Media.Knet.Ca

AFN Special Chiefs meeting covered in K-Net News ...

Geordi Kakepetum, Executive Director of Keewaytinook Okimakanak, Cheryl Klassen, Education Facilitator of KO Telehealth (KOTH) and Brian Walmark of the KO Research Institute (KORI) will be in Ottawa this week to participate in the Special Chiefs Meeting of the Assembly of First Nations. The meeting will provide Chiefs from across Canada with a briefing on the First Ministers meeting with Aboriginal leaders last month.

KO is also seeking AFN support on a number of issues including connectivity, telehealth, the satellite initiative, improved library services in remote and isolated communities and other issues. If you would like sponsor one of these support resolutions or you would like additional information, please email brianwalmark@knet.ca for more details.

Brian and Cheryl will be filing stories throout the meeting with K-Net News. Watch www.knet.ca for updates. To ask questions or to comment, email brianwalmark@knet.ca

Dan Pellerin, K-Net's Network Manager, is travelling to Montreal to attend a gathering of First Nation health leaders and present information about the Kuhkenah Network and the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Telehealth initiative. First Nations across Quebec are now getting connected through their First Nations Education Council's video conferencing network (visit http://cepn-fnec.com/videoconference/eng/index.html for more information). As the local capacity increases in each community, new applications for these communication tools are identified and developed by the communities. Telehealth is quickly becoming a key application that supports the ongoing operation of the community networks.

Brian Beaton, K-Net Coordinator, is in Thunder Bay for the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Education Conference. He is presenting information about the First Nations SchoolNet program and the various e-learning opportunities that are available for First Nation schools. As new needs and opportunities are identified and developed to use Information and Communication Technologies in First Nation classrooms, the First Nations SchoolNet program is another resource to support this work. Visit http://firstnationschools.ca for more information about some of these opportunities. Click here to see the powerpoint presentation.

A faculty Bell circuit caused a network outage for Sioux Lookout from 5:30AM Saturday until 1:01AM Sunday. Everyone in Sioux Lookout and in the thirty satellite served communities could access K-Net but were unable to get to other locations on the internet. All other K-Net users from other points on the internet were unable access the servers located in Sioux Lookout.

K-Net's technical team spent the day in constant contact with Bell Canada staff trying to locate the problem. Saturday evening, a Bell technician was dispatched from Fort Frances or Dryden to come to Sioux Lookout to change some equipment.

The Honourable Joe Comuzzi Announces Funding to Matawa First Nations Management Organization to bring Broadband Internet Service to Additional Aboriginal, Northern and Rural Communities

THUNDER BAY, Ontario, November 23, 2005 -- The Honourable Joe Comuzzi, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Superior North, on behalf of the Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry, is pleased to announce that up to $973 592 in program savings from Industry Canada's Broadband for Rural and Northern Development Pilot Program is available to be invested toward the Matawa First Nations Management organization to deploy broadband, or high-capacity Internet, to local communities that are currently not served by broadband. This project represents an estimated eight communities, as defined by the participant and originally submitted in the project's business proposal.

The Broadband Pilot Program's implementation funding was made available to 58 successful recipients based on their initial estimated project costs, and funding was subject to successful negotiations among all parties. During these negotiations some recipients were able to identify savings in areas such as equipment and service costs. In some cases, recipients were able to secure additional funding partners, thereby reducing the amount of funding required from the Broadband Pilot Program. This resulted in additional funds becoming available to be invested toward four broadband implementation projects, which includes the Matawa First Nations Management.

"Broadband puts more resources within reach of First Nations communities," said Mr. Comuzzi. "Apart from greater access to online learning and telehealth services, broadband access will help people in these communities to communicate with each other, and with the rest of the world, more easily."

The funding announced today is subject to successful negotiations among all parties through a formal contribution agreement. There is also the potential for additional projects to be considered, contingent upon available program savings.

Broadband is defined as a high-capacity Internet connection, capable of supporting full-motion, real-time audio and video applications. It serves as a pipeline for delivering innovative applications, putting services in areas such as health, education and business within easy reach of all Canadians.

To date, the Broadband Pilot Program has reached out to 884 communities, including 116 First Nations Reserves. The Broadband Pilot Program complements the $155-million National Satellite Initiative. In the October 2004 Speech from the Throne, the Government of Canada reaffirmed its commitment to regional development across Canada. Broadband service to rural and remote communities will ultimately provide Aboriginal, northern and rural communities with more opportunities to move forward socially and economically.

Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2005 federal Budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.

More information on the Broadband for Rural and Northern Development Pilot Program is available at http://www.broadband.gc.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Christiane Fox
Office of the Honourable David L. Emerson
Minister of Industry
(613) 995-9001

Media Relations
Industry Canada
(613) 943-2502

Vytas Mickevicius, Executive Lead, Telemedicine, e-Health Office with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care arrived in Sioux Lookout on Thursday, Nov 24. He met with Robert Thomas, KO Health Director and Brian Beaton, K-Net Coordinator to discuss First Nation e-health strategies. The meeting was arranged by Robert Vigneault of Canada Health Infoway who ended up missing his connections to Sioux Lookout and joined the discussions by telephone.

Vytas is  working with the three provincially funded telehealth networks developing the Ontario Health Transformation Strategy. Plans are being developed to integrate these three network into one by April 1, 2006. Ensuring that First Nations and the KO Telehealth service will be able to access these provincial services is an important component of their plans.

Tours of the network, teleradiology at Menoyawin, meetings with KO Telehealth, SSHA and FedNor were part of these discussions.

Darcy Kejick, a former North Spirit Lake chief and councillor, was presented with two awards at the 15th Annual Nishnawbe Aski Nation Business Awards in Thunder Bay on Wednesday, November 30. He was awarded  the Youth Entrepreneur of Year and the Partnership of the Year trophies at this event. Darcy and his wife Susan started Darcy and Susan's Gas Bar in North Spirit Lake in 2001. He told the Chronicle-Journal that he started his business because "it was my dream" and there was a "community need for it".

Other winners include:

• Laureen Wassaykeesic (Laureen's Grocery and Gas) - Business Woman of the Year
• Bruce Brunette (B & M Auto Repair) - Business Man of the Year
• Thomas Tookate (Attawapiskat Development Corporation) - Executive of the Year
• Attawapiskat Development Corporation - Development Corporation of the Year
• Bamaji Lake Development Corporation - Building Communities
• Long Lake No. 58 General Store - NeeChee Achievement Award

The awards gala is organized annually by the Nishnawbe Aski Development Corporation (NADF). Click here for more information about NADF and this annual event (under Business Awards).

News Release from the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation web site at http://www.naaf.ca

Monday, November 28, 2006 - Toronto, ON

At a time when Canada is focussed on First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Peoples, the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the 13th Annual National Aboriginal Achievement Awards

FOURTEEN RECIPIENTS OF THE PRESTIGEOUS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD ANNOUNCED

TORONTO ' A world renowned artist, an entrepreneur from the East coast and an environmentalist from the far North compose a portion of the fourteen recipients of the National Achievement Awards showcasing the overwhelming diversity, contribution and achievement that can be found among Canada's First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The awards were announced today by Roberta Jamieson, CEO& President of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF).

The 13th Annual National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, can count a number of firsts. Shirley Firth Larsson, the twin sister of an equally successful 2005 NAAA recipient, will be awarded an Award for Sports. As well the Foundation will also for the first time, award a recipient posthumously, as the inspiring and bright star, Myra Cree, sadly recently passed away after having been selected through the juried process, leaving a remarkable legacy.

Roberta Jamieson, CEO of the Foundation, said, "When one achieves greatness for themselves they are in fact achieving greatness for their entire community. "This year's recipients embody the diversity of our peoples and speak to potential realized. They are fantastic role models for our Aboriginal youth and all Canadians; I couldn't be more pleased with this year's recipients."

The 2006 National Aboriginal Achievement Award recipients are a notable group. They are:

• Jim Sinclair, Lifetime Achievement, Métis, Saskatchewan
• Andrea Dykstra, Youth, M'ikmaw Nation, Pictou Landing, Nova Scotia
• Taiaiake (Gerald) Alfred, Education, Kaien'kehaka, Mohawks of Kahnawake
• Dr. Herb Belcourt, Housing, Métis, Alberta
• Tony Belcourt, Public Service, Métis, Ontario
• Bernd Christmas, Business and Commerce, M'ikmaw, Membertou First Nation, Nova Scotia
• Gladys Taylor Cook, Heritage and Spirituality, Dakota, Sioux Valley First Nation, Manitoba
• Myra Cree, Media and Communications, Mohawk, Oka-Kahnesatake
• Billy Day, Environment, Inuit, Inuvialuit, NT 
• James (Sakej) Youngblood Henderson, Law and Justice, Chickasaw/Cheyenne Nations, now residing in Saskatchewan
• Wendy Grant-John, Community Development, Coast Salish, Musqueam, BC 
• Shirley Firth Larsson, Sports, Gwich'in, NT 
• Jane Ash Poitras, Arts and Culture, Cree/Chipewyan, Alberta
• George Tuccaro, Media and Communications, Mikisew Cree, Alberta

This year's 14 recipients will receive their awards at a star-studded gala evening on Friday, January 27th, 2006, in Vancouver at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

The fourteen achievers are selected by a national jury comprised of past award recipients and individuals representing First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples from, diverse geographic regions of Canada and areas of the economy.

The awards are a special project of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, established in 1985. The Foundation provides financial assistance to First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Aboriginal students to realize their educational goals and dreams with more than a total of $2 million in individual scholarships awarded to students this year and $18- million awarded since the project began.

The Foundation is devoted to excellence and providing the educational tools necessary for Aboriginal youth to achieve brighter futures.

For further information contact Scott Cavan, Director of Media Relations at 416-926-0775. Visit our website at www.naaf.ca for the following information:

2006 Recipient photos and biographies

Award winners announced at 5th Annual Wood WORKS! Awards Gala

Chief Arthur Moore, of Constance Lake First Nation (200 km west of Timmins), and the Deer Lake K-12 School at Deer Lake First Nation (1,000 km northwest of Thunder Bay) won prestigious Wood WORKS! Awards, announced November 24 at the 5th Annual Wood WORKS! Awards Gala, held in Collingwood, Ontario.  There were over 300 industry and community leaders, politicians, architects and engineers who came to celebrate Ontario’s finest wood-based construction and advocacy.

Smith Carter Architects & Engineers Inc. and Lavergne Draward & Associates Inc. of Winnipeg, Manitoba, accepted the Jury’s Choice Award (sponsored by The Working Forest) for Deer Lake's new K-12 School.  This award recognizes projects that represent excellence in design, use wood in a unique manner and invoke a sense of community spirit and pride. 

The designers carefully fit the school into the community and its natural environment of tall, thin, spruce trees. The use of wood referenced historical dwellings and echoed the “deep roots–new beginnings” concept.  Even the lighting—a series of skylights in a corridor ascending diagonally in sections and terminating at high level windows—reflects the surroundings, where sunlight feathers in from above the trees.  Laminated wood decking was used for the ceilings and roof deck throughout the building, and fir glulam beams and columns were used for the structure. The whole building, in its creative and thoughtful use of wood, represents a solid, warm foundation for learning.

“The Jury selected this building because it harmonizes so well with its surroundings.  It’s a place where the past and the future are part of the present, and students will be inspired,” remarked Bérubé.

Chief Arthur Moore received the Building the Future Award -Community Leader (sponsored by the Ontario Forestry Industries Association), which recognizes a leading individual who facilitates the construction of commercial, industrial and institutional projects with wood, and stands out as a persuasive wood advocate.  Chief Moore has shown a strong commitment to his community in Constance Lake by investing in local projects, such as the Holistic Education Centre and the Eagle’s Earth Historical Centre.  He believes strongly in supporting the local forest industry, which he sees as vital to the livelihood of his community.

“People like Chief Moore are showing us how to maintain a sustainable forestry industry, which will last forever,” commented Marianne Bérubé, Executive Director of Wood WORKS!

Megaconference 7, the world's largest video conference, is now taking place (Thursday, Dec. 1 2005), from 8am to 11pm EST.

A live stream will be available throughout the Megaconference, starting at 8 am.  Anyone can view the stream, which is open to all at http://www.megaconference.org

Ontario program participants include York University and the University of Waterloo's drama and speech communication department, which will demonstrate collaborative theatre using videoconferencing technology to link remote sets and actors. Waterloo will present a short live play with colleagues at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.