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The Sioux Lookout Area Aboriginal Management Board office will be open first thing tomorrow morning (Wednesday, April 26) with all the staff returning to work. The Sioux Lookout District Chiefs met in council today and endorsed the new agreement with Human Resources Skills Development Canada (HRSD).

Bob Bruyere, SLAAMB Coordinator, reported that the chiefs demonstrated their support for the SLAAMB staff and the programs they deliver in their resolution approving the re-opening of the office and the re-instatement of the Sioux Lookout staff. "The SLAAMB team appreciates the Chiefs endorsement of our work and our efforts to get the best deal possible for the delivery of employment and training programs that meet the needs of the First Nations and their members," stated Mr. Bruyere.

Visit the SLAAMB web site at http://slaamb.on.ca for more information about the programs they will once again be delivering on behalf of Aboriginal people across the Sioux Lookout District.

Nibinamik First Nation Presents

Traditional Gathering July 1st-3rd 2005

“Celebrating life and the summer of youth”

Drum Social (warm-up) Friday Evening 7pm

Grand Entries @ 1pm, 7pm on Saturday and 1pm on Sunday 

Where: Lover's lane Arbor (between Airport and Community)

Host Drum: Red Creek Singers (Nibinamik FN)

Co-Host: Sturgeon Narrows Singers (Fort Hope)

MC: Elmer Atlookan (Fort Hope)

All are Welcome

Dancers, Drums and Singers.

*Attention*

The coordinators won’t be responsible for any injuries, stolen items, personal problems.

There will be a Camp Site at the Lover's Lane Arbor, Between the Community and Airport road. 

Please bring your Tent, Sleeping bags and gear.

NO Alcohol and Drugs allowed.

NAN Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic describes his Ottawa meeting with INAC’s most senior education official as "positive." The Deputy Grand Chief was in Ottawa to raise awareness about the education crisis in the NAN territory and to seek additional funding to improve academic readiness with Line Pare, Director General, Education Branch, Indian and Northern Affairs. Kakegamic told Line about the various activities that KO is engaged in to improve educational opportunities at the community level. Kakegamic delivered an invitation from KO Executive Director Geordi Kakepetum to Ms. Pare to visit KO’s sub-offices in Balmertown. Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic said Ms. Pare expressed interest in touring the North.

First Nations SchoolNet RMO's and Cisco Systems Networking Academy Launch Distance Learning Initiative
Partnership to Bring Technology Training to Remote Communities

Click here to read the April 26 Globe and Mail article about this initiative - IT courses go the distance by Jack Kapica

Click here to watch the archived 32 minute press conference that included a video conference link with several sites (Windows Media Player required).

TORONTO, Canada – April 26, 2005 –– Cisco Systems Networking Academy and First Nation groups across Canada have launched an innovative and unique initiative designed to bring IT educational opportunities to remote First Nations communities. Over the past year, Cisco Networking Academy, Industry Canada (IC), Human Resource Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and First Nations SchoolNet Regional Management Organizations (RMOs) have collaborated to develop a customized distance learning program. Based on the Cisco Networking Academy HP IT Essentials curriculum, the First Nations Distance Learning Program incorporates a number of blended learning methodologies including in-classroom, instructor lead and online learning, enabling First Nations instructors and students to gain the necessary information communications technology (ICT) skills essential in today’s economy.

“Educational resources and employment opportunities remain a formidable challenge for First Nations communities, primarily due to our isolation and limited access to specialized programs,” said Randy Johns, General Manager for Keewatin Career Development Corporation, lead RMO for the project. “With Cisco’s leadership and unwavering commitment to this project, we are launching a program that can have a tremendously positive impact on the future of our youth and our communities. With the support of Industry Canada and Human Resource Skills Development Canada, we have developed a distance IT training program for First Nations students, taught by First Nations instructors, which takes advantage of world leading curriculum from the Cisco Networking Academy, and allows our students to gain knowledge and experience, regardless of their location.”

 “Industry Canada is pleased to collaborate with our SchoolNet RMOs, HRSDC, and Cisco Systems Networking Academy to support educational opportunities for remote First Nations communities,” said the Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry. “Distance education is an important initiative enabling First Nations to access education, life long learning services and important economic opportunities without leaving their communities.”

“The development of this unique program has been a true collaboration,” said Anne Miller, Canadian Education Marketing Manager for Cisco Systems Canada. “Over the past year, we have together developed a program that is a first-of-its-kind in terms of private/public sector partnership. The Cisco Networking Academy is pleased to continue its global role of supporting and facilitating information technology education by assisting Canada’s First Nations students in expanding their educational horizons and working to realize their career goals.”

Customized blended distance learning

The First Nations Distance Learning Program customizes and delivers Cisco Networking Academy HP IT Essentials I and II curriculum through blended distance learning - an instructor-facilitated learning environment that combines both in-person and remote access to equipment, curriculum, and other instructional materials. The RMO teams have developed and implemented the technology infrastructure required to support the program, including integrated educational software platforms, web-based collaboration tools, and integrated videoconferencing. 

The program aims to eliminate distance barriers through instructional classes that use information and communication technologies to enable students to interact with instructors via web-based video, audio, and text conference. All educational materials are posted on the Web and students interact with instructors and peers through Internet enabled communications.  Instructors are able to track student progress and perform assessments online and demonstrate the practicability of the curriculum regardless of geographic location.

The First Nations’ Distance Learning Program is also providing students with training to become qualified Cisco Academy instructors within their communities, in order to reach an even greater student base.

The curriculum

The Cisco Networking Academy HP IT Essentials I and II are comprehensive e-learning programs that provide students with Internet technology skills essential in a global economy.  The introductory course is a 70-hour, hands-on practical experience for students to learn about hardware and software. 

Specifically, students learn how to build a computer, install and run operating systems and gain a base understanding of local area network (LAN) architecture and networking protocols. IT Essentials II is an introduction to multi-user, multi-tasking network operating systems.  The IT Essentials II course is also 70-hours in length and incorporates hands-on learning to give students an overview of network operating systems.  The course is a stepping stone to help prepare students for careers in the IT field.

 “For our community, programs like this are a solid first step in helping put our young people on the road to success,” said Martin Sacher, Principal, Sunchild Cyber School. “An ongoing challenge has been access to programs and resources that provide educational content that will help our students be prepared for and compete in the job market. The Cisco Networking Academy program has allowed our students to become skilled in IT technology and to develop our own IT business to maintain and grow a network infrastructure for the entire community."

The SchoolNet Regional Management Organizations involved with the First Nations Distance Learning Program include:

• Keewatin Career Development Corporation, La Ronge, Saskatchewan, and Sunchild Cyber School, Alberta
• First Nations Education Steering Committee, British Columbia
• Keewatin Tribal Council, Thompson, Manitoba
• Keewaytinook Okimakanak, K-Net, Sioux Lookout, Ontario
• First Nations Education Council, Wendake, Quebec, and
• Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey in the Maritimes.

For more information about the Cisco Networking Academy Program, visit: http://www.cisco.com/go/netacad

About Cisco Systems Canada
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO), the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, this year celebrates 20 years of commitment to technology innovation, industry leadership and corporate social responsibility. Cisco Systems Canada Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc., has offices across Canada dedicated to customer support, sales and service.  In addition, Cisco has a significant research and development centre in Ottawa, Ontario.  Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com/ca. For ongoing news, go to http://newsroom.cisco.com/canada.

About First Nations SchoolNet
Computers and Internet access are important tools for creating stimulating learning environments. Recognizing the challenges that First Nations schools may face in accessing and applying these technologies, Industry Canada created the First Nations SchoolNet program.

Six non-profit Regional Management Organizations work with Industry Canada to deliver the program to First Nations schools. Any First Nations school under the Government of Canada's jurisdiction is eligible to participate in the program. For more information, http://www.schoolnet.ca/aboriginal/

Press Contacts:     
Karin Scott     
Strategic/Ampersand
416.961.5595 ext 408
416.709.2138 - mobile
Karin@stratamp.com

Gareth Pettigrew
604.647.2326
604.790.7539 - mobile
gpettigr@cisco.com

On Friday, Minister of State for FedNor, Joe Comuzzi announced a commitment of 10 million dollars to bring broadband access to every community in Northern Ontario. Click here to read the entire FedNor press release.

North Spirit Lake, Sandy Lake and Weagamow were visited by writer Louise Brown and photojournalist Rene Johnston from the Toronto Star to produce a series of four articles called "Ontario's Forgotten Children". The stories describe some of the challenges facing remote First Nations in this part of northwestern Ontario.

The Auditor General's November 2004 report guided the reporters in their search for examples and stories. In particular the parts of the report that examined the dollars spent by INAC on funding native education across Canada including:

• While the Indian and Northern Affairs Department did some studies and began a few new programs, it made little progress on a range of problems cited in 2000, including a large gap in the number of native vs. non-native high school graduates.
• The time estimated to close that education gap had actually grown slightly, from 27 to 28 years.
• The department couldn’t say whether the more than $1 billion it spends funding native education is enough, and whether the results are acceptable.
• There is a large young native population. About 40 per cent of the registered Indian population is under 19, compared with 25 per cent in the Canadian population.
• Most native schools are in communities with fewer than 500 residents, making it difficult to offer a range of services.
• The department should clarify its duties and goals, and better track funding.

The first of several articles appeared in Saturday's issue of the Star. Click on the article title to read each of them. The third story was posted on Sunday. As well, there is a photo journal (requires Quicktime) about their trip.

• Making the grade (Apr. 23)
• Poverty, despair - and hope (Apr. 23)
• These shelves speak volumes (Apr. 24)
• No skyscrapers in this culture (Apr 25)
• Even the littlest can help (Apr 28)
• Fly-in schools taking action (Apr 30) 
• Short-sighted Ottawa fails native students (May 1)
• writer Louise Brown and photojournalist Rene Johnston talk about their experiences at three native reserves in Ontario’s northwest in a slideshow of images from their trip
• Building bridges to native schools (May 2)
• Canada must nuture aboriginal talent - National Chief Phil Fontaine (May 2)
• Hiding Canada's ugly past (May 2)

Mr. Barkman is continuing his fundraising efforts to raise funds for a Traditional Food Bank for individuals who have had to relocate to urban areas due to medical requirements.  He has already completed 400 kms of walking via winter road travel.

Participants include:

1. Jimmy Barkman, Sachigo Lake
2. Rhoda Barkman, Jimmy’s wife, Sachigo Lake
3. Marsha Wood, Jimmy’s daughter, Winnipeg, MB
4. Dillon Wood, Jimmy’s grandson, Winnipeg, MB
5. Bella Chapman, Jimmy’s sister-in-law, Big Trout Lake, ON

Estimated travel from Sioux Lookout to Thunder
Bay, ON, will be another 400 kms, commencing today, April 22, 2005.

Friday April 22nd 2005 – Depart Sioux Lookout @ 1:00 pm to Dinorwic (Sioux Lookout Accommodations)
Saturday April 23rd 2005 – Dinorwic to Ignace (Sioux Lookout Accommodations)
Sunday April 24th 2005 – Rest (Sioux Lookout Accommodations)
Monday April 25th 2005 – Ignace (Ignace Accommodations)
Tuesday April 26th 2005 – Ignace (Ignace Accommodations)
Wednesday April 27th 2005 – English River (English River Accommodations)
Thursday April 28th 2005 – English River (English River Accommodations)
Friday April 29th 2005 – Upsala (Upsala Accommodations)
Saturday April 30th 2005 – Upsala (Upsala Accommodations)
Sunday May 1st 2005 – Rest (Thunder Bay)
Monday May 2nd 2005 – (Thunder Bay Accommodations)
Tuesday May 3rd 2005 – Thunder Bay Arrival

Jimmy Barkman and family will be walking Monday to Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday – Rest day

Volunteers are required to walk 5 kms each.

Photo taken by Carol Terry, at WFNC’s BBQ.

A new five year Bachelor of Education is being developed for those people who want to become teachers working with First Nation students. The official signing of the partnership agreement to develop this new program took place this past March (click here to view the pictures of the negotiations and the signing).

The Sioux Lookout District Native Teacher Education Program (NTEP) management committee has been working on developing a culturally sensitive teaching program for the past few years. This committee consists of representatives from Shibogama, Windigo, IFNA, Keewaytinook Okimakanak, Sandy Lake and the Northern Nishnawbe Education Council. The Sioux Lookout district chiefs' approved the development and design of this new teacher degree program, in assembly.

Members of the consortium include Brock, Nippissing, and Lakehead universities which have signed an agreement-in-principle with Northern Nishnawbe Education Council to work together to create this new bachelor of education program. Click here to read the April 7 Wawatay story about this event.

We are having our 5th Annual Spring Traditional Gathering.

Friday, April 29, 2005 is CULTURAL EDUCATION DAY!

Check out the website for more info.

http://www.nnec.on.ca/pffnhs/gathering/

Educational Puppet-play over video-conference!