish a child victim/witness program in Ottawa, and we are delighted that these much-needed services to children will soon be available in our community," said Ron Ensom, former Co-chair, Ottawa Community Committee on Child Abuse.

    Backgrounder

    -------------------------------------------------------------VICTIM SERVICES IN ONTARIO

    The Government of Ontario is committed to ensuring victims of crime have a strong voice. A broad range of victim services is currently provided through provincially funded programs. Government and community-based services support victims in the immediate aftermath of crime, throughout the criminal justice process and as they work to rebuild their lives.

    In addition to $1 million in new annual funding to support and develop Child Victim/Witness Centres announced on August 21, 2007, other provincially-funded programs that help victims of crime include the following:

    Victim Crisis Assistance and Referral Services

    This community response program provides immediate on-site service to victims of crime, 24 hours a day, seven days-a-week. It currently operates in 48 communities across Ontario and served more than 48,000 victims provincewide last year. The government is increasing the program's annual budget by 20 per cent, to $9.4 million. The full funding increase will be in effect in 2008-09.

    Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Centres

    The province invests $13 million per year in Ontario's 38 Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Centres, which offer a wide variety of counselling, information and support services to victims and survivors of sexual abuse.

    Victim Quick Response Program

    A $6 million investment in three new immediate services for victims of violent crime was announced on July 13, 2007. The services became available locally in over 50 communities across Ontario on July 16. The three services are:

• Emergency Expenses - for eligible victims, to secure premises for victim safety, provide crime scene clean-up and cover transportation and dependant care costs for a family member to identify a homicide victim or support a seriously injured victim of violent crime
• Funeral Expenses - to assist eligible families of homicide victims
• Counselling - to provide short-term, early intervention counselling to help victims of serious crimes recover from their experience.

    Community Grants Program

    This program has provided more than $15 million over the past three years, including $6 million in 2007-08, for 107 locally based, innovative projects, that enhance services for victims of crime across Ontario.

    Domestic Violence Court Program

    This $22 million program provides victims of domestic violence with support from specially trained Crown prosecutors, Victim/Witness Assistance Program staff, police, Partner Assault Response programs, language interpreters and other service providers. It operates in all 54 Ontario court districts and is the most comprehensive program of its kind in Canada.

    Victim/Witness Assistance Program

    A cornerstone of services provided to victims of crime, this program received $16 million in annual funding and helped more than 66,000 Ontarians last year. It provides information, assistance, referrals and support to victims and witnesses of crime, throughout the criminal court process, in all 54 court districts across the province. Surveys consistently show that over 90 per cent of clients are satisfied with the services they receive. Program staff maintain close contact with local community agencies to ensure victims can access the full range of supports they need.

    Guns & Gangs Task Force

    A dedicated 12-member victim/witness assistance team is being put in place as part of the Guns & Gangs Task Force, which is based at a new $26 million state-of-the-art Operations Centre.

    Bail Safety Project

    In 10 locations across the province, the Bail Safety Project provides trained teams of Crown prosecutors, victim services staff and police to conduct in-depth interviews with victims of domestic violence at the bail stage. This is a time of high risk for victims. The government has provided $11 million over three years to help identify high-risk situations, allowing Crown prosecutors to make better recommendations at bail hearings to help stop the cycle of violence.

    Victim Support Line

    The Victim Support Line is a free provincewide information line providing services in English and French, including referrals to community agencies, information on the criminal justice system and information to registered clients about the status and scheduled release date of provincially incarcerated offenders.

    Combating Internet Child Pornography and Luring

    A comprehensive, five-part, $5 million strategy is being implemented to combat Internet child pornography and offer support to victims and refer them to appropriate community services. It includes:

• An undercover team of municipal police officers working online to identify suspects and victims, and prevent further victimization
• Dedicated Crown prosecutors to ensure a uniform level of excellence with respect to victim support and prosecution
• Victim support to ensure that identified victims are connected with the specialized services they need.

    Hate Crimes Community Working Group

    The government established the Hate Crimes Community Working Group in December 2005. The Working Group tabled more than 80 recommendations aimed at improving services to victims of hate crimes and preventing further victimization.

    Community HAte-crimes Response Grants Program (CHARG)

    The government is investing $1.35 million in this program, which responds to several recommendations of the Hate Crimes Community Working Group. Four kinds of community-based initiatives are being funded under this program:

• Projects to enhance community resources and/or address gaps in services to victims of hate crimes
• A hate crime forum to strengthen networks and share information among victims groups, educators and members of the criminal justice system
• A website for victims containing provincewide information about hate crimes and victim services
• Templates for community-based victim impact statements for use in court.

    Nishnawbe Aski Nation

    The Nishnawbe Aski Nation is receiving more than $700,000 over three years to provide services to male victims in northern Aboriginal communities who have suffered sexual abuse.
 
    Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic

    The clinic is a multi-service agency for female victims of violence in Toronto. The Ministry of the Attorney General provides $300,000 in annual funding for a specialized legal service for assaulted women at the clinic.

    SupportLink Program

    Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking in 20 Ontario locations can access intensive safety planning and 911-programmed cell phones through this program.

    Contact:
    Brendan Crawley
    Ministry of the Attorney General
    Communications Branch
    (416) 326-2210

                      www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca

For further information: Greg Crone, Ministry of the Attorney General, Minister's Office, (416) 326-1785; Brendan Crawley, Ministry of the Attorney General, Communications Branch, (416) 326-2210

From the Edmonton Journal ...

Residential school settlement OK'd
CanWest News Service - August 21, 2007

REGINA - The deadline for native people to sign up for a multibillion-dollar national settlement came and went on Monday, with the critical number of people agreeing to take the money.

If 5,000 had refused the settlement, Ottawa would have had the right to scrap the deal.

But few declined, meaning an aboriginal who was forced to be away from his or her family while attending a residential school will get an average $27,000.

The minimum payment is $10,000, plus $3,000 for each year he or she spent in a residential school.

The federal government forced generations of native children to attend residential schools run by six Christian denominations. Stories of dislocation as well as physical and sexual abuse are typical of their experiences. The policy continued up to the 1960s.

Under the settlement, victims of the worst physical or sexual abuse can get up to $250,000 and up to another $250,000 if it cost them lost income over the years.

Those who opted out of the settlement process will not receive any money through the common-experience payment option or through the independent assessment process.

However, they retain the right to sue the government or churches on their own.

An estimated 80,000 survivors are still alive.

++++++

From CBC News online ...

Money-managing workshops in the works for residential school deal
August 21, 2007

Former students of Indian residential schools had until Monday to decide whether to opt out of a historic class-action settlement, and now the federal government is preparing to help recipients handle their money.

The $1.9-billion compensation package from Ottawa could be implemented as early as Sept. 19, assuming no more than 5,000 of the estimated 80,000 former students opt out and no further appeals are filed.

Students taking the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement will not be able to sue the government, churches or any other defendant down the road.

"We've had relatively few opt-outs at this point," said Gina Wilson, assistant deputy minister of Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada, the federal department tasked with implementing the settlement.

"I figure probably in about another week or so, the courts will come back to us and let us know how exactly many opt-outs we have received. But I understand that the numbers are relatively low."

The agreement, approved by the federal government and the courts last year, stemmed from the sexual, physical and psychological abuses of students at the 130 Canadian schools run jointly by the government and religious organizations until the mid-1970s.

Wilson said applications for compensation will be made available Sept. 19, and cheques could start going out as early as October. It's expected that each eligible person would receive an average of $28,000.

Wilson said she expects some positive economic spinoffs from the compensation, such as recipients buying new vehicles, fixing up their homes or paying bills, but she said people must also be aware of possible pitfalls.

"We know in our communities we have addiction problems. We have trauma that can be not well supported," she said.

"We have frauds and scams, and we also have encountered elder abuse, and so we're very cautious of that."

Working group launched

The federal goverment has established a community impacts working group to help people manage their compensation funds.

Made up of federal departments, aboriginal organizations, churches, police and front-line workers, the group has already scheduled workshops on investments in about 150 communities across the country.

That kind of investment assistance is crucial, said Marius Tungilik, a former residential school student from Repulse Bay in Nunavut.

"Some people will spend it foolishly without a doubt," said Tungilik, who attended a residential school in Chesterfield Inlet from 1963 to 1969.

"There will be some people who just feel it's not their money to begin with, and there may be the temptation to spend it all at once or as quickly as possible. And life can become one huge party for a while, and before you know it, it will be all gone without anything to show for it."

Tungilik said former students who want to feel "a sense of ownership" of their compensation should leave the money in the bank for a few days or weeks before spending it.

"You will get the feeling that it is yours to spend," he said. "Have a plan as to how you will use that money. Without a plan it's very easy to just spend it."

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From CBC News ...

Decision day for residential schools deal - Monday deadline to accept $1.9B settlement
August 20, 2007

Former students of Indian residential schools have until the end of the day to decide whether to opt out of the largest class-action settlement in Canadian history.

The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, which was approved by the federal government and the courts last year, will provide at least $1.9 billion to former students at the 130 schools that were run jointly by the government and religious organizations until the mid-1970s.

The compensation stems from sexual, physical or psychological abuses suffered by students during that time. The agreement applies to about 80,000 residential school survivors in late 2005.

A government update this month said the deal could be implemented Sept. 19 if there are no further appeals and fewer than 5,000 of the estimated 80,000 former students opt out. The notice indicated that opt-out numbers are low.

It's expected that each eligible person would receive an average of $28,000. Students who take the settlement won't be able to sue the government, the churches or any other defendant in the class action, the government said.

Phyllis Chelsea, a Shuswap elder from Alkali Lake in British Columbia who attended the St. Joseph Residential school, told CBC Radio's The Current on Monday that she has reluctantly agreed to accept the deal, which will provide her and her grandchildren about $34,000.

"I didn't want anything to do with it," said Chelsea, who suffered both sexual and physical abuse. "But when I saw the offer of money — for me — I had to consider that."

At his first meeting with native leaders at the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs' annual conference in Winnipeg, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Chuck Strahl told reporters the settlement is first on his mind.

Strahl replaced Jim Prentice last week.

The payout could begin in November with the entire fund distributed by April 2008, the Globe and Mail reported.

Corrections and Clarifications
The $1.9-billion compensation agreement applies to all students who attended residential schools, not just those saying they suffered sexual, physical or psychological abuses, as previously reported. - Aug. 21, 2007