Media.Knet.Ca

AFN Special Chiefs meeting covered in K-Net News ...

Geordi Kakepetum, Executive Director of Keewaytinook Okimakanak, Cheryl Klassen, Education Facilitator of KO Telehealth (KOTH) and Brian Walmark of the KO Research Institute (KORI) will be in Ottawa this week to participate in the Special Chiefs Meeting of the Assembly of First Nations. The meeting will provide Chiefs from across Canada with a briefing on the First Ministers meeting with Aboriginal leaders last month.

KO is also seeking AFN support on a number of issues including connectivity, telehealth, the satellite initiative, improved library services in remote and isolated communities and other issues. If you would like sponsor one of these support resolutions or you would like additional information, please email brianwalmark@knet.ca for more details.

Brian and Cheryl will be filing stories throout the meeting with K-Net News. Watch www.knet.ca for updates. To ask questions or to comment, email brianwalmark@knet.ca

The Honourable Joe Comuzzi Announces Funding to Matawa First Nations Management Organization to bring Broadband Internet Service to Additional Aboriginal, Northern and Rural Communities

THUNDER BAY, Ontario, November 23, 2005 -- The Honourable Joe Comuzzi, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Superior North, on behalf of the Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry, is pleased to announce that up to $973 592 in program savings from Industry Canada's Broadband for Rural and Northern Development Pilot Program is available to be invested toward the Matawa First Nations Management organization to deploy broadband, or high-capacity Internet, to local communities that are currently not served by broadband. This project represents an estimated eight communities, as defined by the participant and originally submitted in the project's business proposal.

The Broadband Pilot Program's implementation funding was made available to 58 successful recipients based on their initial estimated project costs, and funding was subject to successful negotiations among all parties. During these negotiations some recipients were able to identify savings in areas such as equipment and service costs. In some cases, recipients were able to secure additional funding partners, thereby reducing the amount of funding required from the Broadband Pilot Program. This resulted in additional funds becoming available to be invested toward four broadband implementation projects, which includes the Matawa First Nations Management.

"Broadband puts more resources within reach of First Nations communities," said Mr. Comuzzi. "Apart from greater access to online learning and telehealth services, broadband access will help people in these communities to communicate with each other, and with the rest of the world, more easily."

The funding announced today is subject to successful negotiations among all parties through a formal contribution agreement. There is also the potential for additional projects to be considered, contingent upon available program savings.

Broadband is defined as a high-capacity Internet connection, capable of supporting full-motion, real-time audio and video applications. It serves as a pipeline for delivering innovative applications, putting services in areas such as health, education and business within easy reach of all Canadians.

To date, the Broadband Pilot Program has reached out to 884 communities, including 116 First Nations Reserves. The Broadband Pilot Program complements the $155-million National Satellite Initiative. In the October 2004 Speech from the Throne, the Government of Canada reaffirmed its commitment to regional development across Canada. Broadband service to rural and remote communities will ultimately provide Aboriginal, northern and rural communities with more opportunities to move forward socially and economically.

Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2005 federal Budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.

More information on the Broadband for Rural and Northern Development Pilot Program is available at http://www.broadband.gc.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Christiane Fox
Office of the Honourable David L. Emerson
Minister of Industry
(613) 995-9001

Media Relations
Industry Canada
(613) 943-2502

News Release from the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation web site at http://www.naaf.ca

Monday, November 28, 2006 - Toronto, ON

At a time when Canada is focussed on First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Peoples, the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the 13th Annual National Aboriginal Achievement Awards

FOURTEEN RECIPIENTS OF THE PRESTIGEOUS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD ANNOUNCED

TORONTO ' A world renowned artist, an entrepreneur from the East coast and an environmentalist from the far North compose a portion of the fourteen recipients of the National Achievement Awards showcasing the overwhelming diversity, contribution and achievement that can be found among Canada's First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The awards were announced today by Roberta Jamieson, CEO& President of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF).

The 13th Annual National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, can count a number of firsts. Shirley Firth Larsson, the twin sister of an equally successful 2005 NAAA recipient, will be awarded an Award for Sports. As well the Foundation will also for the first time, award a recipient posthumously, as the inspiring and bright star, Myra Cree, sadly recently passed away after having been selected through the juried process, leaving a remarkable legacy.

Roberta Jamieson, CEO of the Foundation, said, "When one achieves greatness for themselves they are in fact achieving greatness for their entire community. "This year's recipients embody the diversity of our peoples and speak to potential realized. They are fantastic role models for our Aboriginal youth and all Canadians; I couldn't be more pleased with this year's recipients."

The 2006 National Aboriginal Achievement Award recipients are a notable group. They are:

• Jim Sinclair, Lifetime Achievement, Métis, Saskatchewan
• Andrea Dykstra, Youth, M'ikmaw Nation, Pictou Landing, Nova Scotia
• Taiaiake (Gerald) Alfred, Education, Kaien'kehaka, Mohawks of Kahnawake
• Dr. Herb Belcourt, Housing, Métis, Alberta
• Tony Belcourt, Public Service, Métis, Ontario
• Bernd Christmas, Business and Commerce, M'ikmaw, Membertou First Nation, Nova Scotia
• Gladys Taylor Cook, Heritage and Spirituality, Dakota, Sioux Valley First Nation, Manitoba
• Myra Cree, Media and Communications, Mohawk, Oka-Kahnesatake
• Billy Day, Environment, Inuit, Inuvialuit, NT 
• James (Sakej) Youngblood Henderson, Law and Justice, Chickasaw/Cheyenne Nations, now residing in Saskatchewan
• Wendy Grant-John, Community Development, Coast Salish, Musqueam, BC 
• Shirley Firth Larsson, Sports, Gwich'in, NT 
• Jane Ash Poitras, Arts and Culture, Cree/Chipewyan, Alberta
• George Tuccaro, Media and Communications, Mikisew Cree, Alberta

This year's 14 recipients will receive their awards at a star-studded gala evening on Friday, January 27th, 2006, in Vancouver at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

The fourteen achievers are selected by a national jury comprised of past award recipients and individuals representing First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples from, diverse geographic regions of Canada and areas of the economy.

The awards are a special project of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, established in 1985. The Foundation provides financial assistance to First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Aboriginal students to realize their educational goals and dreams with more than a total of $2 million in individual scholarships awarded to students this year and $18- million awarded since the project began.

The Foundation is devoted to excellence and providing the educational tools necessary for Aboriginal youth to achieve brighter futures.

For further information contact Scott Cavan, Director of Media Relations at 416-926-0775. Visit our website at www.naaf.ca for the following information:

2006 Recipient photos and biographies

Award winners announced at 5th Annual Wood WORKS! Awards Gala

Chief Arthur Moore, of Constance Lake First Nation (200 km west of Timmins), and the Deer Lake K-12 School at Deer Lake First Nation (1,000 km northwest of Thunder Bay) won prestigious Wood WORKS! Awards, announced November 24 at the 5th Annual Wood WORKS! Awards Gala, held in Collingwood, Ontario.  There were over 300 industry and community leaders, politicians, architects and engineers who came to celebrate Ontario’s finest wood-based construction and advocacy.

Smith Carter Architects & Engineers Inc. and Lavergne Draward & Associates Inc. of Winnipeg, Manitoba, accepted the Jury’s Choice Award (sponsored by The Working Forest) for Deer Lake's new K-12 School.  This award recognizes projects that represent excellence in design, use wood in a unique manner and invoke a sense of community spirit and pride. 

The designers carefully fit the school into the community and its natural environment of tall, thin, spruce trees. The use of wood referenced historical dwellings and echoed the “deep roots–new beginnings” concept.  Even the lighting—a series of skylights in a corridor ascending diagonally in sections and terminating at high level windows—reflects the surroundings, where sunlight feathers in from above the trees.  Laminated wood decking was used for the ceilings and roof deck throughout the building, and fir glulam beams and columns were used for the structure. The whole building, in its creative and thoughtful use of wood, represents a solid, warm foundation for learning.

“The Jury selected this building because it harmonizes so well with its surroundings.  It’s a place where the past and the future are part of the present, and students will be inspired,” remarked Bérubé.

Chief Arthur Moore received the Building the Future Award -Community Leader (sponsored by the Ontario Forestry Industries Association), which recognizes a leading individual who facilitates the construction of commercial, industrial and institutional projects with wood, and stands out as a persuasive wood advocate.  Chief Moore has shown a strong commitment to his community in Constance Lake by investing in local projects, such as the Holistic Education Centre and the Eagle’s Earth Historical Centre.  He believes strongly in supporting the local forest industry, which he sees as vital to the livelihood of his community.

“People like Chief Moore are showing us how to maintain a sustainable forestry industry, which will last forever,” commented Marianne Bérubé, Executive Director of Wood WORKS!

Megaconference 7, the world's largest video conference, is now taking place (Thursday, Dec. 1 2005), from 8am to 11pm EST.

A live stream will be available throughout the Megaconference, starting at 8 am.  Anyone can view the stream, which is open to all at http://www.megaconference.org

Ontario program participants include York University and the University of Waterloo's drama and speech communication department, which will demonstrate collaborative theatre using videoconferencing technology to link remote sets and actors. Waterloo will present a short live play with colleagues at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.

NEW MERCHANT CLASS

Don't tell Santa, because we've been a bit naughty, but we've had a little peek at the agreement in principle for the settlement in the residential schools class action and, how to put this delicately, there's a new sheriff in town.

The agreement provides $40-million in fees for the Merchant Law Group (that would be Saskatchewan lawyer Tony Merchant) and another $40-million to a national consortium of law firms who, sadly, have to split their take 19 ways.

Did we mention in both cases that's just a base amount? They also get "reasonable disbursements, and GST and PST, if applicable." Quite right. Things such as photocopying, long-distance bills and Chinese food can add up.

Oh, the $80-million? That was just for the billable hours accumulated to Nov. 23.

"You can bet the home fires are burning long into the night working on this settlement agreement," says someone wise about such things. "People can pound away the hours now because they also get to bill from that point forward, plus disbursements and interests.

"The feds are handing out early Christmas presents to the lawyers in this case. The tally is $80- million and counting -- it could easily be 50% more."

My, my. Even $80-million eclipses previous fee awards and gives Harvey Strosberg and his Toronto-area class-action colleagues something to aim for. The previous record was the $56- million the lawyers were awarded on Hep. C. It seemed like foie gras at the time. Now it's starting to seem a bit like chopped liver.

Wawatay Radio is launching a national radio program on December 3 from 10:00am to 2:00pm(CST). National Chief Phil Fontaine will be our in-studio guest in Sioux Lookout. Jon Kim Bell, Director of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, will participate in some portions of the program, as well as other guests from across the country.

The overall theme and purpose of this program is to connect Aboriginal youth with each other and the First Nations leadership. In particular we hope to:

• connect youth interactively with their local,regional and national leaders;
• use national-feed radio and ICT's to create an awareness among youth of contemporary and historical issues that affect them;
• provide a forum where youth meet First Nations professionals who are successful in their chosen fields/careers; and
• provide a forum where FNs leaders and professionals can support and nurture youth through the medium of national broadcast/webcast forums.

The investment in broadband telecommunication infrastructure continues to be supported as part of the Aboriginal blueprint laid out at the First Ministers' Meeting this past week in Kelowna. From the information distributed at the First Ministers' Meeting, it appears that Industry Canada's BRAND program will lead the infrastructure development work with the First Nations School program continuing to support the First Nation schools across the country to access and utilize these services. Telehealth is also included as part of the final document as a means of supporting the access to improved health services in Aboriginal communities. See below for links and actual statements from the documents distributed at the First Ministers' Meeting.

From the Government of Canada, Nov 25 Press Release ... GOVERNMENT OF CANADA INVESTS IN IMMEDIATE ACTION TO IMPROVE LIVES OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES IN CANADA

The Government of Canada will also bring broadband access to an additional 250 communities within 10 years.

• $100 million investment for Broadband for Rural and Northern Development

From the backgrounder on Aboriginal Education

An Industry Canada SchoolNet initiative, First Nations SchoolNet connects all First Nations schools under federal jurisdiction to the Internet. By improving the connectivity and technical capacities of First Nations schools, the program aims to bridge the digital divide in First Nations schools located in remote and rural communities.

From Turtle Island News at http://turtleisland.org ... a great article about the top Aboriginal music in Canada ...

Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 9:38 pm    Post subject: Honouring Excellence in Aboriginal Music  

Tanya Tagaq was the big winner last night at the 7th annual Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. In fact, she had been nominated for five awards.

Tagaq’s CD, "Sinaa" received three awards. Best Female Artist - Best Album Design and Best Produceed and Engineered CD.

LISTEN HERE . . .
http://www.tanyatagaq.com/en/mp3/

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Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards

Announces Winners of 27 Awards

Honouring Excellence in Aboriginal Music

Toronto, November 25, 2005... The 7th annual Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards gala this evening was a star-studded celebrity event where 27 awards were presented to honour the work and achievements of outstanding Aboriginal musicians and industry members in Canada.

The big winner of the evening was Tagaq’s CD “Sinaa” with three awards. Two awards each went to Winnipeg’s Little Hawk, Ryan D’Aoust, also from Manitoba, and Cape Breton’s Forever.

Manitoba artists shone in the spotlight, with a total of eight awards going to six Manitoba artists, including Little Hawk, Ryan D’Aoust, Burnt, Kimberly Dawn, Lisa Meeches & Kyle Irving, and Hank Horton. Following Manitoba, four awards went home with Alberta artists, four awards were presented to winners from Canada’s north (NWT and Nunavut), Saskatchewan artists earned three awards, and three awards were presented to winners from Ontario.

Tagaq‘s CD “Sinaa” received three awards: Best Female Artist for Tanya ‘Tagaq’ Gillis, Best Producer/Engineer for producer Juan Hernandez and engineer Jose "Triki" Trincado, and Best Album Design for Oscar Poza & Montse. Members of this outstanding team are from Nunavut.

Best Album of the Year and Best Folk Album honours went to Little Hawk for his CD “1492-1975.” Little Hawk, a.k.a. Troy Westwood, is from Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Cape Breton, Nova Scotia’s Forever also took home two awards: Best Rock Album and Best Music Video for the recording “Something to Dream Of” and the video of the same name.

Ryan D’aoust, a 16-year-old left-handed fiddler from Norway House, Manitoba received the Best Fiddle Album Award for his CD “Southside of the Strings,” and the Galaxie Rising Stars Award, granted by Galaxie, CBC’s Continuous Music Network, to a promising newcomer in Aboriginal Music.

The Best Female Traditional/Cultural Roots Album award went to Asani for “Rattle & Drum.” Asani is a contemporary a cappella Aboriginal women’s trio hailing from Alberta.

Diga a Tlicho (Dogrib) musician from Fort Rae, NWT, was named Best Male Artist. His CD is called “Earth is Crying”.

The honours for Best Group or Duo went to Burnt, the eleven-member ensemble based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Burnt’s CD “Hometown” blends blues, jazz, rock, funk and traditional First Nations sounds.

Jason Burnstick & the Rhythm received the Best Instrumental Album Award for “Burn.” Burnstick lives in Vancouver, B.C., where he blends the sounds and rhythms of Latin music and his Cree roots.

Alberta’s Carl Quinn was named Best Songwriter for the title song on his CD “Ni Ototem,” whose goal is to promote, preserve and share the Cree language.

Kimberly Dawn’s song “Spirit of Our People” won the Best Song/Single honours. Dawn is from Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Lisa Meeches & Kyle Irving took the Best Television Program Award home to Winnipeg, for the program “First Nation Invasion”. This is the first year that the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards celebrate the producers with the Best Television Program Award.

Northern Quebec’s Beatrice Deer received the Best Inuit Cultural Album Award for “Just Bea”. This the first year of the Best Inuit Cultural Album Award.

The Best Blues Album went to The WolfPack for their CD, “Family Thang.”
The WolfPack is a family of siblings, aged 23-30, from Six Nations, Ontario.

Blackstone, from the Sweetgrass First Nation in Saskatchewan, was honoured with Best Pow Wow Album - Contemporary Award for “Back in the Day.”

The Best Rap or Hip Hop Album Award was handed to Eekwol for her CD “Apprentice to the Mystery.” Eekwol is from the Muskoday First Nation in Saskatchewan.

“Honky Tonk Heartache Blues” earned Hank Horton the Best Country Album Award. Abie Parenteau a.k.a. “Hank Horton” is from Duck Bay, Manitoba.

Painted Horse received the Best Pow Wow Album - Traditional Award for “Blackfoot Songs”. The Painted Horse singers hail from the Cree, Blood, Blackfoot, Peigan and Tsuii Tina Nations in Saskatchewan.

The Best Hand Drum Album Award was presented to Northern Cree from Saddle Lake, Alberta, for the CD “Sweethearts Shuffle.”

Joanne Shenandoah was awarded with the Best International Album Award for her recording, “Skywoman.” Shenanandoah is a Wolf Clan member of the Iroquois Confederacy – Oneida Nation, and calls Oneida, NY, USA home.

Willie Dunn was honoured with the Lifetime Contribution to Aboriginal Music Award, presented to an individual who dedicates a large part of their life and career to promoting and developing Aboriginal music. Willie Dunn is singer, songwriter, musician, playwright, artist, director, award-winning filmmaker, and First Nations ambassador, who lives in Ottawa, Ontario.

Allan Beaver was awarded the Keeper of Traditions in Aboriginal Music Award, presented to an individual dedicated to teaching Aboriginal culture through music. Allan Beaver is an accomplished athlete, public speaker, well-known for his heartwarming gospel music and an excellent role model. He is a member of the Bigstone Cree Nation, and lives in Alberta.

The Music Industry Award, presented to an individual, Aboriginal of non-Aboriginal who is making or has made a significant positive impact on Canadian Aboriginal music, will be presented to music journalist and author Brian Wright-McLeod. The launch of Brian Wright-McLeod’s book, Encyclopedia Of Native Music (The University of Arizona Press/University of British Columbia Press) and its' musical companion The Soundtrack Of A People, took place at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards. Brian is Dakota/Anishnabe and lives in Toronto, Ontario.

The Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards acknowledge and honour the keepers, teachers, promoters, creators and performers of Aboriginal music. The Awards promote the diversity in, and celebrate the excellence of, Aboriginal music; they recognize the unique vision of Aboriginal musicians, and they encourage this rich cultural voice.

The Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards gala event took place Friday, November 25, in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre’s John Bassett Theatre, in downtown Toronto. The Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards are a highlight of the Canadian Aboriginal Festival Week, North America’s largest multi-disciplinary Aboriginal arts event, taking place November 21-27, 2005.

The 2006 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards will see some exciting changes. Amos Key Jr., who has been involved in the Awards since its inception, will join Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards Co-Founder Catherine Cornelius as Co-Executive Producer. Also next year, the 8th annual Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards gala event will take place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on November 3, 2006.

The public can visit www.canab.com for complete details.