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April 9, 2002 at 3:21am, Nora Suggashie (maiden name–Meekis) passed away at her home in Deer Lake, Ontario. She was in her 50's and had been struggling with illness for a long time. The wake will be taking place at the house she shared with her husband, Charlie Suggashie. There has been an outpouring of community support, not only from the from the family of Nora, but other community members as well. Our condolences go to the family during this difficult time. Donations of food and flowers for the funeral are needed, as well as people willing to cook for the feast and during the wake.

The conference report summarizing the organization and results of the First Nations Connect conference is now available on-line at http://smart.knet.ca/conference/KOConferenceReport.pdf.

Spring, is a time when we all face bad roads, Dangerous road slides and most importanly, waste a lot of (ShooNiA) Money on dented And fixed car Placements. This would be the cause On April 4th As Mike Van-Voris, a Off Duty House Councillor drove back to his community of Hudson which is about a 10 minute ride from Pelican Falls High School. He encounterd a dangerous Slpit secound off the road stunt. According to the other house councillors, the Sliperry roads caused this to happend. The Van was in a very bad shape, including the Telephone and Hydro Pole, which runs around the PFC (Pelican Falls Center) Principle Wayne Mercer, later announced that a power outage would take a few hours to get the pole replaced. According to the House 4 Guys, in which the Councillor keeps, Their responces to this accadentil event, they said, "hhhhhhhOooooooLlllYyyyyy" No Major injeries were reported excpet for a few little soar-ness and of course, the van cost well take a lot of money, according to my sources...

Norval Morriseau

Norval Morriseau had an exhibition in Thunder Bay on April 4 and 5, 2002. The exhibition was located in Victoriaville Mall in the Creative display area. Norval Morriseau is a world renowned artist known for being the founder of the Woodland Painting school. For more of a biograhy look here.

Helping with the exhibition were his family members Christian Morriseau (son), Eugene Morriseau (son), Christie Kakegamic (grand-daughter), Tammy Morriseau (grand-daughter), Kyle Morriseau (grandson), and Joshin Kakegamic (grandson). This show is Norval's first exhibition since a show 3 years ago in Toronto. He will be doing another in Winnipeg during the month of May, 2002. All the paintings show in the exhibition were the result of his work in the past year. This series of paintings also have an black print of his thumb alongside his signature.

Christian Morriseau, Norval Morriseau, Eugene Morriseau, Christie Kakegamic, and Kyle Morriseau in front

There were approximately 60 paintings in the show ranging in size from 5x7 to 48x36. The prices for his paintings range from $200 for the 5x7 to $6,500 for the 46x38. Norval has been living in Thunder Bay for the past 6 weeks and was previously living in Keewaywin First Nation, Sandy Lake First Nation, and in Nanaimo B.C.

See more of his pictures in our Photogallery. If you would like to reach Norval about his artwork you can contact: Lisa Meekis Band Administrator Keewaywin First Nation tel. (807) 771-1210 fax (80) 771-1053 email: lisameekis@knet.ca

Keewaytinook Internet High School recently posted the Grade 9 and 10 courses that will be offered starting in September 2002. For those First Nations with existing KiHS classrooms and for those developing new KiHS classrooms, students now have the option to stay in their own community to get high school credits. The poster announcing the 2002-2003 school year courses can be seen at http://kihs.knet.ca/PosterAd0203.htm

NOTICE: Cory Meekis reports that "Kenny Meekis won the truck ... after he won the truck, he gave it to his grandpa as a reward for paying Kenny's entry into the derby." Deer Lake First Nation invites people to participate in our Annual Ice Fishing Derby. DEER LAKE FIRST NATION TICKETS $100.00 1st-PRIZE: An 89 GMC-Sierra 4x4 Extended Cab (in really good condition) *****AND MANY MORE PRIZES***** FOR MORE INFO CONTACT: Gorby Meekis - 775 2040 Verna Meekis - 775 9359 During Office hours phone the Deer Lake Band Office @ 807 775 2141

The community of Lac Seul First Nation, held their annual Pow-Wow at the Pelican Falls First Nations High School on March 23, 24, 25, 2002 The event bought excitement, joy & Pride. There were also 8 guest drums on hand. to name a few, there were Lac Seul drum group, Fort Francis drum group, Fort Hope drum Group and others. The last night, they gave out gifts of thanks. Pelican Falls High School well also be hosing a Pow-Wow. The date of this event well be announced at a later date. This Article is also being sent to the Wawaay News, for the April 4th Edition.

Two days of high energy, sharing, learning – and some fun – were on the menu for the KO Telehealth Readiness workshops, held in Balmertown March 19th and 20th. The workshops brought together the entire telehealth team – representatives came from Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, Thunder Bay Regional Hospital, Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre, Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, Timmins as well as Community Telehealth Coordinators, Community Health Nurses and Health Directors from the five KO communities. Clinical training on Tuesday was specifically for community telehealth coordinators from the KO communities of North Spirit Lake, Poplar Hill, Fort Severn, Keewaywin and Deer Lake. Training was presented at the KO Balmertown office by Donna Williams, Telehealth Informatics Educator and Christine Penner Polle, Regional Telehealth Coordinator who are both part of the KO Telehealth team located in Balmertown (see photo gallery). After a full day of training, it was off to dinner at the United Church in Red Lake where great food and fun was had by everyone who attended. During the dinner Sam Meekis from North Spirit Lake was presented with a bright, red wagon for his contribution in making telehealth demonstrations such a success (see photo gallery). The evening ended with John Rowlandson, Telehealth Project Manager presenting tie-dyed T-shirts and “goofie” awards from KO Telehealth. Are we ready to begin telehealth services in the KO Region? That was the question posed the following day to approximately 35 participants attending the "Telehealth Readiness Day" workshop at the Campbell Curling Club Lounge in Balmertown. It was roll out day for telehealth to discuss whether our KO communities are ready to begin consultations with medical specialists and other health professionals located in various hospitals throughout Ontario including the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. Participants included our local community health directors, telehealth coordinators, nurses and representatives from NORTH Network in Toronto, Thunder Bay Regional Hospital, Sioux Lookout Zone Hospital, Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre and Red Lake?s Margaret Cochenour Memorial Hospital. Introduction and presentations were made in the morning followed by discussions in the afternoon (see photo gallery). The workshop was a success and resulted in answering the critical question of the day - are we ready? Telehealth coordinators from the KO communities are trained and ready to operate the telehealth workstations used to communicate with health facilities at a distance. Some of the tools currently used with the telehealth workstation are an otoscope, an exam camera and a document camera. In the near future, KO communities will also have access to a stethoscope. Digital x-ray equipment is also planned for Deer Lake and Fort Severn Nursing stations. The necessary network cabling has also been installed by K-Net and NORTH Network in order ensure secure, private communication possible between patients and doctors by mid-April. More importantly, KO communities and health professionals involved in this project are all on board to start medical consultations, telepsychiatry, and health education sessions. Family videoconferences have already begun in some communities. Poplar Hill just had one recently between a young boy who had surgery at Sick Kids’ Hospital in Toronto and his family from Pikangikum. Thanks to an enthusiastic team of KO community members and health professionals locally and abroad, KO Telehealth IS ready to begin telehealth services in the KO Region in the next few weeks! CHECK OUT THE PICTURES OF THE KO TELEHEALTH TEAM IN MEETINGS Gathering the Telehealth Team together SOME OF THE KO TELEHEALTH TEAM MEMBERS IN TRAINING

On Saturday, March 23, the Honourable Robert Nault and Patti Skillen joined the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Chiefs and staff for breakfast at the Balmertown office. After breakfast, the Chiefs and staff discussed some of the different initiatives underway in the Keewaytinook Okimakanak First Nations. Eight briefing papers were presented outlining the work and requirements for a number of different initiatives being developed in the Keewaytinook Okimakanak First Nations. These included: 1. The All-Weather Road north of Red Lake 2. Health Services (physician, nursing and client services) in Red Lake 3. Water Plant Operators Training Centre in Red Lake 4. Telehealth Services 5. Kuh-ke-nah Network development work 6. First Nations Governance Consultations 7. Economic and Resource development work 8. Keewaytinook Internet High School See the pictures at http://photos.knet.ca/KO-Nault

The proud parents of Aaron Kakepetum (Geordi and Lynda) shared the following news story with me. I want to congratulate Aaron on all the work he does to achieve this level of excellence and thank him for being such a strong ambassador for all Nishnawbe Aski Nation youth. It is through individual efforts demonstrated by NAN youth like Aaron that the First Nations are being recognized and honoured. The following article can be found on-line at in the Bozeman Chronicle. Icedogs' Kakepetum named Defenseman of the Year 03/22/02 By Chronicle Staff Bozeman Icedogs' Aaron Kakepetum earned Defenseman of the Year and All-America West Hockey League first-team honors for the 2001-2002 season Thursday, as selected by league coaches. Kakepetum is a Balmertown, Ontario, native who has dual citizenship in Canada and America. He currently leads all AWHL defensemen in scoring with 10 goals an 26 assists. "All areas of his game are constantly improving, and now he's more of an offensive threat," Icedogs coach John LaFontaine said in a press release. Icedogs center Troy Brummett also earned co-Rookie of the Year honors, and Bozeman goalie Joe Tuset was named to the all-AWHL second-team. Brummett is a Oregon, Ohio, native and currently leads the Icedogs in scoring and is tied as the tenth top scorer in the AWHL with 32 goals and 25 assists. Tuset, a native of Eagan, Minn., has started most of the year for Bozeman and led the league as the top-ranked goaltender for most of the season. Tuset, who signed with Northern Michigan earlier this season, is currently ranked second with a 2.48 goals against average, 893 saves and a .910 save percentage. Fernie, British Columbia, Ghostriders forward Conner Hughes was named the league’s Most Valuable Player and to the All-AWHL first team. He is third in league scoring with 40 goals and 72 points in 44 games. Other multiple award winners, besides Kakepetum and Hughes, are Helena Bighorns goaltender Mike Dowers (Goaltender of the Year/All-AWHL First Team) and first-year Billings Bulls defenseman Brooks Turnquist (co-Rookie of the Year/All-AWHL Second Team). Here are the 2001-02 AWHL award winners: Individual awards Most Valuable Player: Conner Hughes, Fernie, B.C. Goaltender of the Year: Mike Dowers, Helena Defenseman of the Year: Aaron Kakepetum, Bozeman Organization of the Year: Fairbanks, Alaska, Ice Dogs co-Coach of the Year: Brian Meisner, Butte/Rob Proffitt, Fairbanks co-Rookie of the Year: Troy Brummett, Bozeman/Brooks Turnquist, Billings All-AWHL first team Goalie - Mike Dowers, Helena Defense - Robbie Bina, Bismarck Defense - Aaron Kakepetum, Bozeman Forward - Lou Garritan, Billings Forward - Conner Hughes, Fernie, B.C. Forward - John Sullivan, Billings All-AWHL Second Team Goalie - Joe Tuset, Bozeman Defense - Jake Postnikoff, Fernie, B.C. Defense - Brooks Turnquist, Billings Forward - Justin Hauge, Fairbanks, Alaska Forward - Brett Roat, Butte Forward - Jeremy Robinson, Fernie. B.C