Community News
Northerners want educational opportunities in their home communities - survey
April 17, 2004 - 12:55pm | by AnonymousAlmost 90% of Northern Ontario's residents prefer to stay in their home communities to pursue their education and training goals. This is one of the key findings of Survey 2003: Educational and Training Needs of Northern Ontario released today by Contact North/Contact Nord, Northern Ontario's Distance Education & Training Network. The survey results were obtained from interviews of 1000 random residents across Northern Ontario.
SUMMARY:
- The cost of education and a lack of available finances were of high importance to Northern Ontario respondents.
- Distance and travel were also of concern, as were issues related to availability of educators and having institutions in close proximity.
- The issue of distance dovetails the concern that was expressed over having Northerners leave the area to obtain training and education.
- There are also concerns with respect to technology and infrastructure gaps.
- There is significant demand in obtaining training or education, but a low level of satisfaction with what is available to them right now.
- In addition, most residents have not received any training in the past 24 months, and when they did, most received on the job training.
- Northern Ontario residents see the benefits of education and training especially with respect to improving themselves at their current job and preparing for the job market. These areas are most appealing, especially to young people and professionals.
- While interest was varied and strong with respect to a wide range of programs, the most interest was expressed in the areas of information technology, general interest and business and marketing.
- There is interest in the Contact North/
Click here to read the Executive Summary of the Needs Survey 2003 (in PDF only)
Click here to read the full document of the Needs Survey 2003 (in PDF only)
Click here to read the Contact North, April 5 press release.
A special message called "PARADOX OF OUR TIME"
April 15, 2004 - 6:11am | by AnonymousA wonderful message being distributed by a friend called a"PARADOX OF OUR TIME" ... Please Note: I usually do not even read these chain e-mail messages but I happened to see this one and thought it should be shared with everyone ... Brian
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The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind. Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. " An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
Camp meeting 2004 being planned for Cat Lake
April 11, 2004 - 3:02pm | by AnonymousThe Pentecostal Faith Temple in Cat Lake, Ontario is planning the camp meeting 2004 for July 28 - August 1, 2004. Everyone is invited to come. Travel must be at your own expense. Accommodations will be provided.
We will keep you posted on who the guest speakers and musicians will be.
Pray for us.
Three day workshop produces new community web site for Eabametoong First Nation
April 9, 2004 - 12:58pm | by AnonymousA team of Eabametoong First Nation community members worked Keewaytinook Okimakanak's Multi-media Coordinator, Jesse Fiddler, this past week to develop their new web portal for their community. The three day workshop (April 5 to7) provided community members with the tools and skills they need to continue to develop and maintain the Eabametoong First Nation web site. Check out their new web site at http://eabametoong.firstnation.ca ... the opening message from Chief Charlie Okeese explains the importance of this on-line resource ...
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On behalf of the People of Eabametoong First Nation, I welcome you to our community website.
A community website is a way to provide our members with information about current events, future plans, and potential initiatives in our community. The site will also be an opportunity for members to provide the Chief & Council with feedback and suggestions about community matters and issues. In addition, it is an opportunity for the outside world to visit and experience our community.
The community is undergoing many changes. We are undertaking in a variety of discussions with the outside world for potential economic benefits for the community. It is not a question of "IF" but a question of "WHEN" economic activities will be taking place in and around our community. So there will be a need for trained, qualified, certified people when this occurs. Our young people will take on a major role in this area. I encourage our young people to take the initiative in obtaining and completing their education. The community needs our young people to partake in education and training of themselves, because they are the future. We need to be ready.
We welcome any ideas members have with respect to matters that you feel is important to the community. For visitors outside from Eabametoong, we welcome suggestions or ideas you want to share with us whether it be about communtiy matters or have questions about the community or the community website itself.
In closing, I hope you find our website both meaningful, informative, and, most importantly, enjoyable to view.
May God Bless You.
Liz Bonnie Sakakeesic Memorial Gathering in Cat Lake
April 7, 2004 - 7:31pm | by Anonymous-- CANCELLED --
Memorial Gathering
"Liz Bonnie Sakakeesic"
Cat Lake First Nation
July 9, 10, 11, 2004
Planned events for gathering:
Gospel Jamboree
Church Service
Dinner Gathering
These are the planned events we will be having. We will keep everyone updated on what will be happening.
Anybody is invited to come. Of course at your own cost, but we will arrange for accommodations.
More information call :
Beverly Wesley @ 347 2100 (w) or 347 2158 (h)
Joanne Pasquel @ 347 2335 (w) or 347 2385 (h)
Eastern NAN Women & Self Government Workshop in Timmins
April 6, 2004 - 1:43pm | by AnonymousEASTERN NAN WOMEN & SELF GOVERNMENT WORKSHOP
Timmins Native Friendship Centre, Timmins, Ontario
April 27-29, 2004
Workshop Topics:
- History of Equay-wuk (Women’s Group) Nishnawbe Women & Self Government - Traditional Forms of Governance, Colonization and Impact on Governance Structures, Current Governance Structures & Self Government
- Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Self Government Initiative
- Increasing Women’s Participation in First Nations Governance Structures
- NAN Equay-wuk Women’s Working Group (selection of eastern NAN Women’s Representative)
- Starting an Aboriginal Women’s Group
- Open Forum Discussions
Equay-wuk (Women’s Group) is requesting for First Nation Councils to make a recommendation of the woman who will be attending on behalf of their community. All travel, accommodations and meals for 1 participant from each community will be paid for and arranged by Equay-wuk - total 21 communities invited.
One women representative from each of the following Eastern NAN Communities will be invited to attend the Timmins workshop:
1. Attawapiskat 2. Beaver House 3. Brunswick House
4. Chapleau Cree 5. Chapleau Ojibway 6. Constance Lake
7. Flying Post 8. Fort Albany 9. Ginoogaming
10. Hornepayne 11. Kashechewan 12. Long Lake #58
13. Matachewan 14. Mattagami 15. Missanabie Cree
16. Mocreebec Council of Cree 17. Moose Cree 18. New Post
19. Wahgoshig 20. Weenusk 21. Whitewater
Please contact your Chief & Council if you are interested in attending.
Background:
Equay-wuk (Women’s Group) is an aboriginal women’s organization serving women, youth and families who reside within Northwestern Ontario First Nation communities. It is a non-profit, provincially incorporated (1989) organization serving aboriginal people from 30 First Nation communities in Northwestern Ontario. Equay-wuk (Women’s Group) is independent from any other women’s group in Ontario.
Since 1999, Equay-wuk has initiated the "Nishnawbe Women and Self Government" Projects. The projects have enabled Equay-wuk to provide workshops on self government to women of the remote First Nation NAN communities.
In March 2002, NAN Resolution 02/04 was passed and states, "the NAN Chiefs in Assembly, direct the Executive Council to set up a Women’s Working Group" and the "Working Group is mandated to provide recommendations to the NAN Chiefs on how women could be included in the Chiefs’ meetings".
On July 31, 2003, NAN Resolution 03/75 entitled, "Representation of Eastern NAN Women in the NAN Equay-wuk Women’s Working Group" directed the NAN Executive Council to work with Equay-wuk to develop the NAN Equay-wuk Women’s Working Group which meant seeking participation of aboriginal women from the eastern NAN region in the Working Group.
The purpose of this project is to provide information to eastern NAN Women on: the history of Equay-wuk (Women’s Group), Nishnawbe Women & Self Government, participation in governance structures, starting women’s groups, the NAN Equay-wuk Women’s Working Group and the selection of an eastern NAN Women’s Representative.
For more information about our organization, our other programs and the Nishnawbe Women and Self Government program, you may visit our website at
www.equaywuk.ca.For more information, contact:
Catherine Sergerie, Project Coordinator
Nishnawbe Women’s Working Group & Self Government Project
Equay-wuk (Women’s Group)
P.O. Box 1781 16-4th Avenue N. Sioux Lookout, ON
P8T 1C4
Tel: (807) 737-2214 or Toll Free: 1-800-261-8294
Fax: (807)737-2699
Other Contacts at Equay-wuk (Women’s Group):
Felicia Waboose, Equay-wuk Program Director
Darlene Angeconeb, Nishnawbe Women & Self Government Project Coordinator
Website:
www.equaywuk.ca- Funding for this project made possible thanks to the Department of Canadian Heritage
World Youth Centre Call for Applicants from Northwestern Ontario
April 6, 2004 - 12:57pm | by AnonymousHello,
The Province of Ontario Smart Growth Secretariat is providing an opportunity for one young person from North Eastern Ontario and one young person from North Western Ontario to participate in the World Youth Centre Pilot Project in Toronto this July.
To apply for this, please complete the application, which is availalbe by clicking here to see the WORD document, (39K).
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Taylor
Executive Director
ctaylor@worldyouthcentre.com
World Youth Centre http://worldyouthcentre.com
Pikangikum youth travelling to Vancouver to showcase their successes
April 5, 2004 - 9:21pm | by AnonymousTwo NAN First Nations are working with an organization called First Nations Youth At Risk to develop and deliver services supporting their young people. Weenusk and Pikangikum First Nations each received $50,000 from FNYAR last year to develop new youth programs. Click here to read the newspaper article in the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal describing their local program.
First Nations Youth At Risk (FNYAR) is hosting a national conference on youth at risk on April 17-18 at Musqueam First Nation in Vancouver, BC. More than 50 First Nations youth and youth workers will gather to exchange strategies on youth at risk and to learn of new approaches to youth at risk by several First Nation communities. Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director, First Nations Youth and Family Caring Society will be the guest speaker. This is an important conference for anyone working in the First Nations and Aboriginal youth at risk field. If you wish to attend, please register by contacting Harvey McCue, President and Coordinator, FNYAR, at 613-237-3033 or hmccue@sympatico.ca before April 8, 2004.
FNYAR is a charitable not for profit organization managed and directed by First Nations. It provides annual grants to First Nations to work with youth at risk. For more information on FNYAR, visit http://fnyar.ca.
Sandy Lake Invitational Hockey Tournament
March 29, 2004 - 7:53pm | by AnonymousApril 28 - May 1 2004
Entry Fee: $800.00
Prizes will depend on # of teams entered
More info will be posted later or call (807) 774-5445
Minogaaboweta "Journey to Wellness" Residential School Spring Gathering
March 15, 2004 - 4:53pm | by AnonymousMinogaaboweta
"Journey to Wellness"
Residential Schools Spring Gathering
Kenora, Ontario
Best Western Lakeside Inn
March 31, April 1, 2, 2004
