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On Tuesday, July 9, 2002 during an interview, Rita Meekis talked about the upcoming canoe-a-thon. Rita spoke about her fund raising efforts for her mother Aggie Dunsford’s memorial feast that is coming up on July 29th, 2202 and her drive to help in the awareness of the diabetes programs “I am trying to host a canoe-a-thon and hopefully it will be taking place the last week of July. I am planning to fund-raise for my mother Aggie Dunsford's memorial day and donate the other half of the money raised towards the diabetes program because diabetes is what took my mother away”. “I have about 12 volunteers already who will make the 12 hour one way trek between Sandy Lake and Keewaywin. We also have a lot relatives living in Sandy Lake, so they are more than willing to help us with this fund raising effort.. Lawrence Mason, Carrie Meekis, Danny Kakegamic, Derry Kakegamic, Lester Pascal, Luke Monias, Nancy Kakepetum, Edwin Meekis, Geraldine McKay and Simon Rae are already signed up as volunteers for the canoe-a-thon. They are busy taking pledges for the canoe-a-thon. For more information or if you want to make a donation for this important cause, contact Rita Meekis at the Keewaywin Clinic 771-1407 or email her at ritameekis@knet.ca

This year Keewaywin E-centre is proud to announce that we have been given four summer student to work with us. This year's summer students are Nathaniel Thompson, who will be assisting our community computer technician Blue Mason with the community network, cable installation, trouble shooting and all technical issues. Reggie Kakegamick will be assisting me with the K-net news stories and picture taking of up coming events. He has already posted his first story and put up corresponding pictures in the photo gallery. Carrie Kakepetum who was the Wawaytay Native Communications Society bursary award winner joined our Smart team this year. She will also be assisting me in collecting data and storing them on discs and will help in developing a community web page. Maxine Kakepetum another graduate will be attending Confederation College next fall. She is here to assist us with the Community Library and work with the e-center manager. Click here for pictures of the students.

Mothers, young and old, had a workshop about raising healthy babies. There were many mothers and their babies present. They had a great time talking about the old days and what they had to do before there were bottles and diapers. We had a chance to listen to the stories and experiences that these ladies lived through. Geraldine Mckay, a local elder, mother and wife to the Keewaywin Chief was talking about her experiences back then. She talked about how hard it was because there weren't any stores. The Hudsons Bay Company was just being built and there were no airport runways yet, so they could not fly anywhere and supplies had to be brought in by float planes. She also spoke about how important breast feeding was because it was hard to get milk back then. They had to drink fish broth to provide nutrients in the breast milk. They had to use cloth diapers and pick moss and use it for the baby diapers. It was a great afternoon for the parents and the children. People in attendance included: Geraldine Mckay, Liz McKay, Carrie Meekis, Berlinda Black, Miranda Black, Ina Kakegamic (elder) Jenny McKay and Kim Quill. Fresh bannock and coffee, and cake was served also. See the pictures

Local chamber President Christine Hoey, members of the executive and the general membership arranged for a meeting at Keewaytinook Okimakanak’s Sioux Lookout office on Friday, July 5. There is an interest to learn about the work that K-Net is doing and to explore ways that the Chamber members might benefit from broadband connectivity to further develop partnerships with the First Nations in the north. Theresa Stephens from the local Ministry of Northern Development and Mines spoke about the Smart Demonstration project and what it means to have this national and international project located in Northwestern Ontario. Marney Hoey spoke about the potential of broadband connectivity for the community and the region. Kathy Davidson and others asked questions about their own high speed connections and how they might be able to get broadband services for their businesses. Ralph Ireland was happy to see the developments that are reaching the far north. We had a chance to drop in on the e-Centre in Deer Lake and have a brief tour of their facility and meet the staff there. Thanks to Oscar, Arlene and Jeremy for giving everyone a short tour of your space. Sorry for the unannounced intrusion but sometimes it is more impressive for first time users of video equipment to be able to see what it is like to be able to do a virtual “drop in”, unplanned tour in another community. Plans were made for hosting a workshop or series of sessions around Industry Canada’s Innovation Strategy and how local businesses and community members can contribute to this new strategic direction for our own community and Canada.

The technicians in Fort Severn & Deer Lake First Nations use ICTs to resolve technical problems together. Angus Miles of Fort Severn assists Jeremy Sawanas at the Deer Lake e-Centre to get a computer operational. See the pictures of this session.

Three success stories about the work being done in Keewaytinook Okimakanak First Nations were produced by Industry Canada and recently posted on their web site. The three stories include: 1. New Infrastructure Provides A Wealth Of Innovative Services In the isolated Aboriginal communities of Northern Ontario, new technology is changing the landscape. More>> 2. Internet High School Offers The Best Of Both Worlds After they finished eighth grade, most of Reggie Kakekagumick's friends left the remote community of Keewaywin in northern Ontario to attend high school in Sioux Lookout or Thunder Bay. More>> 3. Telehealth offers a cure for isolated First Nations in northern Ontario In Poplar Hill, a remote community in northern Ontario, a community nurse is only available some of the time to take care of the day-to-day health concerns of the approximately 300 residents. More>> Check out all the good things that are happening across the country at each of the Smart Community Demonstration projects (lots of GREAT ideas for EVERY First Nation in the country).

The Kuh-Ke-Nah First Nation Smart Staff of Fort Severn and Keewaywin along with Les Meekis, the KO Community Manager got together by video Conference on July 3 to discuss the 2002 Kuh-Ke-Nah First Nation telcom survey for local homes and businesses. The main topic was dealt with how we would translate some of the wording on our survey forms. We want all the local people in each of the Smart First Nations to clearly understand the survey questions. We also talked about making any changes or additions to the questions. See the pictures of this meeting

In the spring when the ground starts to thaw in Fort Severn, there is a lot of shifting that requires adjustments to be made to our C-Band satellite dish. Mr. Angus Miles, our community Technician, is always ready for any challenge to ensure we stay connected. The local Smart team assisted Angus communicating with him by radio phone to give readings on the alignment to bring the dish back in line and get the network back to operating at its full capacity. See Pictures

The community of Keewaywin had a Canada Day Jamboree, where the local talent came out to show their stuff. I talked to one of the organizers and he said he was really surprised at the turn out of talented people who wished to participate. We had hot dogs served and the Chief and his wife went door to door serving a huge cake, which had Canada Day written on it. As our community is sparsly populated of about 200 to 300 people half of them children everyone was pleasantly surprised at the huge turn out for the Jamboree. We started out with christian music then ended the night with heavy rock. There were a total of 4 to 5 bands which participated and a slew of singers. Everyone participated by being there. Check out the Jamboree Pictures.

Fort Severn celebrated Canada Day with a birthday cake, games for all ages...egg toss, three legged race.. egg & spoon race, and many other games. Of course there were hot dogs and burgers. Check out the photos at http://fortsevern.firstnation.ca/gallery/album01.