Media.Knet.Ca

Broadband infrastructure and the assoicated applications such as telehealth are becoming a priority for national leaders. Presentations in recent days are indicating that leaders will be working to create new opportunities for communities to build the required broadband connections that will support various applications including telehealth (two way symmetrical video conferencing capabilities).

Grand Chief Phil Fontaine promised the participants in last week's AFN Telehealth Summit in Winnipeg that he will seek the resources required for all First Nations to be able to develop broadband infrastructure so they can access telehealth services.

Industry Minister Emerson made similar commitments during a presentation in Toronto (as reported by Canadian Press) ...

Minister seeks cash for renewed broadband push

TORONTO - Industry Minister David Emerson said Wednesday he will be seeking increased federal funding for initiatives to improve the country's broadband infrastructure, an essential component of high-speed Internet communications.

Canada's competitive advantage in terms of broadband communications has begun to slip and it's time for the federal government to make a renewed push to ensure the country doesn't fall behind, Emerson said.

"Without Internet access today, people and communities simply cannot get into the game. They're not able to get into the economic mainstream," Emerson said in a lunch-time speech to the Empire Club.

He added that the federal government needs to "finish the job" of building Canada's broadband capabilities, referring to initiatives championed by previous Liberal industry ministers.

"We've slowed down a bit in the past year, budgetarily, but we've cleaned up pretty well all of the projects that were started and I'm going to be asking for a budget enhancement to take it over the top," Emerson told reporters later.

He wouldn't say how much he would be asking for from Finance Minister Ralph Goodale for the next federal budget.

"Telecommunications and broadband technology are the most transformative technologies of our generation. It is the infrastructure that connects us with the global information economy. Canadians without high-speed access to the Internet will be increasingly out of the game... in terms of economic opportunities, education and even health care."

A memorial service for the late Curran Strang will be held on Wednesday September 27, 2005 at 2 pm. The service will be held at Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School Gym with some singing and sharing.

Strang was last seen on last Thursday, September 22 at the Intercty area. His body was discovered five days later in that area by the Ontario Provincial Police Dive Team. According to a news release, foul play is not suspected.

PRESS RELEASE - A story of a young man's journey "home" and a spiritual quest for discovery.

Internationally Award Winning Film Maker Shirley Cheechoo premieres JOHNNY TOOTALL starring Adam Beach at imagineNative Film and Media Arts Festival.

Recognized internationally as the first Aboriginal person to write, direct, act and producer a dramatic, narrative feature, Shirley Cheechoo chose imagineNative as the Canadian premiere of her second film, JOHNNY TOOTALL. The cast is lead by Adam Beach and Sheila Tousey (Silent Tongue) and introduces newcomer Randi Knighton and rising stars, Nathaniel Arcand and Alex Rice.

"The growth of this festival since it's inception is phenomenal and I wanted JOHNNY TOOTALL to premiere at our own Aboriginal festival before screening it abroad." says Cheechoo, " This festival has an international reach and makes an important contribution giving us a wonderful arena for our voices to be heard."

JOHNNY TOOTALL is the opening night film at imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival 2005 in Toronto.  Opening night screening is at 7pm, October 19th at the Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor St. West.

JOHNNY TOOTALL SYNOPSIS

JOHNNY TOOTALL is a film about re-birth, recovery and a metaphor for truth. It is the story of a young man's journey "home" and a spiritual quest for discovery of not only his true self but also a right of passage to re-claiming his own power.

Discharged from Bosnian war, Johnny carries the weight this war on his shoulders. He left the war with a dark and frightening secret, the murder of a young Bosnian boy that haunts him.  But Johnny carries many demons.  The death of his father, running from his destiny as Chief of the Band and abandoning the love of his life, Johnny must return home, the wolf spirit has called. Upon his return, he finds a new war. His estranged brother is leading his people in a revolt to save their sacred land. Johnny faces a dilemma; does he fight to save is people, or does he save himself.  His journey will guide him to realizing that they are the same. In a blink, his world changes and in death, his brother guides him on a spirit walk to meet his destiny as leader of his people.

Directed by filmmaker Shirley Cheechoo, co-written by Andrew Genaille and Shirley Cheechoo, produced by Danielle Prohom Olson, JOHNNY TOOTALL was developed through CHUM's New VI Drama Initiative with Brightlight Pictures executive producing.

Starring Canadian actors, Adam Beach, ("Wind Talkers", "Smoke Signals"), Nathaniel Arcand ("Ginger Snaps 3", 'Black Cloud" and TV series "North of 60" and Alex Rice ("On The Corner" and "Thunderbird"). JOHNNY TOOTALL also stars American actor Sheila Tousey ("©~Law and Order©~ "Ravenous").  The film introduces a local island girl Randi Knighton, discovered during an open casting call in Nanaimo.

Info: imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival :  416-585-2333 and Shirley Cheechoo can be reached at   705.377.4141

Paddlers Arrive Parliament Hill

from www.nan.on.ca Posted by: Communication and Media  jyoung@nan.on.ca 7/18/2005 11:51:29 AM

Missanabie Cree First Nation Chief Glenn Nolan and nine of the 15 paddlers who participated in a 3 month journey retracing the original treaty signing canoe route commemorating the centennial of James Bay Treaty No. 9 arrived at Parliament Hill Thursday September 15, 2005.

NEWS RELEASE- for the PDF version

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NAN PADDLERS ARRIVE PARLIAMENT HILL

OTTAWA, ON Thursday September 15, 2005:  Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Stan Beardy, along with NAN Chiefs and representatives from the provincial and federal governments, today welcomed Missanabie Cree Chief Glenn Nolan and a group of nine paddlers at Turtle Island Native Village on Victoria Island just behind Parliament Hill, Ottawa. 

“I am here today to not only acknowledge the long and historical journey of Chief Nolan and his team, but to deliver an empty scroll to representatives from both the Province and Canada,” said NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy. 

As part of the two year centennial commemoration of James Bay Treaty No. 9, the blank scroll delivered by Chief Nolan and presented by Grand Chief Beardy indicates Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s position to work with provincial and federal governments to reaffirm the treaty signed 100 years ago. 

“The people of Nishnawbe Aski are not benefiting from the current treaty relationship. Many of our communities are some of the poorest in the country, yet are considered some of the wealthiest in terms of natural resources,” said Beardy. 

“It is my intent, with the participation of NAN Chiefs and both levels of government, to take the opportunity presented with this 100th anniversary to draw attention to the deficiencies of the treaty and reaffirm our treaty relationship by positively working together to ensure future mutual benefits of this relationship based on the original spirit and intent of the treaty.”

Chief Nolan’s three-month journey across NAN territory retraced the original route taken by British Commissioners when they visited seven of the fifteen signatory First Nation communities of James Bay Treaty No. 9 in 1905.  The paddlers participated in all commemorative events that took place throughout NAN territory – an area covering two-thirds of Ontario, spanning North of the 51st parallel to the coasts of Hudson’s and James bays, east to Quebec’s border and west to Manitoba’s border.

"The treaty needs to be taken seriously and our people need to be viewed as full participants of the treaty,” said Chief Nolan who has paddled to seven NAN communities since his departure from Cat Lake First Nation June 21, 2005.  “What I’ve seen on this trip is how vibrant our communities are. We have strong traditions and strong cultures and all this richness can’t be suppressed by the treaty.”

“After seeing all the challenges facing our communities to arrive in the extreme and almost perverse wealth that lines the Ottawa River makes you think where did that wealth come from?,” said Nolan.   “This wealth comes from our land, the resources come from our land and there’s got to be a fair share of profits coming from those resources.”

James Bay Treaty No. 9 Centennial Commemoration will continue next summer as the remaining eight of the fifteen (total) of NAN’s 49 First Nation communities commemorate this historic anniversary on their respective treaty signing dates.

Financial support for commemorative events has been provided by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor).  Corporate sponsors include Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund, Ontario Power Generation, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, RBC Financial Group, Hydro One, Bowater, Old Post Resort and Village, Wasaya Airways LP, and City of Timmins and Economic Development Corporation.

The Treaty paddlers received contributions from Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, Domtar and Nova Craft Canoes.

* * *

For more information please contact:

Jenna Young
Communications Officer
Nishnawbe Aski Nation
(807) 625 4952

Click here for speaking notes from NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy
 
Click here for speaking notes from Associate Deputy Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Suzanne Tining

Contradictory news reports out of Ottawa regarding upcoming funding announcement regarding spending to improve health, education and housing on Canada’s First Nations communities...

SMART delivery of KiHS Classroom to Fort Severn, Ontario

If you care about the health of your community and you want to make a difference, you can!

Applicants should be:

• Interested in providing Aboriginal views to the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and improving the numbers of Aboriginal youth applying to medical school
• An Aboriginal youth between the ages of 18 and 25
• A post-secondary student or graduate

The NOSM Aboriginal Reference Group meets quarterly, generally in Thunder Bay, Sudbury or by teleconference. This is a volunteer position. Travel is covered by NOSM in accordance with University financial policies.

Applicants must submit a covering letter and a current Curriculum Vitae/Resume along with a two page essay indicating why they are interested in the Youth Representative position, their skills and qualifications, and how the position will contribute to their own career goals. Please apply to:

Aboriginal Affairs Unit
Northern Ontario School of Medicine
955 Oliver Road
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1
Fax: (807) 766-7363
Email: Orpah.McKenzie@normed.ca

Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Interviews will be held by telephone. For further information about the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, visit www.normed.ca 

or contact Orpah McKenzie, Director of Aboriginal Affairs at (807) 766-7311. 

The Aboriginal Reference Group of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) is seeking an Aboriginal Youth Representative for a two-year term. The Group provides advice to the School’s initiatives and accommodation of the Aboriginal worldview. The Group serves as the primary resource for the School of Medicine to fulfill its mandate concerning inclusive Aboriginal education and health.

Introducing Lac Seul First Nation's web site. www.lacseul.firstnation.ca

FYI ... just received this invitation to subscribe to a bimonthly newsletter ... thought others might be interested in this one as well ...

The Canadian Cultural Observatory is a national information service that supports cultural development in Canada by: informing the cultural policy and research community; encouraging evidence-based policy and planning; and stimulating community debate and improved knowledge exchange.

Please accept this message as an invitation to subscribe to the Observatory's bimonthly newsletter in order to remain up to date on cultural policy research and developments.

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SOURCE: Canadian Tourism Commission - Louise Leblanc

Culture and Tourism In Focus Tourism has been one of the most remarkable economic phenomena of the last few decades. Is culture an important element of tourism? Are culture and tourism compatible? Is it worthwhile to develop strategies focused on building a productive alliance between these sectors? Finally, how is it possible to create links between culture, tourism and sustainability? Read on, as the Canadian Cultural Observatory brings answers to these questions In Focus. Full Article

Live With Culture The Live With Culture initiative is part of the City of Toronto's Culture Plan, which aims to position the city as a global cultural capital. SOURCE: City of Toronto Montréal Adopts its First Cultural Development Policy At its last city council meeting, the City of Montréal has adopted its first cultural development policy: Politique de développement culturel. (Publication available in French only.) SOURCE: Ville de Montréal Warsaw, Poland - Metropolis of Europe - Urban Cultural Life and Inter-city Cultural Interactions for 'Cultural Diversity' in Europe Roundtable, September 23-24, 2005 SOURCE: The Warsaw Research Institute of the Pro Cultura Foundation Montréal - Franco-Québec Meeting on the Democracy of Culture, October 3-5, 2005 (Publication available in French only.) SOURCE: Culture et communications Québec London, England - The 36th International Institute of Communications Annual Conference, October 10-11, 2005 SOURCE: International Institute of Communications Trois-Rivières - Creative City Network Conference 2005 - Planning and Sustaining Creative Communities, October 12-15, 2005 SOURCE: Creative City Network Montréal - Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) International Conference - Sustainable Cities: Linking Competitiveness with Social Cohesion, October 13-14, 2005 SOURCE: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Toronto - 10th International Metropolis Conference - Our Diverse Cities: Migration, Diversity and Change, October 17-21 2005 SOURCE: Metropolis Regina - International Colloquium 2005 - Resistance and Convergence: Francophone and Métis Strategies of Identity in Western Canada, October 20-23, 2005 SOURCE: Institut français, University of Regina Belfast, Northern Ireland - Creative Clusters 2005 - 3rd International Conference on Creative Industries Development, October 24-26, 2005 SOURCE: Creative Clusters Ltd. Halifax - A National Conference - Multiple Lenses: Voices from the Diaspora Located in Canada, October 26-28, 2005 SOURCE: Dalhousie University Wales, UK - 4th Mercator International Symposium on European Minority Languages, October 26-28, 2005 SOURCE: Mercator Media Edmonton - Annual Conference of the Association for Canadian Studies - A Century of Canada 1905-2005, October 28-29, 2005 SOURCE: Association for Canadian Studies St. Catharines - Two Days of Canada Conferences: Race and the Canadian Identity, November 2-3, 2005 SOURCE: Brock University, Canadian Studies Winnipeg - 79th Annual Convention of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters - The Future Summit, November 6-8, 2005 SOURCE: Canadian Association of Broadcasters

Proposal Accepted: 10th International Metropolis Conference - Toronto, Ontario October 17-21, 2005 The Canadian Cultural Observatory is pleased to co-host with Canadian Heritage partners, Cities and Shared Citizenship: Developing Indicators of Cultural Diversity, a workshop at the 10th International Metropolis Conference in Toronto, October 17-21, 2005. Full Article || Related Connectivity and ICT Integration in First Nations Schools The Information and Communications Technologies in Schools Survey (ICTSS) was designed to build a comprehensive database on the state of ICT infrastructure and access in elementary and secondary schools across Canada, including First Nations schools. SOURCE: Statistics Canada Full Article || Related The Government of Canada Upholds CRTC Decisions The Government of Canada is upholding the CRTC decisions that permit Canadian Satellite Radio and SIRIUS Canada to operate satellite radio subscription services, and CHUM-Astral to operate a terrestrial subscription radio service. SOURCE: Canadian Heritage Full Article || Related Preparing Alberta Students for the Next Century - New Social Studies Curriculum Focuses on Citizenship and Identity Alberta's new Social Studies curriculum focuses on citizenship and identity by including different perspectives, such as Francophone and Aboriginal culture and history, while Canadian and world history, local government, economics, agriculture and global issues continue to be important. SOURCE: Government of Alberta Full Article || Related Canada-New Brunswick Agreement to Support French Language Services The multi-year agreement on the Provision of French-Language Services seeks to support the development and delivery of services offered in French, and to enhance the vitality of New Brunswick's Acadian and francophone community. SOURCE: Government of New Brunswick Full Article || Related New Board Selected for the Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain Takes Office Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister Eric Robinson welcomed new members and congratulated returning members to the board of the Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain. The Centre serves as the hub for the artistic and cultural life of Manitoba's francophones. SOURCE: Government of Manitoba Full Article || Related Filmmakers Funding Awarded to Five Yukon Projects The Film & Sound Commission has awarded a total of $15,000 to five Yukon productions, including three film scripts, through the Yukon Filmmakers Fund. Projects funded this term include Kiss That Alaska Highway Before I Die, Borderlands, Winter Stories, The Colourful 2% and Frolf. SOURCE: Yukon Government Full Article || Related RAND Study Finds Visual Arts Picture Isn't As Rosy As It First Appears A RAND Corporation report issued recently suggests that the visual arts picture isn't as rosy as it first appears, despite record museum attendance, booming commercial popularity, soaring prices for artists' work and well-publicized museum expansions. SOURCE: Center for Arts and Culture Full Article || Related   Monica Gattinger, University of Ottawa As a member of the Initiative to Study the Social Effects of Culture (ISSEC) Culturescope Group, Monica posts papers and comments on others to advance this research project. Full Article     The 411 Initiative For Change The 411 Initiative For Change works on development projects aiming for long-term social impacts through bridging the arts, culture and heritage to social development. Full Article

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