Media.Knet.Ca

We survived our first day of the 10th Annual SOS (Survivors of Suicide) Conference and it was an interesting day.

Wawatay will do a video documentary on this event at a later date. Wilma Pelly (Elsie from North of 60) came in and will be with us until Friday.

For detailed updates, check our site at http://wapekeka.firstnation.ca. I will post pictures every lunch hour and evening.

We tried to video stream the opening ceremonies over the internet but the audio was not working for those watching on the internet. I finally figured it out. If there is an interest ... I will see if I can arrange to do another live video stream Friday Evening for the Moccasin Joe performance.

Check out the photos. Also, register for our site and submit items.

Next week, we have Youth Day and Dakota House will be here for that day (September 5). We also will have a Volleyball Tourney. Join us on-line, send your greetings and support to the conference participants. We look forward to hearing from you.

We are running an SOS Conference this week and the opening ceremonies are online.

Look at link to listen and watch the event. It's also on Wawatay Radio.

http://streaming.knet.ca/Stream1

The two hour opening of the Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation 8th annual conference can be watched on-line by clicking here between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday August 19.

The 2003 OFNTSC Innovations Gathering is taking place at the Holiday Inn Waterfront, Sault Ste. Marie, ON between August 19th - 21st, 2003. The Conference Agenda is available on-line.

Dan Pellerin, K-Net's Network Manager is working with the OFNTSC team to set up the video conferencing equipment and bring this event to all the First Nations across Ontario.

The opening ceremonies will be archived and available on-line shortly after the event.

Homecoming Pictures at

http://acec.firstnationschools.ca

Check on the on-line Photo Gallery and be sure to sign the Guestbook.

The inaugural e-newsletter from Northern Ontario Native Tourism Association is now available. Click here to read this summer's newsletter (4 pages PDF, 419K). Other newsletters are available in a hard copy format from the NOTA office.

This issue highlights the 3rd Annual Aboriginal Tourism Conference held in Sault Ste Marie in May 2003. Additional pictures from the conference are available at www.instapicphoto.com/tourism.  Click here to see the Conference Report (39 pages PDF, 1.9M).

The Aboriginal Tourism Development Strategic Plan for Northern Ontario (282 pages PDF, 2M) is also available on the NONTA web site.

Mitchell Diabo
Partnership Development Advisor
Northern Ontario Native Tourism Association
Website: www.nonta.net
E-mail: mitch@nonta.net
Tel: (807) 623-0497
Fax: (807) 623-0498
Cell: (807) 472-7867

Gathering Place First Nation Canadian News at http://www.gatheringplacefirstnationscanews.com provides readers with another source of news. Subscribers can receive weekly updates by e-mail or choose to browse the on-line resources. Readers are invited to submit their news stories for posting on the Gathering Place web site.

From the Gathering Place website:

"Everyday the mainstream Media carries stories about our peoples. Here you will find some of their stories.If you are looking for some Good News ...Just look to the left and press on Good News.If you see any stories you think needs to be shared.. Please copy and email GPFNCN"

"Welcome to Canada's #1 source for Aboriginal, Native, and First Nations News. I welcome you to come and be apart of this news service. Give us your thoughts, tell me what you would like to see here in this news place, Nai:wen to all who have sent and continue to send prayers and words of encouragement to me. We hope you like the new look of the site.

- Sharon, on:en

Constance Lake First Nation is mobilizing to begin constructing our new school.  The holistic education centre, which consists of a daycare centre, elementary, secondary and technical components has begun construction!  

Our new education centre will take twelve (12) months to construct.  The occupation date for the school is scheduled for September 2004.  

For more information regarding the new holistic education centre, check out the Constance Lake Education authority website or contact the Constance Lake Education Authority office.  

Wapekeka First Nation SOS Conference

August 25 - September 1, 2003

The Wapekeka First Nation SOS Conference will take place once again in the communioty of Wapekeka during the week of August 25th, 2003. SOS stands for Survivors of Suicide. The theme of the conference is Healing Our Spirit wich is a wholistic approach to dealing with personal issues such as; sexual abuse, family violence, grief and loss, suicidal ideations, spiritual growth, etc. During the week, mental health professionals will be available and a team from the community to provide security and other services. Healing and sharing circles will be held each day plus nightly jamboress.

Other activities will be held such as recreation and sports. The community has a Roller Rink and particpants are encouraged to bring their equipment if they so wish. Registration forms will be available to be downloaded from our website (http://wapekeka.firstnation.ca) as soon as we firm up the agenda. Ten (10) communities have been invited but it is not exclusive to those communities. Individuals can register to attend on their own or be sposored by their First Nations or organizations.

We will provide meals and accommodations plus in-community transportation. In some cases, we will provided travel costs depending on the nature of the need. Ask your Chief and Counil if your community was invited to come to this conference or inquire how your community can be invited.

Past repsonse has been favourable and young people enjoy the conference as they interact with other from the community and other communities.

This will the the 10th Annual Conference which will be marked with dignitaries being in attendance. During the opening ceremonies on August 26th, the National Chief Phil Fontaine, Regional Chief Charles Fox and NAN Grand Chief will be in attendance. This will be broadcast live on Wawatay and video streamed on the internet. The community will be broadcasting nightly jamborees on Wawatay.

Also, in attendance for 26th to 18th will be Dakota House form North of 60 TV Series. Dakota (TEEVEE) is well known as Native actor, story teller, youth activist, children's book author, and lecturer. Moccasin Joe will also be here to entertain the conference.

For more information, you can call me at (807) 537-2315 or check for updates on our website at http://wapekeka.firstnation.ca and check who is confirmed to come from other communities and special guests. We will post up our agenda and the meal menu has alrady been posted.

This year's Muddy Water Music Festival (the Mud Fest) was shared with the world over the internet. The live audio webcast on Friday and Saturday evenings provided listeners to join the 20th year celebration of First Nations music.

Click here to go to the Mud Fest web site and check out the pictures.

The live music, the jokes and the comments from the musicians along with the pictures all combined to make it possible for listeners to hear and see a piece of what was happening up in Sandy Lake during this annual event.

CONGRATULATIONS to Kennedy Fiddler and Curtis Drake in Sandy Lake and Jesse Fiddler at K-Net who worked with their support teams to make this live broadcast possible and to lead the way into bringing live community broadcasts of local events possible for others to participate in.