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NAN Education Electronic Newsletter
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"New Special Education Dollars now in the hands of First Nations" says INAC

The long awaited new special education dollars are now supposed to be in the hands of the First Nations according to Departmental officials. The Department has processed the cheques for many of NAN’s member First Nations. All cheques were expected to have arrived by the end of April.

However, a separate cheque will not be made for the additional special education funding. Rather, the new funds will be written into the final wrap-up cheque for education monies owed to NAN’s First Nation for the fiscal year 2002-2003.

Unconfirmed reports indicated that some wrap-up cheques are in the hands of some NAN First Nations and others are not.

NAN Leadership to host luncheon meeting with Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation executive will host a private luncheon with the Lieutenant Governor on June 2, 2003 from 12 noon to 1:30 o’clock in the NAN Boardroom. We expect to have no more than 15 NAN leaders in attendance in addition to the Mayor of Thunder Bay and the Lieutenant Governor’s entourage. We will confirm the exact number at a later date.

NAN has offered the Multicultural Youth Association the use of its main boardroom for their meeting with the Lieutenant Government later that day.

National Recognition for Keewaytinook Okimakanak

Keewaytinook Okimakanak is the Ontario Regional Management Organization (RMO) for Industry Canada's First Nation SchoolNet program. The services the RMO project provide include supporting First Nation schools across Ontario in developing high speed connectivity to the internet, providing some hardware and software support for the schools along with a toll free helpdesk service supporting the use of these resources.

Angie Morris and Barb Wong are the First Nations SchoolNet Administrators coordinating the delivery of this program and its support services for the schools. They can be reached toll free at 877-737-KNET (5638).

As part of the RMO project, Keewaytinook Okimakanak's proposal to connected the five other RMO sites into the Kuh-ke-nah Network and provide video conferencing services for these groups was also approved. The installation of the video conferencing equipment was completed in March 2003, creating a national First Nations video conferencing network. The sites are located in the RMO First Nation organizations located in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Quebec City, Thompson and Winnipeg, Manitoba, LaRonge, Saskatchewan and Vancouver, BC.

For more information, check out Industry Canada's press release that is posted on K-News.

Medical School expected to announce site of Aboriginal Curriculum Workshop

Rodger Strasser, the Founding Dean of the Northern Ontario Medical School (NOMS) will announce the details of the promised Aboriginal Curriculum Workshop over the next few days. Bruce Beardy, workshop planner presented the top three proposals to the advisory committee. The top three proposals included: Wauzhushk Onigum Nation (Rat Portage), Batchewana First Nation and Whitefish Lake First Nation. A reference check has begun the process. Once the reference check is made the invitations can be issued.

Confirmed speakers for the workshop include:

• Dr. Gayle Dine Chacon is an Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico Medicinal School. A specialist in Family Practice, she is the Director, Center for Native Health.
• Dr Elizabeth Erasmus is a graduate of the University of Alberta Medical School. She is a NAN member from Constance Lake First Nation.

NAN is expected to send a delegation of forty people to the workshop, the largest group.

NAN Artist teams up Oskhi-Pimache-O-Win to develop Traditional Curriculum

The Great Rivers Project is a pilot project that Aroland, Long Lake #58 and Ginoogaming First Nations have undertaken to promote and preserve traditional history and culture. NAN artist, John Ferris, founder of the project, says the project will have many spins offs, including inspiring of other communities to collect and write their histories. "One of the goals of this project is to create curriculum for elementary, secondary and post secondary institutions," he said.

Ferris has been developing this concept with grassroots leaders and members of the Matawa, Mushgegowuk and Wabun tribal areas for the past few years. Aroland, Long Lake #58 and Ginoogaming have reiterated their enthusiasm and overwhelming support with band council resolutions (bcr’s) indicating that they want their communities to participate in this pilot project.

NAN Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic supports the Great Rivers Project. "I am impressed that this will be a grassroots-driven project where Oskhi and the Great Rivers Education Project will work with community leaders and teachers, elders, youth and women to develop an accurate and comprehensive history of the participating First Nations." He says this is an excellent example of a partnership between NAN’s post secondary institute and a grassroots community-driven team.

There have been a number of meetings between members of Oskhi and the Great Rivers Education Project to forge a partnership that will best serve the needs of the members of Aroland, Ginoogaming and Long Lake #58.

"I applaud your collective efforts," Kakegamic said, "to develop a classroom curriculum that will speak directly to our students. NAN needs projects such as this one to explore our historical backgrounds and traditional customs that have strengthen our people for generations."

This project blends the efforts of our artists and writers with those with technical expertise in academics, telecommunications and computer technology. It promises to further NAN efforts in the capacity-building process that First Nations communities require to compete in the mainstream economy.

NAN Leadership questions the "suspension" of NAPE

Grand Chief Stan Beardy and Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic met with Fred Gilbert, President of Lakehead University to discuss the impact of the suspension of the Native Access to Engineering Program (NAPE). NAPE has provided Aboriginal students with the necessary academic upgrading, counseling and mentoring to succeed in a rigorous and demanding program such as engineering. Unlike other access programs at LU, funding for NAPE was raised entirely from the private sector, funding which the LU President said had dried up. The NAN leadership was told that private funders were not satisfied that NAPE had produced a large group of Aboriginal engineers and engineering techs. The University is exploring a variety of options to revive the program, including offloading the program to Oskhi-Pimanche-O-Win or Confederation College.

Chief Franklin Paibomsai of Whitefish River disputes this allegation. An engineering graduate from Lakehead, he says the program was successful and is worthy of special funding to continue but is concerned that the program is not suspended but cancelled. "The damage is done," the Chief said, "I find it odd that Lakehead would pull a stunt like this. I never would have graduated had NAPE not existed."

Concerned Aboriginal leaders and grassroots people have been meeting to discuss strategies to revive NAPE. For more information, contact Dilbert Horton, the Executive Director of Seven Generations at (807) 274-2796 or Chief Franklin Paibomsai at (705) 285-4335. Without outside funding, the program was suspended for one year and no new students will be admitted for the upcoming academic year.

NAN Developing Strategy to Increase Recruitment and Retention of Aboriginal Medical Students

Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic is meeting with Lakehead University President Fred Gilbert and Dr. Roger Strasser, the Founding Dean of Medicine of the Northern Medical School, to discuss ways to ensure that NAN members will have the opportunity to enter and to succeed as medical students. There are no plans to offer neither an Aboriginal pre-med program nor an Aboriginal medical school access program at NOMS. Kakegamic is working with Oskhi-Pimanche-O-Win and other Aboriginal post secondary institutes in the North to develop programs that would address the needs of Aboriginal people interested in careers in medicine.

NAN appoints Working Group to establish a Native Elementary School in Thunder Bay

At the last NAN Chiefs Assembly, a resolution was passed that supported the creation of a Native Elementary School in the City of Thunder Bay. A number of questions need to be answered and the NAN Education Unit is seeking the thoughts and concerns about this initiative from grassroots First Nations people in the Lakehead. A working group has been appointed by Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic to implement the Chiefs Resolution.

Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic welcomed everyone and outlined some of the background on this initiative since the NAN Chiefs passed a resolution supporting the creation of a Native Elementary School in Thunder Bay. He said the current boards of education are not serving the needs of Aboriginal elementary school students in Thunder Bay. In order to bridge the "grade gap," he said Aboriginal elementary school students need to be taught in a culturally appropriate learning environment that emphasizes the teaching of traditional languages, culture and history. He says he welcomes the opinions of those in attendance and expressed the hope that the participants would form a working group to set priorities, gather statistics and conduct research. He wants more participation by the other PTOs including the Union, Robinson Superior and Grand Council Treaty #3. He cautioned the participants to expect a battle with those who have a vested interested in protecting the status quo.

Each was given the opportunity to introduce themselves, tell about their backgrounds and offer their opinions about the creation of the proposed school. Some of the ideas included the following:

• The proposed school must be a center of excellence for the elementary education. It cannot be a "dumping ground" for the boards of education. The goal of the school is to meet or exceed all provincial standards in education and equip its students to live productive lives in both traditional and mainstream societies.
• The proposed school must create a positive learning environment for the students, teachers, administrative and support staff in sharp contrast to the systemic racism faced by our students in the mainstream system.
• It is critical to support initiatives such as this one, which are part of the on-going process to create our own institutions.
• There is no need to "reinvent the wheel." There are many Native elementary schools currently in operation in Canada and the United States. Much can be learned from schools operated by other minority and religious groups. Examine such programs as "Walking in Beauty."
• The students should not be "guinea pigs." The proposed school needs to be well researched, well planned and well executed in order that the first intake gets just as good an education as future students in the school.
• Statistical data must be collected and analyzed that will support this proposal. A database containing the names, addresses, emails, and phone numbers of as many urban Aboriginal people living off-reserve in Thunder Bay must be created. The Deputy Grand Chief is writing a letter to all NAN Chiefs asking them to provide a list of their band members who are currently living in Thunder Bay.
• Collect letters of support from those who have offered support.
• Communication must be effective to strengthen support for this initiative, including newsletters and brochures.

A number of questions and concerns were raised by the Working Group including the following:

• The Deputy Grand Chief presented various school models that currently exist in Winnipeg and the Sioux Lookout area. Unlike DFC, the school should be a partnership with one of the two school boards in Thunder Bay in order that the teachers can access all of the secondary and tertiary services that the students require to succeed. The D/GC is very impressed with the progress made at the Native elementary school in Winnipeg.
• The proposed school must be a center of excellence.
• Qualified and accredited Aboriginal teachers should teach the students. Elders must play a central role in the education of the students.
• The participants discussed the pros and cons of establishing a partnership with one of the two boards of education in Thunder Bay.
• The curriculum must be conceived, developed and taught by Aboriginal people. This does not mean that the curriculum must be created specifically for the proposed school. Components can be "borrowed" from other successful programs currently in operation.
• The proposed school must be centrally located and easily accessible. The students, teachers and parents must feel "ownership" over the Native elementary school and feel welcome.
• The proposed school must promote diversity and the variety of cultures that are embraced by Nishnawbe Aski Nation. The Medicine Wheel should be used as a model.
• The proposed school should hire Aboriginal teachers who will act as positive role models for the students. Non-Aboriginal teachers, even if their hearts are in the right place, do not always understand the culturally issues associated with the lives of urban Aboriginal people living off-reserve.
• Thunder Bay is lagging behind other communities such as Winnipeg and Timmins in terms of Native-controlled Aboriginal education.

Deputy Grand Chief Kakegamic has written to the NAN Chiefs requesting their assistance in developing a contact list of urban NAN members living in Thunder Bay who may wish to send their children to the proposed Native Elementary School.

Dean of Medicine impressed by KO's achievement's in Tele-Medicine and Tele-Education

The Founding Dean of the Northern Ontario Medical School (NOMS) had an opportunity to see first hand the innovative telemedicine and distance education solutions that one of NAN's tribal councils is implementing to overcome some of the obstacles to providing quality health care and schooling in Ontario's far north. During a two-day visit over March 31 and April 1, Doctor Roger Strasser, MD and two of his staff, along with representatives of Nishnawbe Aski Nation visited Keewaytinook Okimakanak (KO) in Balmertown and then toured the nursing station in Deer Lake First Nation.

"The achievements of Keewaytinook Okimakanak's K-NET, Telehealth and Keewaytinook Internet High school (KiHS) initiatives are remarkable," the Founding Dean of the Northern Medical School said. "NOMS can learn much from the experiences of KO with regard to the operational platform and educational framework of the Keewaytinook Internet High School, as well, KO’s expanding telemedicine capacity within telehealth."

Geordi Kakepetum, the Executive Director of Keewaytinook Okimakanak said he was impressed with the sincerity and objectivity of Dr. Strasser and his staff. "Roger came here to listen and learn, he asked many questions and was really interested in how our KO First Nations and partners have developed local solutions to regional problems that confront all NAN communities. We look forward to working with him."

During their visit to Deer Lake First Nation the representatives of the Northern Medical School toured the nursing station and observed a real-time telehealth demonstration, which included the examination of a patient in nearby North Spirit Lake First Nation. "This is exactly the kind of experience that our medical students will require if they are going to fully appreciate the opportunities and challenges of practicing in remote and isolated communities in the North," Dr. Strasser said after the tour.

Mayor Duncan Wilson of Red Lake praised both KO and NOMS as leaders who are making a great impact on the lives of all Northerners. "KO has demonstrated how much a group of dedicated people can achieve in just ten short years, when their hearts and minds are focused on the common good. I see the medical school as another force that will improve the quality of life in the north. It’ a great day when good people like you can come together to work toward a better future for all of us."

Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic of Nishnawbe Aski Nation  believes that a bridge has been built connecting the Northern Medical School with KO.

"What we are seeing here today is the kind of opportunity that exists when we all work together toward a common goal. We all want better health care and better educational opportunities for our children. Working together, KO and NOMS can become a model of cooperation for all people, Native and Non-Native in the North."

Kakepetum, the Executive Director of KO, thanked his staff in Balmertown, Deer Lake and North Spirit Lake for all their hard work and cooperation in making the NOMS / NAN visit a memorable one. "Everybody pulled together just the way they always do. I’m proud of our family here." The KO Executive Director also thanked Bearskin Airlines for their consideration with regard to the flights to and from Thunder Bay and the charter to Deer Lake.

Ojibway and Cree Cultural Center Highlights

Working together in education is one way of maintaining the language and culture of the NAN area. To help the NAN schools in their attempts to develop successful programs the Ojibway and Cree Cultural Center has been producing curriculum support materials and resources to meet their language and culture needs. Recent materials include Anishininiimowin Stories (2) a Grade 2 reader for Oji-Cree and Northern Ojibway immersion and language classrooms. Anastasia Weesk created the stories while Bart Meekis from Sandy Lake provided the illustrations. This Grade 2 reader is also available in Cree as Omushkegowuk Stories (2). These readers contain ten stories based on the good way of life or milopimatesiwin. This way of life derived from living on the land and obtaining food from it, kept the Oji-Cree, Northern Ojibway, and Cree people strong, happy, and healthy.

In addition, a unit profile has been developed for Book 1 —Us found in Omushkegowuk Stories (1)/Anishininiimowin Stories (1). This unit provides language teachers with an integrated approach to presenting the material found in Book 1 and ideas for presenting the other books in this reader. A similar unit profile will be produced for material found in Omushkegowuk Stories (2)/Anishininiimowin Stories (2) in the future.

To assist NAN schools in developing a challenging and rigorous curricula the Ojibway and Cree Cultural Center has undertaken extensive research on Native language and culture programming. In partnership with Omushkego Education, a Cree language workshop was held with language teachers from the Mushkegowuk communities along the James Bay coast to develop language expectations for the schools in this area. Jim Etherington and Greg Spence of Omushkego Education facilitated this workshop. The results of the language workshop included the production of The Omushkego Language and Culture Curriculum, Early Childhood Education to Grade 3, Cree Language document. Future workshops will involve using the knowledge of the elders to develop cultural expectations to complete this document.

Furthermore, to ensure that high standards are met when implementing the Cree Language document, writing examples for Grade 1 to 3 were created at a workshop at the Great Moon Gathering held in Moose Factory. Three writing examples, in syllabics for each grade, were developed by Cree elders and language teachers from the James Bay coast.

On Thursday, April 24, 2003, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Ontario Chapter awarded a major grant to local social scientist Dr. Bruce Minore, Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research in partnership with Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute and Northern Ontario Breast Screening Program for A Research Study on Breast Screening and Northern Ontario Aboriginal Women.

The presentation was held at Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institutes 107 Johnson Ave. office in Thunder Bay.

The study will focus on the perceptions and decisions about breast screening among Northern Ontario Aboriginal women and will record the knowledge, understanding, beliefs and attitudes about breast cancer held by women in the age groups of highest risk. Ten of the 32 remote communities that have had access to mammograms through the Ontario Breast Screening Program every two years will participate in the study.

Pictures of the presentaion can be viewed at http://photos.knet.ca/albun23

The Ontario Hospital Association hosted their Region 1 Northwest Subregion Spring Conference in Thunder Bay on April 23 to 25, 2003. A presentation showcasing the work being done by the Keewaytinook Okimakanak's Smart First Nations Demonstration project was part of the first morning's panel discussion. The panel members shared their experiences and information concerning the use of ICTs to support the conference theme, "Building Bridges Toward Integrated Health Care in Northwestern Ontario".

Keewaytinook Internet High School (KiHS) invites applicants for the 2003/2004 school year. We will be looking for teachers to fill positions in Science, Math, and English. If you are looking for an innovative, cutting edge approach to education, KiHS may be the place for you. Our classrooms are located in 13 communities around Northwestern Ontario, most of which have only fly in accessability. The teacher will live in one of the 13 partner communities, and tutor/mentor students while delivering two courses throughout the year to the remaining students in the other communities, using our Internet platform.

If you are interested in applying or finding out more information, please email your resume to the following:

Principal: Darrin Potter
darrinpotter@knet.ca

or

Guidance Counselor: Lynda Kakepetum
lyndakakepetum@knet.ca

For More Information about KiHS, please visit http://kihs.knet.ca

REGISTERED NURSE EMPL0YMENT OPPORTUNITY

Keewaytinook Okimakanak/Northern Chiefs Council is looking for a Registered Nurse for the position of Telehealth Informatics Educator Keewaytinook Okimakanak Telehealth

This is a 3 day a week position, salary dependant on qualifications and work experience. This position will commence June 2, 2003. The Telehealth Informatics Educator will be responsible to work with Community Telehealth Coordinators to teach the essentials of Telemedicine. The Telehealth Informatics Educator position offers a competitive salary, flexible hours and the opportunity to work with a dynamic team. Telehealth is based on cutting edge technology and is an innovative career choice. The Telehealth Informatics Educator will report directly to the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Director of Health Services.

The ideal Candidate will possess:

• Good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
• 2 years clinical nursing experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work as a team member as well as independently.
• Knowledge of the Keewaytinook Okimakanak communities.
• Skills and experience in adult education training.
• Ability to prepare and submit reports.
• Basic computer skills.
• Experience nursing in remote First Nation communities would be desirable.
• Able to speak Oji-Cree, but not necessary.

Deadline for Applications: Monday May 20th @ 4:00 .p.m.

Please forward: Resume, cover letter and three references to:

Orpah McKenzie, Director of Health Services
Keewaytinook Okimakanak Tribal Council
Box 340
Balmertown, ON
P0V 1C0

Email: orpahmckenzie@knet.ca

With a scoop of golden shovels, Keewaytinook Okimakanak represented by Executive Director Geordi Kakepetum and its partners officially started construction on the much awaited Dryden Training and Cultural Centre on April 22, 2003.

The ceremony, hosted by the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board, saw Mr. Kakepetum, the Right Honorable Robert Nault - Indian and Northern Affairs Minister, Mr. Sid Wintle - Mayor for the City of Dryden and representatives from the School Board, Dryden Entertainment Series and Confederation College officially start the construction of the $7 million project.

Scheduled for completion in the fall of 2004, the multi-use structure will house the Water Treatment Plant Operator Training Centre, a permanent home for the Dryden Campus of Confederation College and a 500 seat community auditorium.  Interim arrangements have been made for the Water Treatment Plant Operator training at the Lillian Berg School in Vermillion Bay until construction is complete.  The practical aspects of the training will be conducted at the Water Treatment facilities in Red Lake.

Saugeen Nation is anxiously awaiting the Bell Canada technicians in their community so the fibre cable can be run from Savant Lake and telephone service becomes available for community members. FedNor and Keewaytinook Okimakanak staff are working with Saugeen Nation to assist the community to access these services as well as ICTs for their school, band office, health centre and police station.

Under the First Nations SchoolNet program, Keewaytinook Okimakanak staff are supporting First Nation schools to get on-line and access the resources required for students to develop the skills required to share their stories and experiences with others. On April 22, KO staff travelled to Saugeen Nation to survey the existing facilities, meet with the Saugeen Nation administration and map out a development strategy that will see the students and staff at the school getting on-line in the next few weeks.

Check out the pictures of the community.

The April 17 issue of Wawatay News contains two more news stories about the work being completed within the Kuh-ke-nah Network of Smart First Nations demonstration project. Rick Garrick is researching additional stories for future articles. If you have a story that you want to share about this project and the work that is happening in your community to get connected, please send us an e-mail.

This week's articles include:

• Business Side of Kuh-ke-nah Network - A Growing Concern - Kennedy Fiddler explains the sustainability strategy for the community network in Sandy Lake while Dan Pellerin shares information about how the regional network is sustained by each of the local community network.
• Community Portals - Providing Information for Communities - Darrell Ostamas describes the development and maintenance of the Deer Lake community portal while Jesse Fiddler explains the concept for develop these on-line services.

Various newspaper articles are being scanned and stored for reference purposes in this photo gallery.

Members of the Sioux Lookout Health Zone Telehealth Sustainability Working Group met by teleconference on April 17 to discuss the strategy for developing telehealth services in each of the First Nations across the region. The next steps in the preparation of a business case for Health Canada's Primary Care Health Transition Fund were presented with everyone taking on different tasks so the proposal can be completed and submitted by May 22 deadline.

Present at this meeting were John Rowlandson (chair), Lynda Roberts, Dr. Ed Brown, Carl Seibel, Orpah Mckenzie, James Kakepetum, Dr. Claudette Chase, Paul Capon, Alvin Fidder, Brian Beaton, Janet Gordon and Donna Williams. Regrets came from James Adams, Rosalie Davis, Frank Schmidt, Nancy Sagmeister, Susan Sue Chan and Jim Morris.

Agenda Items included:

1. Business Arising from December meeting
2. Sustainability Update

• Health Canada Bridge Funding for KO Telehealth
• Primary Health Care Transition Fund
  http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/phctf-fassp/english/progcrit.html
  (proposal deadline, funding limitations, scope)
• Partnership Development (FedNor, NOHFC, HRDC)
• Ontario Telehealth Funding (NORTH)

3. Key PHCTF Issues

• Key PHCTF Questions (attached)
• Draft budget for review (attached)

4. Other Items
5. Next Meeting: Thursday 15 May, 2003 - 0900 to 10:30 (CENTRAL)

Next Steps includes:

• providing an update to all partner First Nations and organizations across the region;
• obtaining letters of support and/or band council resolutions from each First Nation and organization;
• securing additional funding partners for this development (NOHFC, FedNor, HRDC, SLAAMB, etc);
• producing and submitting the business case to Health Canada by May 22.

Everyone is invited to submit their comments and letters of support for this initiative below. On-line documentation about this initiative can be found at:

• KO's Telehealth Presentation to Nexus Tech 2003 conference (April, 2003)
• Sioux Lookout Zone Telehealth Conference Report (November, 2002)
• Sioux Lookout Zone Telehealth Conference (October, 2002)
• Keewaytinook Okimakanak's Telehealth web site

Happy Retirement to Christina Keesic

A big meegwetch for twenty-four years of WAWATAY TRANSLATION, for your

• Dedication
• Kindness
• Professionalism
• Baking
• Teaching
• Perseverance
• Coffee-making
• Hard Work
• Leadership
• Reliability
• Ojibway Language Perseverance

From all of us at the  Wawatay Native Communications Society