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Canada Council for the Arts launches new program for emerging Aboriginal writers

The Sioux Lookout Area Aboriginal Management Board office will be open first thing tomorrow morning (Wednesday, April 26) with all the staff returning to work. The Sioux Lookout District Chiefs met in council today and endorsed the new agreement with Human Resources Skills Development Canada (HRSD).

Bob Bruyere, SLAAMB Coordinator, reported that the chiefs demonstrated their support for the SLAAMB staff and the programs they deliver in their resolution approving the re-opening of the office and the re-instatement of the Sioux Lookout staff. "The SLAAMB team appreciates the Chiefs endorsement of our work and our efforts to get the best deal possible for the delivery of employment and training programs that meet the needs of the First Nations and their members," stated Mr. Bruyere.

Visit the SLAAMB web site at http://slaamb.on.ca for more information about the programs they will once again be delivering on behalf of Aboriginal people across the Sioux Lookout District.

Nibinamik First Nation Presents

Traditional Gathering July 1st-3rd 2005

“Celebrating life and the summer of youth”

Drum Social (warm-up) Friday Evening 7pm

Grand Entries @ 1pm, 7pm on Saturday and 1pm on Sunday 

Where: Lover's lane Arbor (between Airport and Community)

Host Drum: Red Creek Singers (Nibinamik FN)

Co-Host: Sturgeon Narrows Singers (Fort Hope)

MC: Elmer Atlookan (Fort Hope)

All are Welcome

Dancers, Drums and Singers.

*Attention*

The coordinators won’t be responsible for any injuries, stolen items, personal problems.

There will be a Camp Site at the Lover's Lane Arbor, Between the Community and Airport road. 

Please bring your Tent, Sleeping bags and gear.

NO Alcohol and Drugs allowed.

On Friday, Minister of State for FedNor, Joe Comuzzi announced a commitment of 10 million dollars to bring broadband access to every community in Northern Ontario. Click here to read the entire FedNor press release.

North Spirit Lake, Sandy Lake and Weagamow were visited by writer Louise Brown and photojournalist Rene Johnston from the Toronto Star to produce a series of four articles called "Ontario's Forgotten Children". The stories describe some of the challenges facing remote First Nations in this part of northwestern Ontario.

The Auditor General's November 2004 report guided the reporters in their search for examples and stories. In particular the parts of the report that examined the dollars spent by INAC on funding native education across Canada including:

• While the Indian and Northern Affairs Department did some studies and began a few new programs, it made little progress on a range of problems cited in 2000, including a large gap in the number of native vs. non-native high school graduates.
• The time estimated to close that education gap had actually grown slightly, from 27 to 28 years.
• The department couldn’t say whether the more than $1 billion it spends funding native education is enough, and whether the results are acceptable.
• There is a large young native population. About 40 per cent of the registered Indian population is under 19, compared with 25 per cent in the Canadian population.
• Most native schools are in communities with fewer than 500 residents, making it difficult to offer a range of services.
• The department should clarify its duties and goals, and better track funding.

The first of several articles appeared in Saturday's issue of the Star. Click on the article title to read each of them. The third story was posted on Sunday. As well, there is a photo journal (requires Quicktime) about their trip.

• Making the grade (Apr. 23)
• Poverty, despair - and hope (Apr. 23)
• These shelves speak volumes (Apr. 24)
• No skyscrapers in this culture (Apr 25)
• Even the littlest can help (Apr 28)
• Fly-in schools taking action (Apr 30) 
• Short-sighted Ottawa fails native students (May 1)
• writer Louise Brown and photojournalist Rene Johnston talk about their experiences at three native reserves in Ontario’s northwest in a slideshow of images from their trip
• Building bridges to native schools (May 2)
• Canada must nuture aboriginal talent - National Chief Phil Fontaine (May 2)
• Hiding Canada's ugly past (May 2)

We are having our 5th Annual Spring Traditional Gathering.

Friday, April 29, 2005 is CULTURAL EDUCATION DAY!

Check out the website for more info.

http://www.nnec.on.ca/pffnhs/gathering/

The Multicultural Association of Northwestern Ontario (MANWO) and Regional Multicultural Youth Council (RMYC) in Thunder Bay present the Where Are The Children? -Healing The Legacy of the Residential Schools Exhibition at the Victoriaville Mall.

A press conference was held at the Victoriaville Mall in downtown Thunder Bay on the opening of the Where are the Children? - Healing the Legacy of the Residential Schools Exhibition Thursday, April 14, 2005.

Speakers at the opening included Garnet Angeconeb, former residential school student and Secretary of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, Angie Bruce, Development Manager of the Legacy of Hope Foundation, Gabrielle Blais, Director General of Programs at Library and Archives Canada and Jeff Thomas, Curator of the exhibit. Other speakers included Moffat Makuto, Executive Director of the RMYC, David Paul Achneepineskum, NAN Executive Director and representatives from the Mayor’s office and MP Ken Boschoff’s office.

The Exhibit was created to promote an awareness of the Residential School Experience and is targeted to educate Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Youth. Everyone is encouraged to come out and view the exhibit at the Victoriaville Mall in Thunder Bay.

The Where are the Children? - Healing the Legacy of the Residential Schools Exhibition can be seen starting March 28 to July 22, 2005 from 10 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday and from 2 pm to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday.

For more information or for group reservations and special hours call (807) 622-4666.

To reach the Aboriginal Healing Foundation call 1 888 725 8886

To see the Where are the Children website click here

To visit the Aboriginal Healing Foundation site click here

To see pictures of the opening ceremony click here

Feed My Sheep Ministries Support Group conducts this Gospel Music event in the Core area of Winnipeg, Manitoba for families and individuals who are in dire need. It is a place where individuals share their problems and receive counseling and support. It's a refuge place which gives a sense of belonging ... A place where you will feel God's presence. 

If you would like to receive information of our up-coming Gospel events send me an email. On April 28, 29 30, and May 1, everyone is most welcome to attend our Indoor Gospel Campmeeting in Winnipeg at 410 Pritchard Avenue (corner of Salter Street), starting @ 7:00pm Nightly. 

Next time you are in Winnipeg come and enjoy gospel music or get involved. Testimonies and singers are always welcome. We also pray for people in spiritual crisis, and we accept pray requests for all needs.

These gospel sessions take place every Friday Night @ 7:30 pm - 12:00am. At: 410 Pritchard Avenue (corner of Salter Street) in Winnipeg.

More information: MERV @ 1-204-694-4698 or
Email: mletandre@shaw.ca

The "Leaders of the First Peoples of the Great Lakes Watershed" are hosting their inaugural meeting in Niagara Falls at the Niagare Fallsview Casino and Resort on April 11 and 12. The meeting will be web cast.

Click here for the agenda.

Click here for the link to the webcast (Windows Media Player required)

On the second day starting at 1 pm EST, the Ontario ministry of Natural Resources will be doing a presentation entitled "No Diversion: The Position of the Government of Ontario."

85 schools kick off Lieutenant Governor's twinning initiative    

TORONTO, April 7 /CNW/ - Eighty-five public schools throughout Ontario have been twinned with a Native school in the first phase of an initiative established by Ontario's Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable James Bartleman.

Today at an event held at Jarvis Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Mr. Bartleman was joined by Grand Chief Stan Beardy of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation; Sheila Ward, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Toronto District School Board; Doug Acton, President of the Ontario Principals' Council; and Andrew Gold, Principal of Jarvis Collegiate Institute in announcing the initiative.

"This twinning initiative will encourage Native and non-Native students to build bridges between their communities," said Mr Bartleman. "I am delighted that so many Ontario schools want to get involved."

The 85 schools, from 24 public school boards across Ontario, will launch the initiative aimed at promoting literacy among aboriginal youth. While all of the Native schools announced today are located in Ontario, Mr. Bartleman has also received requests from schools in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, and is in ongoing discussions to include Native schools from these Territories in the next phase of the program.

Over the course of the next few months, the public schools will:

• Establish a non-Native pen pal for each participating aboriginal student,
• Hold annual drives to collect used books, reference materials and musical instruments for First Nations children and young adults, and
• Host an aboriginal awareness week in participating non-Native schools each June.

"When we put our call out asking schools to take part in this program, we were overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response from principals across Ontario," said Doug Acton, President of the Ontario Principals' Council. "Students are really excited to connect with others from another cultural background. It's the kind of learning opportunity that enhances the ongoing curriculum in schools."

In addition to the 85 public schools taking part in the program's first phase, another 50 public schools have expressed their interest in participating, and will be twinned with Territorial schools once those schools have been finalized.

"Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) is extremely pleased to be part of the Lieutenant Governor's twinning initiative. It not only focuses on the awareness and understanding at the institutional or school level, but also makes a difference by pairing and involving students at the individual level," said NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy. "This interaction and communication will go a long way in helping to sensitize young people in urban and northern communities."

"In addition," he continued, "the replenishing of books and the annual Aboriginal days will encourage involvement among young people. Promoting literacy will lead to increased educational aspirations, and an improvement in the quality of life for our community members."

The Ontario Principals' Council is a voluntary professional association representing 5,000 principals and vice-principals in Ontario's public elementary and secondary schools. Established in 1998, OPC advocates on behalf of public education and provides professional supports to its Members. 

Note - a list of all participating First Nation schools follows.

Lieutenant Governor's Twinning Initiative

The following schools will participate in the first phase of the twinning initiative:

• JR Nakogee Elementary School
• Michikan Lake School
• White Pine Ridge School
• Titotay Memorial School
• Dokis Indian Day School
• Aglace Chapman Education Centre
• Gabbius Goodman Memorial Learning Ctre
• Vezina Secondary School and Vezina Adult Education
• Lydia Lois Beardy Memorial School
• Biinjiti-waabik Zaaging School
• Kettle & Stoney Point Hillside School
• Migisi Sahgaigun School
• Missabay Community School
• S.G.E.I. School
• Delores D. Echum Composite School
• Wiiji Nimbawiyaang
• Walpole Island Elementary School
• Eenchokay Birchstick School
• Standing Stone School
• Moravian Town Kindergarten
• Standing Stone School
• Pelican Falls High School
• Wasse Abin High School
• Pontiac Elementary School
• David Kejick School
• Simon Jacob Memorial School
• Beedaban School
• Netamisakomik Centre for Education
• Pic Mobert Private High School
• John C. Yesno Education Centre
• Shawanowsowe School
• Thomas Fiddler Memorial High School
• Adults in Motion
• Chief Simeon Mckay Education Centre
• St. Andrews School
• The Georgina Island Indian Day School
• Niimki Miigizi Secondary School
• Miigizi Wazisin Elementary School
• Pic River Elementary School
• Baibombeh School
• Nibinimik Education Centre
• Bimaychikamah School
• Beausoleil Adult Learning Centre
• Keewaywin First Nation School
• Kinomaugew-gamik Elementary School
• Constance Lake Day School
• Kenjewin Teg High School
• M'Chigeeng Literacy and Basic Skills Program (Adult Learning Centre)
• Kenjewin Teg Alternative
• Laura Mckenzie Learning Centre
• Victoria Linklater Memorial School
• Rev. Eleazar Winter Memorial School
• Pegamigaabo School
• Samson Beardy Memorial School
• Neskantaga Education Centre
• Native Sena School
• Wapshki Penasi School
• Northern Eagle High School
• Peetabeck Academy - Elementary 
• Oliver M. Smith- Kawenni: IO Elementary School
• Mary Ann Aganash Memorial School
• Sakatcheway Anishinaabe School
• Lakeview Public School
• Tsi Snaihne Davey School
• Batchewana Learning Centre
• Francine J Wesley Secondary School
• Lloyd S. King Elementary School
• Waninitawa-gang (Chief Cornerstone Christian School)
• Wasauksing Kinomaugew-gamik Elementary School
• Big Island School
• Thomas Fiddler Memorial Elementary School
• Akwesasne Mohawk School
• Nbiising Secondary School
• Ma-tah-ha-mao Public School
• Constance Lake Alternative School
• Morris Thomas Memorial Christian School
• Henry Coaster Memorial School
• Constance Lake Christian School
• I L Thomas Odadrihonya-ni'ta' School
• Kana:Takon School
• Chippewas of Nawash First Nation Elementary School
• Lac La Croix High School
• Lac La Croix Elementary School
• A.Scatch Memorial School
• Martin Mckay Memorial School

For further information: please contact:
Peggy Sweeney, Ontario Principals' Council, (416) 322-6600;
Nanda Casucci-Byrne, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, (416) 325-7781;
Jenna Young, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, (807) 625-4952, (807) 628 3953 (cellular)