Community News

Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council gathering in Timmins - final agenda available

 OFNYPC is encouraging all First Nation youth to attend the upcoming conference in Timmins.

Click here for a WORD copy of the proposed agenda

Click here for more information about this conference

 

MyKnet.org survey report online showing how First Nation residents share their stories

Philipp Budka, a doctoral candidate at the University of Vienna, recently posted his report about the results of the MyKNet.org survey that he conducted this past fall. The report is available at Philipp’s research web site. Over 1200 people were involved with starting to complete this survey, with over 1000 people indicating they completed the survey during the four month period it was available online.

NNEC considering restructuring their two high schools - Pelican Falls and Dennis Cromarty

In this week's issue of Wawatay, the Northern Nishnawbe Education Council (NNEC) took out an ad asking parents and students to write to them about how they feel about having Pelican Falls First Nations High School in Sioux Lookout offering a Grade 9 and 10 program. Then students would move to Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School in Thunder Bay to complete their Grades 11 and 12. Below is a copy of the questionnaire from the February 21 issue of Wawatay. Please consider printing it and filling it out with your thoughts concerning this matter.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation hosting Winter Chiefs' gathering in Thunder Bay - March 4-6

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is hosting a Chiefs' meeting in Thunder Bay, the first week of March (see the draft agenda below)

Nishnawbe Aski Nation
“Draft #2” AGENDA
WINTER NAN CHIEFS MEETING
TRAVELODGE (Airlane), THUNDER BAY, ON

***1:30 PM - FINAL DEADLINE FOR RESOLUTIONS***

Day 1 – Tuesday, March 4, 2008

8:00 a.m. Registration

9:00 a.m. Call to Order
                 NAN Drum
                 Opening Prayer

Amnesty International: Ontario & Harper gov't need to work with First Nations instead of courts

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE

Amnesty International re: jailing of Algonquin leader

February 18, 2008

Canada: Algonquin leader faces jail time while Ontario government ignores the law

Amnesty International expressed its concern today over the sentencing of Ardoch Algonquin First Nation negotiator Bob Lovelace to six months in jail and a fine of $25,000 for his role in a protest over uranium exploration on disputed land in eastern Ontario.

The "blame game" continues in National Post resulting in more racism against First Nations

Ignorance and protection of the status quo (ie. their comfortable and unsustainable lifestyles) seem to be more the themes of the following published material from the National Post

Kevin Libin: The lip service must end

February 22, 2008

Mining journal suggests exploration "disturbs relatively little" and suggests compromise required

From Canadian Mining Journal

CANADIAN MINING PERSPECTIVES: Aboriginal unrest and responsibility

By: Marilyn Scales, Wednesday, February 20, 2008

More and more, Canada's aboriginal communities are taking an active interest in the country's mineral industries. They protest exploration on lands they believe are theirs. They condemn the environmental record of mining.

Disel generators fail leaving Rankin Inlet residents in a state of emergency

From CBC News

Rankin Inlet remains in state of emergency after power failure - Non-essential services stay closed as crews attempt to fix generator

February 21, 2008

The Nunavut hamlet of Rankin Inlet remained in a state of emergency Thursday after three of the community's four diesel electricity generators failed.

All schools, Nunavut government offices and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. offices are closed Thursday and only emergency services are running.

Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service looking for shutterbugs to win photo contest before April 1

Press release ... 

Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service Photo Contest

Shutterbugs Wanted

Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service is having a photographic competition. All employees of N.A.P.S., uniform or civilian, can submit any number of photographs with a chance to win great cash and prizes.

COO's Knowledge Management Advisory Group moving First Nation health information online

Keewaytinook Okimakanak's Health. Telemedicine (KOTM) and Kuhkenak Network (K-Net) program representatives met with the Chiefs of Ontario's (COO) Knowledge Management Advisory Group (KMAG) to discuss their strategy for integrating First Nation public health information with the provincial system as one step in the process for moving patient information online. The following article in Monday's Globe and Mail highlights some of the benefits of this development.