Media.Knet.Ca

Self-governance is the key to crucial economic strides made by tribal governments in the last ten years, according to a report issued by the Harvard Project o­n American Indian Economic Development at the Kennedy School of Government. The report, American Indians o­n Reservations: A Databook of Socioeconomic Change Between the 1990 and 2000 Censuses, compiled data and marked the positive changes in Indian Country over the last ten years. The report reflects the tremendous changes experienced by individual Indians living o­n reservations during a time of increasing political self-determination by tribes and the unprecedented expansion in gaming activities under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.  Although this report is about American tribes and communities, there are some valuable lessons to be found from their efforts to achieve economic independence ....

Click here to download the entire report

"The data reflects that when tribes are truly empowered to govern, our communities grow," said Jacqueline Johnson, Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians. "There has been a ripple of positive change in tribal communities, as tribes make their own sound decisions o­n what is best for their citizens. Strong, healthy tribal self-governance is not just good for the health of tribal nations, but for the health of the United States as a whole."

Highlights of the report include:

• Having started the 1990s with incomes lagging far behind those for the general U.S. population, American Indians in Indian Country experienced substantial growth in income per capita. Even with this Indian population rising by more than 20% between 1990 and 2000, real (inflation-adjusted) per capita Indian income rose by about o­ne-third. For both gaming and non-gaming tribes, the overall rate of income growth substantially outstripped the 11% increase in real per capita income for the U.S. as a whole. However, the average income in Indian Country is still less than half the national U.S. average.
• From 1990 to 2000, Indian family poverty rates dropped by seven percentage points or more in non-gaming areas, and by about ten percentage points in gaming areas. For the U.S. as a whole, family poverty dropped eight-tenths of a percentage point. Indian unemployment rates dropped by about two-and-a-half percentage points in non-gaming areas and by more than five percentage points in gaming areas. U.S. unemployment dropped by half a percentage point.
• Housing overcrowding in Indian Country decreased during the decade, particularly in Indian areas without gaming. The percentage of American Indians living in homes with plumbing increased markedly in both gaming and non-gaming areas. The proportion of adult Indians o­n reservations with less than a 9th grade education declined substantially. In Indian areas with gaming this put adult Indians at about par with U.S. levels. The proportion of Indian adults with college degrees rose substantially, though not enough to keep pace with the very substantial gains in overall U.S. college attainment.

Johnson said the data reflects positive change, but there is still a long way to go to bridge the socioeconomic gap with mainstream America.

"Our economies will continue this upswing in socioeconomic standing as long as tribal governments are recognized as viable governments making good decisions for the health of their communities," Johnson said. "Indian leaders know what is best for protecting Indian communities. This report is a strong statement of the powers of tribal self-determination."

The report's co-author Jonathan Taylor, a research fellow at The Harvard Project o­n American Indian Economic Development, said "the data shows solid improvement in the lives of Indians living o­n reservations with and without gaming. What's more, these gains came despite the fact that federal Indian funding levels have been losing ground against non-Indian domestic spending. Considering that reservation incomes fell by eight percent in the 1980s, the strides tribes have made in the 1990s are quite remarkable."

Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. NCAI advocates o­n behalf of more than 250 tribal governments, promoting strong tribal-federal government-to-government policies, and promoting a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people and rights.

K-Net staff joined Carl Seibel, Telecom Officer at FedNor, Pierre Marin, Senior Analyst, Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat with the Privy Council and Peter Czerny, Research Officer, Broadband Program at Industry Canada o­n visits to Keewaywin and Sandy Lake First Nations. Meetings with Chief and Council members in each community, along with visits to the schools, health centres, the e-centre and KiHS (in Keewaywin) took place. A special lunch was hosted by the staff and students at the Keewaywin School as part of their fundraising for this year's school trip.

Click here to see the pictures from this trip.

As part of Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program, the KO team of Tabatha Jourdain, Jamie Ray and Jesse Fiddler travelled to Six Nations to deliver another IT workshop for First Nation youth. The group of participants represented 12 First Nations from across the province. They are employed under the Youth Employment Initiative that KO is administering as part of their Regional Management Organization (RMO) work.

All the plans are now set for the official opening of the Northern Indigenous Community Satellite Network (NICSN) and earth station hub located in Sioux Lookout, o­ntario. This celebration is being hosted by Keewaytinook Okimakanak and its K-Net program. The ribbon cutting will take place at the site of the dish with the Honorable Joe Comuzzi, Minister of State for FedNor, participating in the ceremonies as well as our MP, Roger Valley and our MPP, Howard Hampton.

A video about this dish and what it means to the remote communities accessing its services is now available o­n-line (click here to view the 2.5 minute video).

Information packages include handouts:

• Partners Profile
• Kativik Regional Government (KRG)
• Keewatin Tribal Council (KTC)
• Keewaytinook Okimakanak
• Press Release from Telesat Canada
History of NICSN
• Check out the photos from the opening of the big dish

Everyone is invited to join Keewaytinook Okimakanak in celebrating this important launch by joining us o­n-line for the webcast of the event starting at 10:30 am CST. Visit http://knet.ca for the links to the webcast.

From Turtle Island Native Network - Federal Government Expands Urban Aboriginal Strategy - an additional $25 million added to the $50 million for cities to support Aboriginal populations living in those environments.

REGINA, Jan. 13, 2005

The Honourable Andy Scott, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, announced today the expansion of the Urban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS) pilot projects.

As a result of the $25 million, one-year expansion, four new cities will
be added to the UAS: Prince George, British Columbia; Lethbridge, Alberta; Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and Thompson, Manitoba. In addition, current pilot projects with promising results may be expanded.

"The UAS is about breaking down barriers to create synergy - combining
our forces so that our effect is greater than the sum of our individual
efforts," said Minister Scott, lead minister for the UAS. "This helps our
resources to stretch further, be more effective and will help deliver on the
Government of Canada's commitment to close the gaps that separate Aboriginal people from other Canadians."

The expansion of the UAS pilot projects will help the Government of
Canada continue its work with provincial and municipal governments, local
Aboriginal organizations, non-government organizations and the private sector to develop innovative solutions to address local priorities. In addition to the four new pilot cities, work is already underway in the eight original cities: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto and Thunder Bay. In total, the expansion represents a doubling of the UAS pilot projects budget to $50 million and an one year extension of the projects to 2006-2007.

"The UAS is an important initiative for Regina. One in ten of our citizens identify themselves as Aboriginal," said Minister Scott. "That is why I am pleased to announce $134,897 in original UAS funding for The Peyakowak
(They Are Alone) Committee Inc.'s Reaching for Success Life Skills Program.

This promising program will help Aboriginal families to better their social
and life skills, creating a stronger community."

The UAS approach recognizes that local communities are best placed to
develop solutions that meet their unique opportunities and challenges. It also recognizes that all governments, and the communities they serve, need to work together to address urban Aboriginal issues. It is with this in mind that the Government of Canada hopes to continue building strong and lasting partnerships. The lessons learned from these projects will help the Government of Canada determine how to address urban Aboriginal issues in the longer-term.

The UAS is a Government of Canada initiative that involves a number of
departments, including: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Western Economic Diversification Canada, Canadian Heritage, Health Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Justice Canada, the National Secretariat on Homelessness, Industry Canada, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada and others.

An e-book that offers a unique approach for transforming the heart of deep-rooted conflict in the world today by Jessie Sutherland and with a foreword by Chief Robert Joseph. E-books are purchased o­n-line and you can download them o­nto your computer.

Visit: http://www.worldviewstrategies.com/e-book/

Here are what people have to say.

"Jessie Sutherland's book may well be the insight that provides the greatest potential for bringing about the needed healing and reconciliation that must take place. It has the potential to provide the spark required to bring real peace, balance, and harmony between parties, between Canada and its Aboriginal people. I agree absolutely with Ms. Sutherland's assertion that at the heart of reconciliation is essentially a parallel process of personal and political transformation from systems of dominance to relationships of mutuality. Heart by heart, family by family, community by community is the most appealing way to bring about reconciliation and this I have learned from Ms. Sutherland."

Chief Robert Joseph, Hereditary Chief of the Gwa wa enuk First Nation
Chairman of Native American Leadership Alliance For Peace and Reconciliation
Special Advisor to Federal Government for Residential Schools
Former Executive Director of Indian Residential School Survivors Society of BC

"Reconciliation From The Inside Out: Worldviewing Skills For Everyone offers a fresh, insightful and great contribution to the field. I immediately requested o­ne for my library."

John Paul Lederach, PhD,
author of Building Peace: Sustainable Reconciliation in Divided Societies.

"Reconciliation From The Inside Out: Worldviewing Skills For Everyone is a tool we can all use as individuals, families, or communities. I encourage everyone to take a risk o­n a new approach. I met Jessie Sutherland at a time when I was shedding the "victim mode" of the colonizer/colonized relationships - I believe the o­nly way we can have true (authentic) reconciliation is if we "get real" about the healing that is needed o­n both sides of the colonizer/colonized fence."

Dorothy Christian, Okanagan-Shuswap Nations

"In her book Jessie Sutherland clearly and thoroughly analyses the complexities of reconciliation. Her unique approach emphasizes both the psychological and systemic aspects of deep-rooted conflict. She proposes a new and workable way of transforming cycles of conflict and domination into those of reconciliation. In my opinion, this brilliant work establishes a fundamental foundation applicable equally to intercultural as well as international relations."

Ihab Banabila, Doctor in European Law, University of Montpellier - France.

Take Advantage Of This Introductory Offer

1. To purchase Reconciliation From The Inside Out: Worldviewing Skills For Everyone for a reduced promotional price of $14.95 + GST (Total: $16CAN) Visit: http://www.worldviewstrategies.com/e-book/
*Note: Promotional Introductory offer valid until February 2th 2005. Price increases to $19.95 (+GST). Buy now and save $5.

2. To sign up for a Worldviewing Skills Teleconference Series that accompanies this e-book visit http://www.worldviewstrategies.com/courses.html
Four teleconference sessions starting February 1st at 2pm PST / 5pm EST with a special promotion rate of $49.95 (+GST), Total $53.45. Teleconferences are held over the phone for o­ne hour. Teleconference size for this series is limited to 12 people and participants are required to purchase the accompanying e-book and expected to do some preparatory reading and exercises in between sessions.

For more information contact: jessie@worldviewstrategies.com
Phone: 250-642-6184

Pikangikum First Nation will be hosting Co-ed invitational broomball tournament o­n February 10,11 & 12, 2005.

Open to four outside teams
$600.00 entry fee
Twelve player roster- six guys & six ladies
Accommodations will be provided
Open to 12 teams
Prizes will be determined o­n the number of team entries

For more information

Contact persons

Van Keeper  773-1039(work)  773-5172(home)
Lyle Keeper 773-5557(work)  773-1074(home)
Randy Moose  773-1093(work)

Aanii, Boozhoo, Hello,

Once again March 30th – April 3rd , 2005, we will be holding our annual Anishinaabemowin Language gathering with the theme being, “Mnaajtoodaa Eyaawying” “Honoring our Cultural Identity” at the Kewadin Casino and Convention Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Attached is a link to our website www.anishinabek.ca/uoi/LC/index.htm, please share it amongst your peers.

Miigwech,

Maheengun Shawanda
Anishinaabemowin Teg
2005 Language Conference Coordinator
Sault Ste. Marie, o­n
Voice / Fax 705.942.9909

An article in Tuesday's Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal provides a brief history of the signing of Treaty # 9 and several Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities. This year and next will see NAN communities coming together with people from across Canada to celebrate this historic event. See the entire article below (the link to the Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal article is at the end).

NAN prepares for anniversary
By Staff - The Chronicle-Journal
January 12, 2005

Nishnawbe-Aski Nation is preparing for two busy years as it plans a series of events commemorating the anniversary of the signing of the 100-year-old James Bay Treaty.

The treaty deals with 200,000 square miles of land in Northern o­ntario from the Quebec border to the Manitoba border, and north to James and Hudson bays.

Fifteen communities will be marking the centennial: Mishkeegogamang, Fort Hope, Marten Falls, English River, Fort Albany, Moose Factory and New Post all signed the treaty in 1905, although many of those were known by different names then.

In 1906, Abitibi, Matachewan, Mattagami, Flying Post, Ojibeways of Chapleau, Moose Factory Crees, New Brunswick House and Long Lake signed. Again, many were known under different names.

Big Trout Lake, North Caribou Lake, Fort Severn and Winisk also signed the treaty, but not until 1929-30.

NAN is helping the 15 communities that signed in 1905 and 1906 with the centennial commemoration, aiding in fundraising and organizational duties, NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy said Tuesday, and several events are planned.

Things kick off Jan. 20 with a $125-per-seat fundraising gala at Thunder Bay’s Valhalla Inn. Former Lakehead University president Robert Rosehart — who also served as NAN’s chief negotiator during self-governance talks with the government — will make a keynote address dealing with the next 100 years of Treaty No. 9.

That’s a big theme for NAN, Beardy said, adding the organization wants to begin discussions with the government to improve relations with First Nations in Treaty No. 9 territory.

NAN is working o­n a treaty “report card,” which will be presented to the government with hopes that it will identify areas of concern and act as a basis for talks, Beardy said.

“When you look across Canada at other groups of First Nations and their relationship with (government), in some areas there’s a lot of progress, and o­ntario, unfortunately, is the furthest behind in dealing with aboriginal issues,” Beardy said.

He said First Nations in other provinces have used any means necessary — including legal — to make sure the government hears and addresses their concerns. Beardy said he has a mandate to explore all the options NAN has.

Other events planned include discussion panels o­n the impacts of Treaty No. 9 o­n NAN women and youth, and a thank-you gala in May.

The main commemoration ceremony will take place July 12 at Mishkeegogamang First Nation, the site of the first signing of the treaty. Among the invitees are Prime Minister Paul Martin, Bishop Desmond Tutu and Queen Elizabeth, although it’s not known if they will be able to attend.

Tickets to the fundraising gala are available at the NAN offices in Victoriaville, and corporate tables can be reserved.

http://www.chroniclejournal.com/story.shtml?id=25263

Equay-wuk (Women's Group) Parent Support Program
is pleased to announce:

"Positive Parenting Workshop Curriculum"

Train-The-Trainer Workshop

February 7-11, 2005. - Sunset Suites

Sioux Lookout, o­n

Register Today!!

A certified instructor will conduct the training session.  This will be a session that will allow those involved to conduct Parenting workshops in their community.

Who should attend:

• H.B.H.C workers
• Early Childhood Development Coordinators
• Mental Health Workers
• Community Health Representatives
• N.N.A.D.A.P. workers
• any other community workers

Contact Equay-wuk for more information:

Jennifer Derosier       Liza Angeconeb          Felicia Waboose

Equay-wuk (Women's Group)
16 Fourth Avenue North P.O.Box 1781
Sioux Lookout, o­n P8T 1C4
Phone: (807)737-2214       Fax: (807)737-2699
Toll Free: 1-800-261-8294
email equaywuk@nwconx.net