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Dr. Roger Strasser, Carol Otte and Darcia Borg from the new Northern Ontario Medical School along with Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic and Brian Walmark from Nishnawbe Aski Nation travelled to Balmertown on March 31 to meet with Keewaytinook Okimakanak and our partners. The team along with KO staff are chartering up to Deer Lake to visit their community and the local Health Centre. Meetings with Red Lake doctors and hospital administration, along with the municipality of Red Lake is making this trip an opportunity for networking and learning about the needs of rural and remote communities.

Keewaytinook Okimakanak looks forward to partnering with NOMS in the development of a program that will see medical professionals working in the First Nations as part of their training experience.

Check out the pictures.

The KiHS Steering Committee met from March 24 - 27 at the Sunset Inn in Sioux Lookout to discuss the various issues facing KiHS. Community representatives from the 13 partner First Nations were invited to share their experiences and recommendations on a number of topics including:

• local issues and successes;
• student retention;
• plans for 2003-2004 school year; and
• the KiHS / INAC five year pilot project.

Darrin Potter, KiHS Principal worked with Marlene McKay, KiHS Vice-Principal and Charlene Walsh, KiHS Secretary to facilitate this meeting. Representatives from each of the KiHS partner First Nations included:

• Cat Lake - Sylvia Wesley
• North Spirit Lake - Margaret Kakegamic
• Fort Severn - Moses Kakekaspan
• Slate Falls - Annette Loon
• Fort William - Pam Collins
• Frenchman’s Head - Albert LacSeul
• Sachigo Lake - Theodore Tait
• Keewaywin - Chris Kakegamic
• Webequie - Belinda Reid
• Kejick Bay - Roy Ninegewance
• Weagamow - Roy Sakchekapo
• Eabametoong - Harry Papah
• Deer Lake - Barbara Rae

The roles and responsibilities of the KiHS Steering Committee are posted for everyone to know the work that is being undertaken by this team.

On April 4, 5 and 6, A Gospel Jamboree will be held at the Gymnasium with verious guests on the list including the Red Sucker Lake Band from Red Sucker Lake, Manitoba.

For more information, please call Saul Keeash @ (807) 469-7441

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The New Life Pentacostal Church and the One
Name Church in Weagamow Lake, will be hosting a joint service on April 25, 26 and 27.

Guest Speakers include Clark Stevenson

Roger Stevenson of Whitewood, Sask. & Darius Ferris of Calstock, Ontario

For more info please call Pastor Samson Chikane @ (807)469-1044

Or Pastor Colin Kanate @ (807) 469-1041

Or email @ newlifecenter@knet.ca

Pentecostal Harvest Church

Deer Lake,Ontario

Invites All!

for services taking place on

APRIL 11, 12 & 13, 2003

WITH GUEST SPEAKER: JIM FELIX

WITH MUSICIANS: CARL DAY, ALEC CAPAY,

EUGENE CAPAY, & JEREMY CAPAY

FOR MORE INFO

CONTACT PASTOR EVELYN MEEKIS AT 775-2103 0R

ROYDALE OR DORIS MEEKIS AT 775-9444

Poplar Hill Presents
1st Annual Mens 5 on 5
Volleyball Tournament 2003

April 23-26, 2003

Poplar Hill Community Centre

Entry Fee: $250.00 per Team

Accommodations will be Provided

For more Information Contact

Howard Moose (w) 807 772 8838  (h) 807 772 1146
Robin Dunsford (w) 807 772 8831 (5pm-10pm) (h) 807 772 9917
Arnold Moose (w)  807 772 9969 (h) 807 772 9917
Zack Suggashie (h) 807 772 8853

Poplar Hill by-law must be respected.
No Alcohol and drugs allowed

Keewaytinook Okimakanak is scheduled to participate in the opening video conferenced session for Canada's Information Technology (IT) week on May 2 (more information to follow). Watch the IT Week web site for additional information at http://www.itweek.ca/e/.

Canada's IT Week is a 10-day event where communities, businesses, employees, governments, teachers and students are encouraged to work in partnership and find creative ways to showcase and recognize their achievements in information and communication technology (ICT).

From May 2-11, 2003, citizens are encouraged to partake in IT Week by hosting workshops, open houses, seminars and conferences.

Keewaytinook Okimakanak staff presented a paper and a powerpoint presentation to the APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group (APECTEL) in Kuala Kumpur, Malaysia. The March 25 Broadband Workshop agenda, provided delegates with background information about the issues and developments concerning the deployment of broadband infrastructure in rural communities.

"Why Broadband for APEC Underserved and Unserved Rural Communities - Why Not!" was a paper prepared by Brian Beaton discussing some of the socio-economic benefits for bringing broadband services into rural and remote communities. The internet based video connection with the conference site was established using a software tool called Multimedia Conferencing System (MCS) and a separate Document Conferencing software package along with a live chat session. Due to the internet connections in Malaysia, everyone was able to see and hear the presentation fairly well but the return feed to Sioux Lookout from Malaysia could not provide a video image and the sound was garbled so the live chat was used as the prompt for the exchanges. The powerpoint presentation ended up being controlled by the technician in Malaysia because the document server was not set up at the conference site.

In preparation for the session there was a three hour testing of the system the week before the event where the powerpoint presentation was sent over to the firm organizing the A/V portion for the session.  Eric Tsang from the Communications Research Centre in Ottawa attended the event in Kuala Kumpur and wrote about there being problems with the audio but overall the presentation went well. Various people from Industry Canada including Susan Johnston, Kathy Fisher and Vicki Schouten worked on including the Keewaytinook Okimakanak story on the agenda.

Recently, KiHS staff members, Marlene Mckay and Jeremy Snihur, attended the Dreamcatching 2003 conference in Montreal.  Dreamcatching 2003 focused on educating First Nations youth in the areas of Mathematics and Science.  Each Dreamcatching conference also promotes a profession which requires a background in Mathematics and Science. This year's profession was Engineering and promoting Native access to Engineering programmes.

Many scientific and mathematic concepts studied today were originally used and discovered by First Nations peoples. Dreamcatching 2003 is looking to guide First Nations students in the field of Engineering. Engineers are involved in the design and construction of buildings, bridges, roads, engines and electrical machines. Engineers will be a vital resource for the development of many First Nations communities.

KiHS (Keewaytinook Internet High School) presented a workshop at the Dreamcatching 2003 conference. The KiHS workshop helped educators from all over Canada gain an understand of the role of KiHS and how KiHS is guiding First Nations students to post-secondary education.  KiHS provides local high school education through the use of computers and the internet. KiHS students have the unique opportunity of receiving high school credits while learning valuable computer skills.

To learn more, please visit the following links:

Native Access to Engineering Programme

Keewaytinook Internet High School (KiHS)

Ed and Maxine Wesley began MAX-WEAR from their home community of Ginoogaming First Nation many years ago. Ed travels across Northern Ontario visiting First Nations and their organizations to sell their beautiful fleece jackets and vests. Their operation has grown to include a Thunder Bay store front called Wolf Tracks. Everyone is invited to visit their store and their web site at http://www.tbaytel.net/maxwear.

From their web site: "WOLF TRACKS carries exclusive MAX-WEAR apparel and is convienently located in Thunder Bay's downtown core, 213 Red River Rd. Come in and view our selection of fine Aboriginal apparel including sweat-shirts, T-shirts, fleece vests, and more!

Designed and created by Maxine Wesley, a talented Ojibway artist inspired by her life's blessings...the sound of the flowing rivers, the visions of a calm lake and the cry of the loon.

Jackets are available in embroidered or applique style and come in a wide range of colours. Custom design jacket orders are accepted, including discounts on large corporate and organization jacket orders."

Contact Ed at maxwear@tbaytel.net or wolftrac@tbaytel.net

KO SMART Staff members participated at the 2nd Annual CAC today, showcasing the programs within the Smart communities, people from all over stopped over at our booth and asked questions about the ICTs that were on display and the demonstrations being done at that particular time.

A live webcast has been set up for people interested in seeing what is going on at the CAC at http://smart.firstnation.ca  

Check out Les Meekis' report and Darrell Ostamas' photo gallery.