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COO press release ...

4th Annual Youth Symposium on Culture, Tradition and Language

Thunder Bay, March 7, 2007: "Now is the time for our generation to learn and preserve our sacred gifts."

The Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council is holding its 4th Annual Youth Symposium on Culture, Tradition and Language on the Wikemikong Unceded Indian Reserve located on Manitoulin Island on March 15, 16, 17 & 18th, 2007.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE March 8th, 2007. Depending on availability of space, late registrations may be accepted until March 13th, 2007.

The symposium is an exciting learning opportunity for youth to gain knowledge of our diverse cultures, traditions and languages from a wide variety of Elders and traditional knowledge practitioners. Events are currently being planned that will include informative and diverse workshops, prominent keynote speakers, outstanding storytellers, talented artists, live entertainment, and other motivating and interesting activities.

Registration is free. The Ontario First Nations Youth Peoples Council will cover the costs for meals, accommodations, entertainment, and shuttle services for two delegates, one male and one female, from each of the First Nation communities and organizations.

Youth participants are responsible to seek sponsorship and/or cover the costs of their travel to and from Wikemikong Unceded Reserve. We have a limited capacity of 300 participants.

Register now and get be eligible for early bird registration prize draws.

Bearskin Airlines is pleased to offer discounts to all attendees of the Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council, 4th Annual Youth Symposium hosted in Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve!

All travellers must quote convention code "OFNYPC07" to receive this discount for travel. These discounts will apply to flights from all points in the Bearskin Airlines system to Sudbury and are valid on any Bearskin Airlines fare type. Travel is valid between March 5 -March 25, 2007. These dates provide for early and/or late departures to enjoy all that Sudbury has to offer!

Click here to view map

Click here to view a short video about Wiky

View the documents below for more details. For more information, please contact Laura Calmwind, Youth Coordinator 1-807-626-9339 or by email at laura@coo.org.

• 4th Annual Youth Symposium on Culture, Tradition and Language - Registration Form (REGISTRATION DEADLINE March 8th, 2007 - UPDATED) - WORD document
• 4th Annual Youth Symposium on Culture, Tradition and Language - UPDATED AGENDA - WORD document
• Bearskin Air Information - WORD document

SLARC (http://www.slarc.ca) press release ...

Sioux Lookout Anti-Racism Committee hosts Race Relations Week 2007 (March 16 to 25) with many events planned

Sioux Lookout - March 3, 2007 - Race Relations Week 2007: Our community. Our Family. Our Future is filling up with exciting opportunities for celebrating the diversity of Sioux Lookout.

The invitation is out to nominate someone you know who has contributed to positive race relations in Sioux Lookout for the People Making Changes - Mary Carpenter Award. You can pick up a nomination form from the Sunset Suites, the Anti-Racism Committee office, or by calling Laurel Wood (737-2174). Click here to get a PDF copy of the nomination form.

The first event of the week is for youth – a dance at the Recreation Centre, Friday, March 16.

Saturday the 17th, Cedar Bay will be the centre of activities all day. A festival at the stables and lakeside will have activities for all members of the family – pond hockey, sleigh rides, games and refreshments. See the poster below or CLICK HERE for a PDF copy of the POSTER.

CLICK HERE for a copy of the POND HOCKEY Registration and Rules

Saturday evening, while the Northern Bands Hockey Tournament continues in the arena, there will be square dancing in the recreation centre gym. This event, sponsored by Kwayaciiwin Education Resource Centre, is open to all. See the poster below or CLICK HERE for a copy of the poster

Student art, reflecting the theme of Our community. Our Family. Our Future., will be on display all week at local schools, Nishnawbe Gamik Friendship Centre, Best Western and Johnny’s.

Everyday Light, a collection of family photos selected by contemporary First Nations Artists will open Sunday 18th at 56 Front Street and be on display all week. The Thunder Bay Art Gallery has generously loaned this art show to our community. Local residents are invited to submit work to a companion Art Display of family heirlooms and other art at St. Andrews United Church.

Watch for details of the week’s events – films by Cree filmmaker Shirley Cheechoo (see poster below or CLICK HERE for a copy of the POSTER)and local filmmaker, Nadia McLaren, workshops, presentations, drumming at the Nishnawbe Gamik Friendship Centre, lacrosse for youth at the Recreation Centre and the Out of the Cold fishing derby at Airport Lake will fill out the week. The ever-popular Multicultural Pot Luck Feast, with the presentation of the People Making Changes – Mary Carpenter Award, will wrap things up at the Legion Sunday, March 25th.

Outdoors enthusiasts, artists, film buffs, horsey folks, gourmets and hockey fans – children, youth, adults and elders – there’s something for everyone in Race Relations Week 2007. Come celebrate with your family and community.

National Post article ...

Charest calls on Harper to honour Kelowna aboriginal accord

Elizabeth Thompson, CanWest News Service; Montreal Gazette - Sunday, March 04, 2007

PIKOGAN, Que. - Quebec Premier Jean Charest called Saturday on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to honour the Kelowna accord, saying the money the federal government had pledged would make a big difference in the lives of Quebec's First Nations.

"I thought the Kelowna meeting was significant and that we should pursue what was done in Kelowna," Charest told reporters. "I would like them to honour it."

Saturday's comment marks one of the few times Charest has openly criticized a decision taken by Harper, a man who has become a political ally for his government over the past year.

The Kelowna Accord was hammered out between aboriginal leaders and Canada's first ministers in November 2005 in the dying days of Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin's government. The deal called for $5 billion to be spent over five years to improve education, housing, skills training, economic development and health care for Canada's aboriginals.

However, Harper's government has refused to recognize the agreement, dismissing it as little more than a press release. Harper says the Liberal government announced something it had never provided for financially, however, the Liberals maintain that the money promised had been earmarked for Canada's first nations before they were defeated.

Charest, who participated in the meeting that led to the accord, said Ottawa should work to accomplish what the agreement set out to do - even if it decides to do it differently.

"I would like to see them pursue Kelowna... If they choose not to do it exactly the same way, (then) to do essentially what we all committed to doing in Kelowna."

One area where the Kelowna agreement would be changing the lives of Quebec's aboriginals, if it were being implemented, is in housing, Charest said.

Charest's comments came shortly before he visited the Algonquin Indian reserve of Pikogan near Alma, Que., home to the Abitibiwinni First Nation.

Band Councillor Bruno Kistabish agrees the Conservatives should honour the agreement, saying there are a lot of areas in which the federal government could be doing a lot more to help his reserve.

Pikogan, like many first nations communities, has been going through a baby boom - 50 per cent of the community's population is under the age of 18. In some cases, two families have to share a house. The northern community has around 140 homes but desperately needs 75-80 more to house its rapidly growing population.

"We build six houses and there is no more space. The situation is getting urgent."

The community also needs more money for education and for health care, said Kistabish.

"A lot of people have diabetes. It is a scourge in native communities."

Ghislain Picard, Chief of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador, said he boycotted the Kelowna talks because what was proposed was not enough to meet the needs of Canada's first nations.

Refusing to honour what little there was is even worse, he said.

The handful of announcements made by Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice when he attended last fall's socio-economic summit pale in comparison to what was called for in the Kelowna deal, he said.

AFN update ...

A Communiqué from National Chief Phil Fontaine - A Call to Action on First Nations Poverty

March 2007

The Assembly of First Nations issues regular updates on the National Chief’s activities and work underway at the national office. More information can be found on the AFN’s website at www.afn.ca.

The second phase of our campaign -- Make Poverty History: The First Nations Plan for Creating Opportunity – was launched Friday, February, 23, on Parliament Hill. A Call to Action Against First Nations Poverty was attended by Members of Parliament, Senators, and representatives from national and international humanitarian organizations. Buzz Hargrove, President of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) was our special guest speaker and announced the support of the entire Canadian labour movement for the campaign.

We gathered in solidarity to show Canadians, and the global community, that we will no longer tolerate the abject levels of poverty facing too many of our First Nations people. The AFN also launched a new report, The $9 Billion Myth Exposed: Why First Nations Poverty Endures. It can be found on our main website at www.afn.ca.

Regional Chief Angus Toulouse, AFN Executive Portfolio holder for Eliminating Poverty, told the gathering that First Nations have been subject to decades of Canadian government policies aimed at creating dependence, instead of supporting empowerment. Poverty endures because First Nations are not treated fairly in Canada’s fiscal framework.

Canadians have been told that $9.1 billion is spent every year on First Nations. In fact, a maximum of $5.4 billion is spent on First Nations – that is, only 60% of the amount reported by Minister Prentice. His department spends up to $600 million or 11% on overhead alone. Even more revealing is that the total budget of Indian and Northern Affairs represents only 0.004% of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product.

Human Rights Complaint on Child Welfare

That same day, February 23rd, the AFN and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society (FNCFCS) filed a complaint to the Canadian Human Rights Commission in regard to discriminatory treatment against First Nations child welfare agencies. I was joined by Cindy Blackstock, FNCFCS executive director, and FSIN Vice Chief Guy Lonechild, since the human rights complaint originated from the Ocean Man First Nation in Saskatchewan.

During our press conference, I declared that it is a national disgrace for the Canadian government to be aware of more than 27,000 First Nations children in state care without taking the action needed to address prevention and capacity of existing First Nations agencies. Rational appeals to successive federal governments have been ignored. After years of research that confirm the growing numbers of our children in care, as well as the potential solutions to this crisis, we had no choice but to appeal to the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

The federal government is fully aware that I would rather negotiate than litigate. But we have the right to determine what is best for the future of our children. Our children must have an equal opportunity to grow-up with their families, in their communities, and in their culture. No First Nation child should have to forgo this opportunity as a result of poverty or an inability to access basic services.

2007 Federal Budget

The 2007 federal budget will be tabled in the House of Commons on Monday, March 19th. The AFN presented its Pre-Budget Submission to the Finance Committee back on September 19th. Entitled “Securing Our Future”, we highlighted the need for sustainable funding solutions and structural change in order to eliminate poverty. I publicly stated in September that the growing number of First Nations children being placed in child welfare systems is the single most deplorable example of the increasing gap in poverty: “We face the prospect of losing yet another generation of children as they are taken away from their families, who are too poor to take care of them ... This is a tragedy that is shocking and shameful for all Canadians.”

Our pre-budget submission is posted on the AFN website, along with my recent speeches to the International Congress on Ethics; the AFN Water and Housing Forum; and the Economic Club of Toronto, where I highlighted the growing success of the AFN’s Corporate Challenge.

My next communiqué will include reaction to the 2007 Budget.

Meegwetch!

Assembly of First Nations, 473 Albert Street, Suite 810, Ottawa, Ontario K1R 5B4 Tel: (613) 241-6789 Toll-free: 1-866-869-6789 Fax: (613) 241-5808 www.afn.ca

APTN press release ....

Aboriginal Icon: An APTN Singing Contest 

February 27, 2007

The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network is hosting a singing contest for Aboriginal people on their weekly news magazine, Contact. The contest is called "Aboriginal Icon" and they are accepting submissions as we speak.

On April 4th APTN is pleased to announce a special edition of Contact: Aboriginal Icon

If you are between the ages of 18-28 and think you have the talent to wow our judges, please send in audition tape along with your name, age, phone, number, and address to:
339 Portage Ave.
Winnipeg MB
R3B 2C3
Attn: Contact - Aboriginal Icon

The deadline for admission is March 23rd, 4 pm eastern standard time and don't forget to self-identify if you are First Nations, Inuk, or Metis.

The top three contestants will be contacted by telephone and flown to Winnipeg to perform Live across the nation on Contact April 4th 2007.

Audience members can send an email or call in to vote for their favorite finalist.

The Grand Prize winner will have their song professionally recorded in studio with Strong Front Productions and will be flown to Toronto to compete in the final auditions for Canadian Idol. Prizes will also be awarded to the second and third prize winners.

So send in your video tapes, and try out for the first ever Aboriginal Icon!

DISCLAIMER: Please be prepared to sing an original song on-air. Cover songs are acceptable for the audition tape but may not be sung for the on-air competition due to copyright issues.

The complete list of Rules & Regulations is available here:
www.aptn.ca/images/stories/Contact/abicon2007.pdf

For more information, please contact Dawn Isaac:

Dawn Isaac
Researcher/Writer, News & Current Affairs
Aboriginal Peoples Television Network
P: 204.947.9331 ext. 481
E: contact@aptn.ca

INAC press release ....

Video Vignettes: Aboriginal Success Stories from Across Canada

February 26, 2007

These short 3-minute videos show First Nations improving the quality of life for their members.

Look and listen to these stories of success in First Nations communities. Whether it's about education, economic development or governance, they all have the same goal - improving the quality of life of First Nations people across Canada. These short 3-minute videos show First Nations improving the quality of life for their members.

Lac La Ronge

Lac La Ronge Indian Band is empowering its members by creating the opportunity for private home ownership in this First Nation. Comfortable, safe, energy-efficient homes are now a dream come true in this Saskatchewan Cree community.

Wikwemikong

The Wikwemikong Development Commission helps community members develop and realize economic opportunities from construction to modern communications, while keeping touch with their traditional values.

Westbank

In 2003, the Westbank First Nation signed a historic self-government agreement giving them the tools to make decisions over land, resources, culture and much more. See how this First Nations government is building a better quality of life for its members.

Toronto Star story at http://www.thestar.com/article/186133

Planes bring books to remote reserves

Feb 27, 2007 - Louise Brown - Education Reporter

In two remote First Nations reserves, reached only by "winter roads" that have been thwarted this year by milder weather, literacy is landing by parachute this week as children wait below knee-deep in snow.

More than 7,000 children's books were dropped from a plane yesterday afternoon in tiny Fort Severn; novels and picture-books donated by families around the province as part of the second book drive for aboriginal children conducted by Ontario Lieutenant-Governor James Bartleman.

Another several thousand will be dropped today on the frozen waters of Sandy Lake, another fly-in community where poverty, low literacy levels and underfunding of federally run schools historically left bookshelves empty in both schools and homes.

While most of the 185,000 children's books collected last month from across Ontario are being driven to reserves across the province's northern woodlands by Canadian Armed Forces trucks, Fort Severn and Sandy Lake posed a problem because the winter roads were either too remote or too dangerous because of global warming, said Bartleman yesterday in a telephone interview from Fort Severn.

The vice-regal activist waited with local school children on the snowswept banks of the Severn River for the airborne book drop, and said it was a dramatic fly-by.

"It was spectacular! The sun was shining, it was 10 below and suddenly the big Hercules came swooping into view, tipped its wings from above 800 feet above us and out came eight parachutes with crates of books floating to the ground," said Bartleman from the tiny community about two hours from Hudson Bay.

"We all jumped on the back of snowmobiles and pulled sleighs out onto the ice to load up the books. Some of the children ripped open the boxes and started to read the books right there in the snow.

"It was beautiful to see; these children so excited about the books, starting to read on the river on top of four feet of ice."

Since taking office five years ago, Bartleman has championed the cause of literacy among northern native children in the province and collected more than a million books to help promote literacy and reduce the despair he sees in many of these communities.

An aboriginal Canadian himself, he believes reading is the key to confidence and opportunity for the children often forgotten by mainstream Canada.

The Canadian Armed Forces agreed to ship 110,000 of the donated books in the trucks that were heading north last week to deliver supplies and rations to the Canadian Rangers, which are special First Nations units of the reserve forces that serve in 15 remote communities, said Major Guy Ingram.

But the dilemma of delivering books to Fort Severn and Sandy Lake was solved when it was discovered the Air Force training base in Trenton had scheduled a training run to these communities.

"So we just piggy-backed His Honour's books as part of the para-drop, where the big Hercules flies by low, pops open the back and the chutes come out carrying the books in special heavy plywood boxes," said Ingram, commanding officer of the 3rd Canadian Rangers Patrol.

Other books are being delivered to less remote communities by army trucks, which annually resupply the First Nations patrols with military stores, training equipment and rations, said Ingram.

Bartleman said more books are slated to be delivered this spring to First Nations communities by the private trucking firm Manitoba Transport and the native-run Wsaya Airways, but this week's army deliveries helped get the books quickly to some of the province's most needy children.

"It took extraordinary means to get these books to the kids, but it was particularly needed in Fort Severn, where the school building was shut down two years ago because of mould contamination and the old library books were condemned.

"The kids are still going to school in portables, but at least they have books for a library again."

Bartleman also will ship some of the donated books to children in Cree communities in northern Quebec, and to Inuit children across Nunavut.

He has also started a book club across Ontario's north, where each of 5,000 schoolchildren receives a new book four times a year. Bartleman's term is slated to end this summer.

Equay-wuk (Women's Group) is pleased to announce:

Train-The-Trainer 2007 Workshop

March 26-30, 2007.

Sunset Inn, Sioux Lookout

• Are you a community workers seeking facilitator training?
• Are you committed to promoting healthy communities?
• Are you committed to deliver a workshop/s in your community?
• If so, this is the training for you

The main goal of the Healthy Families Healthy Nations Program is to empower community workers to begin healing within their home communities.

Equay-wuk will be hosting a Train-The-Trainer workshop to assist workers in carrying out family violence prevention activities in their communities.  It has been recognized that family violence is an issue that has negative effects on all members of a family and community.

The workshop will be carried out using the newly developed resource, "Minoyawin Dibenjigewining Minoyawin Tashekewining Natamakewin" Healthy Families Healthy Nations Program - Family Violence Prevention Kit.

This workshop will be the 1st of 3 workshops available.  Target communities are those serviced by Equay-wuk (Women's Group). 

Equay-wuk is able to cover all costs for 2 delegates per community.  The first 30 registered will be accepted.  Those registered thereafter will be placed on a waiting list and will have priority seating for the next available training (dates to be determined).

Workers who should attend:

• family violence prevention workers
• family support workers
• shelter/healing centre staff
• NNADAP workers
• mental health workers
• community health representatives (CHR's)
• Health Directors
• other front line workers

Contact Jennifer or Linda:
Phone:  (807) 737-2214
Toll Free:  1-800-261-8294

Or visit our website for more information:

www.equaywuk.ca  (registration form available on-line)

Deadline for registrations is March 16, 2007.

NETWORKING NORTH RETURNS AFTER TRIUMPHANT 1st YEAR

Wasaya Airways is doing its part to promote local and surrounding area businesses to First Nation Communities in Northwestern Ontario

Thunder Bay, Ontario -- Tuesday, February 27, 2007   Wasaya Airways LP will be hosting the 2nd Annual Networking North conference and trade show on Thursday, March 1st, 2007 at the Valhalla Inn Ballroom from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Based on the huge success last year, the event will be open to over 35 local and surrounding area exhibitors. Networking North is a significant forum that brings First Nation communities and businesses together to network.

“We gained more exposure for our store, and created awareness of the products we carry and the packages we are able to put together for First Nation communities,” said Mike Fonso of Play It Again Sports following last year’s event.

The delegate numbers have tripled this year, with delegates from 21 communities across Northwestern Ontario, all communities that Wasaya Airways services. Representatives from each community consist of a member of the Chief and Council, store owners and operators, the Economic Development Corporation, or a band manager or administrator. These are the decision makers of the First Nation communities.

Mayor Lynn Peterson will be welcoming delegates to Thunder Bay in the morning, and media are encouraged to attend. Interviews with Tom Morris, President & CEO of Wasaya Airways LP, can also be scheduled.

Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council (OFNYPC)

4th Annual Youth Symposium on Culture, Language and Tradition

For First Nations Youth 15 to 29

REGISTRATION DEADLINE

MARCH 8th, 2007
 
(Depending on availability of space, late registrations may be accepted until March 13th, 2007)

Registrations limited to 300 participants

Check online at
www.chiefs-of-ontario.org/youth
for
Agenda & Listing of Workshops

Host Community Profile
Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve, Manitoulin Island

Bring your dancing regalias!    

For more information, please contact Laura Calm Wind, Youth Coordinator 1-807-626-9339 or by email at laura@coo.org

Drug and Alcohol Free Event!!

Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council
4th Annual Youth Symposium on Culture, Tradition and Language

“Now is the time for our generation to learn and preserve our sacred gifts.”

REGISTRATION FORM

Name:_________________________________________________________________

Age:___________________________________________________________________

Gender:_______________________________________________________________

First Nation Community/Organization:________________________________

Address:______________________________________________________________

Telephone:____________________________________________________________

Fax:___________________________________________________________________

Email:_________________________________________________________________

Are you a student?              ____YES ______NO

Academic Institution:_________________________________________________

Why do you want to attend?:__________________________________________

You may be required to share a room. Who will you share accommodations with?_______________________________________________

Are you representing a youth council?_____YES_______NO

If yes, what is the name of your council?______________________________

Mode of transportation to Wikwemikong:

_____Driving _______Airline_______  Bus _______Other

Please fax to:

Laura Calm Wind, Youth Coordinator, Chiefs of Ontario 807-626-940
For additional information, please call
807-626-9339 or email laura@coo.org

www.chiefs-of-ontario.org/youth