Click here to read the Executive Summary of the Needs Survey 2003 (in PDF only)

Click here to read the full document of the Needs Survey 2003 (in PDF only)

Click here to read the Contact North, April 5 press release.

A wonderful message being distributed by a friend called a"PARADOX OF OUR TIME" ... Please Note: I usually do not even read these chain e-mail messages but I happened to see this one and thought it should be shared with everyone ... Brian

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The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind. Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. " An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

Sandy Lake First Nation 1st Annual Invitational Women's Broomball Tournament

First 8 teams to confirm.

CHAMPIONSHIP: $5000.00

Runners Up: $2000.00

*Consolation*To be determined how many teams participate in the tournament.

Entry Fee:

Outside teams: $800.00

Inside teams: $1000.00

Rules to follow. FOR MORE INFO CALL ONE OF THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS

CONTACT NUMBERS:

Ringo Fiddler 807-774-5547 (home)

Verna Kakegamic 807-774-5530 (home)

807-774-3421/5121 (work)

Jennifer Meekis 807-774-4181 (home)

807-774-3421/5121 (work)

Priscilla Rae 807-774-1037 (work)

807-774-5591 (home)

DEADLINE: Monday April 26, 2004.

Community Telehealth Workers Hired

KO Telehealth is pleased to announce the hiring of three Community Telehealth Coordinators (CTC's) in the following communities:

1. Chris Anderson in Wapekeka
2. Matilda Wabasse in Kasabonika
3. Cindy Albany in Big Trout Lake

The CTC's are currently undergoing the program orientation and training support that KO Telehealth provides from the Balmertown Office. It is expected that future CTC hirings will occur shortly in Kingfisher Lake, Wunnumin and North Caribou Lake. The Health Directors are currently posting the job descriptions and working with the KO Telehealth Staff to bring Telehealth services to their communities.

KOTH Welcomes New Team Member

KO Telehealth welcomes a new team member to the Balmertown location. Gayle Reid will be the new Assistant Scheduler which will include such duties as coordinating the Community Telehealth Referral to the appropriate physician and work with the Community Telehealth Coordinator in scheduling the appointment.

Gayle has shown incredible enthusiam towards the future growth of Telehealth which will lead to the improvement and enhancement of current health services in the First Nation Communities.

Canada Connects, a national smart community magazine, is dedicating their next issue to eHealth and Telehealth stories and developments. Check out the 200 second video presentation about this next issue at www.canadaconnects.ca/telehealth/ (windows media player required).

Two video interviews are now available concerning eHealth and Telehealth applications in Canada. Glenn Roberts, Manager of Health Care Programs at the Conference Board of Canada discusses his report about the state of Canada's Health Care System and includes important recommendations, some of which address the need for a greater investment in information technology.

Dr. Marcel Martin is full professor in surgery at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec. Based on disturbing results which came out of his study of the competency of emergency room physicians in the province, he has developed a telehealth training program for Quebecs 900 ER physicians. This program has delivered significant reduction in the number of emergency room complications reported in the province.

A copy of a Letter from Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Health is available on-line. As well the lead editorial - The Dawn of a New Era in Canadian Health Care - is available on-line.

There is only one week left to register your First Nation school's grade 8 class for the on-line Grade 8 supplementary english literacy material. This service is made available to First Nation schools by the Ontario Regional Management Organization (ON-RMO) for Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program.

Check out the new web site for this on-line Grade 8 supplementary resource at http://g8.firstnationschools.ca

Click here for a poster describing how to register your grade 8 class.

Click here for more information about this on-line service.

The Pentecostal Faith Temple in Cat Lake, Ontario is planning the camp meeting 2004 for July 28 - August 1, 2004. Everyone is invited to come. Travel must be at your own expense. Accommodations will be provided.

We will keep you posted on who the guest speakers and musicians will be.

Pray for us.

A team of Eabametoong First Nation community members worked Keewaytinook Okimakanak's Multi-media Coordinator, Jesse Fiddler, this past week to develop their new web portal for their community. The three day workshop (April 5 to7) provided community members with the tools and skills they need to continue to develop and maintain the Eabametoong First Nation web site. Check out their new web site at http://eabametoong.firstnation.ca ... the opening message from Chief Charlie Okeese explains the importance of this on-line resource ...

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On behalf of the People of Eabametoong First Nation, I welcome you to our community website.

A community website is a way to provide our members with information about current events, future plans, and potential initiatives in our community. The site will also be an opportunity for members to provide the Chief & Council with feedback and suggestions about community matters and issues. In addition, it is an opportunity for the outside world to visit and experience our community.

The community is undergoing many changes. We are undertaking in a variety of discussions with the outside world for potential economic benefits for the community. It is not a question of "IF" but a question of "WHEN" economic activities will be taking place in and around our community. So there will be a need for trained, qualified, certified people when this occurs. Our young people will take on a major role in this area. I encourage our young people to take the initiative in obtaining and completing their education. The community needs our young people to partake in education and training of themselves, because they are the future. We need to be ready.

We welcome any ideas members have with respect to matters that you feel is important to the community. For visitors outside from Eabametoong, we welcome suggestions or ideas you want to share with us whether it be about communtiy matters or have questions about the community or the community website itself.

In closing, I hope you find our website both meaningful, informative, and, most importantly, enjoyable to view.

May God Bless You.

2004 Budget Update - Changes to the Community Access and SchoolNet Programs

The following information is an update on the Budget 2004 funding allocation for the Community Access and SchoolNet programs. Click here for the full press release.

CAP and SchoolNet programs have new strategic directions, along with lower funding levels through fiscal years 2004-05 and 2005-06. The total of $50 million per year for two years is allocated both for financial contributions, as well as for internal operating and salary costs.

Funding for CAP will be $25 million per year for 2004-05 and 2005-06. Rather than supporting general public access to the Internet, CAP will focus on supporting public access sites that serve communities of greatest need (digital divide communities) as well as on supporting access to on-line government services. This will require both a shift in focus and a downsizing of the network.

Funding for the SchoolNet programs will be $25 million per year for 2004-05 and 2005-06, of which $15 million per year will be directed to First Nations SchoolNet. The new SchoolNet family will include the following programs: First Nations SchoolNet, Computers for Schools, Canada’s Campus Connection/Campus Canada, NetCorps Canada International, as well as related e-learning research and tools/standards development.

Keewaytinook Okimakanak is working with the First Nation SchoolNet program as the Regional Management Organization for Ontario. For more information, contact Brian Beaton at 877-737-KNET (5638).