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from AFN web site ...

AFN National Chief Files Class Action Claim Against the Government of Canada for Residential Schools Policy

OTTAWA, Aug. 3, 2005

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine announced today that he and the AFN are launching a class action lawsuit against the Government of Canada for the residential schools legacy.

The claim, to be filed tomorrow, states that the residential schools policy and schools caused "irreparable harm and damage" to First Nations' "culture, language, way of life, family, community and social structures".

AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine stated: "The AFN, as the national organization representing all First Nations citizens, including survivors and descendants, is uniquely situated to deal with this issue in a way that no other group can. Other residential schools class actions have been certified or are making their way through the courts, but the AFN class provides for a more comprehensive process, as it deals with loss of language and culture and not only specific acts of physical or sexual abuse, and also includes truth and reconciliation mechanisms and other collective remedies that will benefit all First Nations. We want to ensure the Government of Canada provides fair and just resolution for the abuse we endured in the schools and the assault on our cultures that took place under the residential schools policy."

The AFN claim identifies four classes of survivors: First Nations, Survivor, Deceased and Family Class. Phil Fontaine is named as the representative plaintiff for the First Nations Class and Survivor Class.

"Because of our lack of formal legal status, we have only been participating in a consulting capacity in these discussions," stated the National Chief. "However, this matter is far too important for us not to have a full seat at the table that will ensure not only that our voices are heard on an equal basis with all other parties, but that our consent will be required for any agreement that is reached."

"We will continue to work with the federal representative, Mr. Justice Frank Iacobucci, on this important matter and we have the full confidence he is operating in good faith," said National Chief Fontaine. "Our action is not an attempt to impede the process, but rather a means to ensure that we are able to fully participate in the process, more effectively settle this to the benefit of all residential schools survivors and all First Nations citizens affected by the residential schools, and to ensure that all options remain open for them. The Accord has provided a political vehicle to move forward, but a legal vehicle is required to finalize the process with the AFN in a central and representative role, which this action now provides."

Former Supreme Court Justice Frank Iacobucci was appointed federal representative under an Accord signed by the AFN and Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan on May 30th. That Accord set up a process in which the federal representative would work with all parties involved in residential schools resolution and litigation to come up with a better process to resolve the legacy of the schools. The federal representative is to provide recommendations to the government on a new approach by or before March 31 of 2006.

"We would rather negotiate than litigate, but we feel compelled to exercise all our options," said National Chief Fontaine. "Each day we lose another survivor. Each day someone passes on without having achieved any sense of justice or healing or redress. Each day, First Nations from all walks of life in all parts of the country deal with the loss of language, cultural breakdown and inter-generational effects of the schools. We want to ensure that Canada and First Nations bring closure to this tragic chapter in our shared history."

There are approximately 87,000 residential schools survivors still alive in Canada. The average age of survivors is 57 years old. The government has an "Alternative Dispute Resolution" process in place, but at the current pace it will take 53 years to settle all claims, at a cost to Canadian taxpayers of $2.3 billion dollars in administrative and legal expenses alone. The AFN has set-out a fair, cost efficient and timely approach to resolve the legacy of the Indian Residential Schools in its November 2004 Report on Canada's Dispute Resolution Plan to Compensate for Abuses in Indian Residential Schools. The report is available on the AFN website.

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.

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/For further information: Don Kelly, AFN Communications Director, (613) 241-6789, ext. 320 or cell (613) 292-2787; Ian McLeod, AFN Bilingual Communications Officer, (613) 241-6789, ext. 336 or cell (613) 859-4335; Nancy Pine, Communications Advisor, Office of the National Chief, (613) 241-6789, ext. 243 or cell (613) 298-6382/

Click here to Read Turtle Island's coverage of this announcement - Assembly of First Nations Launches $12 Billion Class Action Lawsuit . . .

Click here to read some reactions to this lawsuit from the far north

A+ Certification is a vendor neutral testing program that certifies the competency of entry-level computer service technicians.  The program is administered by Comp TIA and backed by over 50 major computer hardware and software vendors, distributors, resellers and publications.  Upon successful completion, the student will be ready to take the A+ Core Hardware Service Technician and A+ Operation System Technologies examinations in order to receive their A+ Certification.

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INAC recently released a powerpoint presentation detailing their policy directions concerning Aboriginal education. It is an interesting document and direction that will have a direct impact First Nation schools across the country. Providing for off-reserve K-12 programming and establishing "school board type" second level services are two parts of their strategic plan that will have a dramatic impact in terms of structure and available resources for on-reserve schools. Below are the contents from three of the slides in the presentation. Click here for the entire presentation ....

From Slide 10: Strategic Policy Directions

As a crucial first step, INAC proposes to pursue the transformation of Aboriginal education by focusing on five key elements at the K-12 level:

• Educational Jurisdiction
• Regional First Nation Education Systems
• School Innovation
• Strategic Performance and Reporting Measures
• Off Reserve K-12 Initiatives

From Slide 13: Current National Context:

• In the provinces, school boards serve an integral second-level (i.e. above school level) support function within successful education systems.
• In the absence of such support for on-reserve schools, First Nations have taken the initiative to create regional school board-type entities in recent years.
• However, these organizations have different levels of capacity or are non-existent in some parts of Canada.
• Furthermore, these organizations are in the developmental stages and currently lack the stable and multi-year funding provided to their counterparts in provincial systems.

From Slide 14: Proposed Policy Direction:

• Provide investments to build on the existing efforts of First Nation second-level service organizations.
• First Nation schools would be able to draw on a range of school board-type services and benefit from economies of scale.
• Long-term goal could be to have complete geographic coverage by these regional systems across Canada.

CWF Pro Wrestling has been added to the list of events for K.I. Homecoming 2005. Times/Dates for shows are ..

August 3/05 at 1pm and August 4/05 at 10am

Fun and enjoyment for the whole family
Aug 3,4,5,6
Featured  entertainment
Supergroups 
Glass Tiger and Trooper

              Relive the thrills and spills of Homecoming 2003

The Schedule for Homecoming 2005 has now been posted
Click the Homecoming link for the Information
Update: July 18/05 see updated travel info on the travel link on Homecoming2005  
visit updates on the feature entertainment link
$50.000.00 Jackpot Bingo Aug 5/05 at 3pm
Truck/Four wheeler Raffle draw  Aug 6/05 at 6pm

visit http://bigtroutlake.firstnation.ca for further updates

The hundred year commemoration ceremonies of the signing of Treaty number 9 continues with special events being held in Eabametoong and Marten Falls First Nations. More information about each of these activities can be viewed on-line at the links below ...

1. The photos from Eabametoong First Nation of the events, people and ceremonies held on July 19 in their community.
2. The NAN news story about the paddlers, lead by Chief Glen Nolan of Missanabie Cree First Nation who are following the original route of the treaty party, as they arrive in each of the communities involved in the treaty signing process.
3. The Wawatay News story about the paddlers - "Retracing the steps of treaty commissioners" (July 28)
4. The Ontario Archives is hosting an on-line display of the Treaty signing.
5. The ceremonies and speeches in Marten Falls First Nation on July 25 as documented by NAN staff.

Muskrat Dam's Invitional Men's volleyball Tournament of Champions  August 24-27 2005

The World Summit Youth Award is another opportunity for youth (under 27 years of age) to showcase their on-line productions to the world ...

Do you have a cool emerging project on the web? Are you a young designer, web developer, music producer or artist looking for international exposure? Are you passionate about using technology for social change?

Enter the World Summit Youth Award (WSYA) today and showcase your project to the world!

WSYA is an international competition for youth-led (under 27 years of age) projects that bridge the content gap in the emerging Information Society. It is the first global "youth for youth" initiative; promoting best practice in e-content and technological creativity and demonstrating young people's potential to create digital opportunities.  WSYA is not only a showcase to the world for young designers, technologists and e-content creators, it also contributes on a global scale to reducing poverty, protecting the environment, sharing knowledge and empowering marginalized young people.

The WSYA Categories are Development, Creativity & Culture and Community Engagement and the online application process at www.youthaward.org is open until midnight (GMT) on September 18, 2005. 

WSYA is a joint venture of the World Summit Award (www.wsis-award.org) and the WSIS Youth Caucus (www.wsisyouth.org).

I know many of you have online projects and I encourage you all to apply to the WSYA through our online application form, now available at www.youthaward.org/apply.  Note that only online projects led by youth under 27 years of age are eligible.

We've received many requests for assistance but we ask that only eligible applicants with an online project or website apply.  The applications will close on midnight (GMT), September 18, 2005.

News will be updated at http://www.youthaward.org/wsya/news.htm so stay
tuned.  Please contact me or Thomas (biebl@icnm.net) if you have any questions or want to get involved!

Alex Fielding, Marketing Communications Coordinator
World Summit Youth Award
International Center for New Media
fielding@icnm.net
www.youthaward.org

Community Conversations On-line

The Ontario Trillium Foundation is hosting a Community Conversations On-line survey to hear from charitable and not-for-profit organizations.  This site is part of our outreach process to collect advice about our granting programs. Everyone is invited to:

• express their views about the changing needs of your community;
• tell them how their Foundation can better meet these needs;
• learn about their future directions.

Each year, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, awards $100 million of government funding generated through Ontario’s charity casino initiative to charitable and not-for-profit organizations. The Board of Directors recently undertook a strategic review of the vision and mission of the foundation. Their new vision and mission are now reflected in the Granting Priorities and the Program Guidelines for the foundation’s granting activities. 
 
Through the website survey and our community sessions, Trillium is inviting everyone to give them feedback on how their programs are meeting your community’s needs. You can find out about OTF grants in your area in your community and regional profiles. The results of their outreach will help them further fine tune their programs to continue to strengthen Ontario communities.

You can participate in this process by registering to attend one of the community sessions or by completing their on-line survey.

Aboriginal Recreation Conference 2005
August 22-26, 2005
Pelican Falls First Nation High School, Sioux Lookout

The Decade Recreation Department in partnership with the Intergovernmental Committee will be hosting Recreation Planning Sessions at this conference.

These sessions will focus on training that will equip individuals with the tools and skills to effectively sustain recreation programs in communities. Potential trainers include, but are not limited to recreation workers, youth council, teachers, students and community volunteers.

Train-the-Trainers planning sessions are also being organized in NAN communities.

NAN is currently seeking interested applicants and host communities for these different sessions. Please not that travel expenses cannot be covered due to budget restrictions, however there is no cost for the training.

MOre information is available at the new NAN recreation website at www.nanrec.ca as well as by contacting

Catherine Cheechoo
Decade Recreation Coordinator
Nishnawbe Aski Nation
800-465-9952
Fax: 807-623-7730
ccheecho@nan.on.ca

Several of the speeches from the morning ceremonies for the Treaty 9 Commemoration gathering on July 12 that took place at the Old Post site in Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation are now available on-line. These speeches highlight the understanding and realities about the relationship the First Nation people that live and work within this treaty region have with the rest of Canada. They include:

• Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation Chief Ronald Roundhead - Length: 6:50
• Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Grand Chief Stan Beardy - Length: 16:27
• Chiefs of Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse - Length: 2:47
• Assembly of First Nations, National Chief Phil Fontaine - Length: 1:21
• Minister of State (Northern Development), the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrews - Length: 3:47
• Ontario's Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable James Bartleman - Length: 4:39

The Chiefs of Nishnawbe Aski Nation and guests gathered in Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the signing of Treaty Number 9. Click here for the agenda for this full day of activities. Click here to visit the Treaty 9 Commemoration Website for more information about this event and other celebrations that are taking place across Nishnawbe Aski Nation.

Click here to view the webcast of the afternoon session that was broadcast live from the school site.