Media.Knet.Ca

Members of the Metis Nation of Ontario team including Doug Wilson - Director of Health Services (Ottawa), Andy Lefebvre - Economic Development (Timmins) and Troy MacVay, Information Systems (Ottawa) traveled to Sioux Lookout to meet with the K-Net team on Monday, January 30.

The meeting included video conference sessions with Carl Seibel at FedNor in Thunder Bay and with Randy Johns from his office in LaRonge Saskatchewan. Discussions about the network and the development of a mental health service delivered using video conferencing were the highlights of the meeting.

Click here to see some pictures from the meeting

Listen and call in your comments and views toll free 1-800-661-5171 this Saturday, Feb 4th on 89.9 fm or 962 Bell Expressvu. Local calls 737-4040 Also participte in this week poll question of the week on www.wawatay.on.ca

Young aboriginal youth are encourage to listen and participate in the Y2L (youth to leadership) national radio program. This week will feature invited guests to talk about their experience at the NAN Decade for Youth Conference "Seven Sacred Teachings Youth Suicide Awareness" which was held at the Norwester hotel in Thunder Bay. Updates on the Indian Residential School Settlement and community calendar to be broadcasted. Young people can request your favourite music.

This national radio program is seeking corporate sponsorships to support the continued programming for the Y2L national radio program.

Young aboriginal people and leaders fully support the idea of this special program which connects youth with their leaders. A successful launch in December with national leaders including  National Chief Phil Fontaine and role model John Kim Bell has promoted the goals and objectives of the radio program across this country. Aired on Bell Expressvu 962, communities now have accessibility with technology to participate in lively discussions, call-in to provide their views and opinions on historical and contemporary issues. However, without sponsorships and funding, the future of this program is not expected to run past March. For more informationa about this sponsorship campaign and how you can help support the future of the Y2L program, please contact Jerry Sawanas at Wawatay 737-2951 or email jerrys@wawatay.on.ca.

Keewaytinook Okimakanak is working in partnership with several organizations to support First Nation youth across Ontario to obtain certification as computer technicians.

The recently completed Cisco IT Essentials 1 (ITE1) course that ran from November 2005 to January 2006 had twelve First Nation youth successfully complete the program. Three youth passed the course the first time it was delivered in the winter of 2004-2005. Three other First Nations youth successfully completed the ITE1 Instructor training program in 2004 and are now delivering this course from their communities to other youth.

The course is delivered online using a variety of e-learning communication tools. Most of the participants are working as Computer Technicians in their home community and are employed under a Youth Employment initiative coordinated by members of the Keewaytinook Okimakanak team with funding from Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program.  

Instructors for the ITE1 course are:

• Angus Miles (Lead instructor), Fort Severn First Nation (ITE1 and ITE2 instructor certified)
• Aaron Hardy, Fort William First Nation (ITE1 and CCNA1 instructor certified)
• Jamie Ray, Flying Post First Nation (ITE1 and CCNA1 instructor certified)

The 2005-2006, ITE1 graduates include:

• Leon Keeper, Pikangikum First Nation
• Darren Nadjiwon-Elliot, Cape Croker First Nation
• Benjamin Sabourin, Pic Mobert First Nation
• Denise Mckay, Deer Lake First Nation
• Delphine Matthews, Big Trout Lake First Nation
• Manley Wapioke, Shoal Lake #39 First Nation
• Jamie Michano, Pic River First Nation
• Jason Tait, Sachigo Lake First Nation
• Jeremy Sawanas, Deer Lake First Nation
• Robert Shawana, Wikwemikong First Nation
• Eric Sutherland, Fort Albany First Nation
• Willie Lazarus, Attawapiskat First Nation

The ITE1 2004-2005 ITE1 graduates included

• Robert Semple, Kasabonika First Nation
• Zach Morriseau, Fort William First Nation
• William Solomon, Fort William First Nation

Angus Miles is now working with Aaron Hardy to deliver the ITE2 Cisco Academy training program to those ITE1 graduates interested in getting this certification.

Other partners involved in the development of this training opportunity include the Keewatin Career Development Corporation and the Aboriginal Human Resource Development department that funded the Train-the-trainer program working with the Education Network of Ontario and Centennial College.

Many of these youth will be attending the upcoming Chiefs of Ontario gathering in Six Nations where they will meet to continue the ITE2 training as well as participate in the First Nations Youth Education gathering.

Heather Hudson's new book includes a case study about the work of K-Net ... 

From Rural Village to Global Village
Telecommunications for Development in the Information Age
by Heather E. Hudson
University of San Francisco
January, 2006

From the book's description on the promotional brochure ...

This book examines the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in development on the macro level (societal, socio-economic, and governmental), emphasizing rural and developing regions. Communication technology’s role in influencing and aiding development is a hot topic in policy circles, yet there has been little analysis on the potential impact of ICTs and related policy issues. From Rural Village to Global Village addresses this lack by reviewing the existing research on the impact of communication technologies and adding other findings. It also provides analysis of the policy issues that must be addressed to facilitate affordable ICT access in rural and developing regions. The volume concludes with case studies demonstrating the role of ICTs in situ. The discussion relates to the bigger “digital divide” issue, the repercussions communication technology —or the lack of— it has on communities and societies.

From Rural Village to Global Village will appeal to scholars and researchers in telecommunications, especially in the law and policy areas, and in media economics, international communication, and communication and development areas. It can be used as a graduate level text or supplemental text in advanced undergraduate courses.

• 0-8058-5667-6 [Cloth] / 2006  / 176pp.  / $65.00
• 0-8058-6016-9 [Paper] / 2006 / 176pp. / $24.50

There is a 20% discount available at www.erlbaum.com by entering Coupon Code Code SPCL during on-line check-out.

This book is also available from http://amazon.ca

The Aboriginal Healing Foundation board of directors presented their final report summary, "A Healing Journey", at their Winnipeg meeting for residential school survivors (click here to see the press release about these regional gatherings). From the "Final Report - Summary Points" document that was distributed at the gathering ...

Description of the Final Report ...

The report is published in three volumes that record the formation and accomplishments of the AHF between 1998 and 2005.

Volume I: A Healing Journey: Reclaiming Wellness

• places the work of the AHF in the wider Aboriginal healing movement, summarizes what the AHF has learned from research and evaluation, and recommends upon the future healing needs of residential school Survivors and their families.

Volume II: Measuring Progress: Program Evaluation

• synthesizes the data collected through the 3 national surveys (2000, 2002, 2004), 5 focus groups, 13 case studies, 1,479 individual participant questionnaires (IPQs), and file review of 36 AHF-funded projects.

Volume III: Promising Healing Practices in Aboriginal Communities

• reports on AHF-funded healing programs with practices and interventions that are working well for Aboriginal communities or communities of interest based on questionnaires, file review, survey data and focus groups.

AHF Recommends ...

• The Government of Canada renew the mandate of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation to enable it to continue its mission for a period of 30 years.
• The renewed mandate address the legacy of abuse, and social, psychological, cultural and spiritual injuries, inlcuding intergenerational impacts.
• The mandate be designed to complement and advance the interrelated goals of acknowledgement, redress, healing and reconciliation.
• The AHF be funded to support a public education role to conduct research and share knowledge related to the legacy of abuse in residential schools and promote healing and reconciliation.
• $600 million as a one-time grant be invested to generate income and be expended over 30 years to fulfill a renewed mandate of the AHF.

A New Healing Fund ...

• An endowment of $600 million will support a 30-year healing strategy
• $28.4 million per year will be available for community-based projects, based on a 2.5% inflation rate and a 5% return on investment
• By year 30, the AHF will have invested $1.2 billion in community-based healing

AHF Funding Priorities ...

• Continue outreach to underserved or special needs of Aboriginal communities to provide for an opportunity to begin healing
• Continue support in Aboriginal communities and communities of interest for AHF-funded projects for an average of 10 years
• Continue to document and evaluate effective healing practices to share with stakeholders
• Support self-determination and self-reliance in Aboriginal communities through culturally appropriate healing services, training and networks.

The Sioux Lookout Area Aboriginal Management Board (SLAAMB) is hosting a career fair at the Queen Elizabeth District High School in Sioux Lookout on February 16. The event is being webcast with video conferencing links available for all the First Nations across the region.

The fair will provide students and First Nations across the Sioux Lookout Zone region with information about the employment and training opportunities that are becoming available with the construction of the new hospital and hostel in Sioux Lookout.

Community members are invited to participate in the career fair by joining us in Sioux Lookout or via video conference from your community.  The live video conference is scheduled to take place on February 16, from 6 to 10pm.  A toll free audio conference line will also be made available for the conference so people can call into the session with their questions. This event will also be broadcast live over the internet so everyone with a computer can watch it and call in with their questions.

For a copy of the information package (letter to Chief and Council, agenda and poster) visit - http://knet.ca/documents/SLAAMB-Career-Fair.pdf

For further information contact Bob Bruyere or Stephan Kudaka at the SLAAMB administration office:

SIOUX LOOKOUT AREA ABORIGINAL MANAGEMENT BOARD
P.O. BOX 56, 115 KING STREET
Sioux Lookout, Ontario, P8T 1A1
TELEPHONE:  (807) 737-4047 ·  FAX:  (807) 737-4048

TOLL FREE: 1(800)563-2183

EMAIL: bbruyere@slaamb.on.ca
skudaka@slaamb.on.ca

The NAN Winter Chiefs Assembly will take place in Thunder Bay, ON March 21-23, 2006 at the Travelodge Airlane Hotel.

Click here for the registration form.

 Click here for the proxy letter template.

 If you have any questions regarding the Winter Chiefs Assembly please contact conference coordinators Wendy Caruk (wcaruk@nan.on.ca) or Brenda Iserhoff (biserhof@nan.on.ca) at 1-800-465-9952.

The Northern Nishnawbe Education Council is requesting proposals from consultants to develop an organization-wide Sports and Physical Activity Plan.

This will include a needs assessment and the development of a Risk Management Plan and Communication Strategy.

The lowest or any of the proposals not necessarily accepted.

The proposal call will close: 4:00 PM (Central Standard Time), Thursday, February 16, 2006.

Consultants may obtain a Request for Proposal (RFP) package from:

Ms. Rachael Paquette-Flanagan
NORTHERN NISHNAWBE EDUCATION COUNCIL
Box 1419,21 King Street
Sioux Lookout, Ontario
P8T 1B9
Phone: (807) 737-2002 ext. 234
Fax: (807) 737-2614

E-mail Address for Inquiries only: rpaquette@nnec.on.ca

Last week all the First Nation Community Telehealth Coordinators (27 coordinators) working in their home communities gathered in Balmertown to complete their certification process as CTCs working with the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Telehealth initiative. The training workshop provided all the CTCs with the opportunity to share their stories and experiences as well as learn new skills.

Click here to view some pictures from the training workshop.

Cal Kenny, K-Net's Multimedia Producer, video taped a various parts of this workshop. He has posted some of the video clips online for the CTCs to use in their communities to help explain their work.

Click here to see the video clips from this Certification workshop

From Timmins Daily Press

North gets all-season road funds

Trevor Terfloth - Thursday, January 26, 2006

Northern Native leaders are praising a provincial commitment to get the ball rolling on an all-season road to the James Bay Coast.

The Ontario government has promised to invest $38,800 for the first phase of the Mushkegowuk Council’s transportation study, which will obtain input from various communities as to the feasibility and logistics of such an endeavour.

Grand Chief Stan Louttit said the lack of road access has always been an issue and he’s pleased to finally see some action.

“It’s something that has been long outstanding being able to do the work that is required to get the facts,” he said.

“Now we’re able to do that late, mind you but better late than never.”

The partnership for the project includes the First Nation communities of Moose Factory, Fort Albany, Kashechewan and Attawapiskat, as well as the Town of Moosonee.

These areas are connected via a winter road for approximately three months of the year, with air service the only other transportation method the remaining nine months.

The winter road that normally connects coastal communities along the James Bay has only been able to withstand light traffic because of this year’s unseasonably warm weather

Louttit believes the warm weather’s effect on the winter road and various businesses, such as De Beers, may have expedited the government’s announcement.

“That may be a factor,” he said. “They’re not able to get to the site to do the work that they require. What are the options? The options are limited.

“You can’t take things in by air, it’s just too costly. And the summer barge season is just not feasible.”

Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci made the announcement Wednesday in Sudbury on behalf of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC).

He said James Bay communities face unique transportation issues that are amplified by remoteness and prohibitive costs.

However, Bartolucci, who is also the NOHFC chair, doesn’t believe it to be an insurmountable challenge.

“There are many building blocks, including cost-effective transportation, to be put in place for sustainable development in the Far North,” he said.

“Our government believes in working together to strengthen communication and understanding around development opportunities for the benefit of Far North residents.”

MPP Gilles Bisson (NDP Timmins James Bay) called the funding a token gesture, although he admitted it is a good start.

He said he’s been working for a long time with the Mushkegowuk Council and MP Charlie Angus (NDP Timmins-James Bay) to raise awareness for the cause.

“(The funding) is not a bad thing,” said Bisson.

“But basically if the (provincial) government is really serious about ponying up, they should not only provide dollars for the feasibility study, they should be an active participant with both the Mushkegowuk Council and the federal government.”

Bisson feels Ottawa and Queen’s Park need to commit to a timeline for the project, saying that will ensure the wheels stay in motion.

Like Louttit, Bisson feels the mild temperatures played a role in capturing the government’s attention.

“It’s a blessing in disguise, in a funny way,” he said.

“It’s making the rationale for a road that much more important.”

However, Bisson said it isn’t just First Nations who stand to benefit from increased access.

He said the province’s entire economy could see a dramatic boost.

“What we have learned in the history of Ontario is that whenever we have built roads or railways into areas that we have not done so before, it has led to the ability of people to go up and do mining exploration and take a look at other business opportunities that have basically paid the province back big time,” he said.

“When they built the Ontario Northland Railway, it was because of that we found the silver mines of Cobalt and the gold mines of Timmins and Kirkland Lake.”