Media.Knet.Ca

----------------------------------------------Chiefs of Ontario----------------------------------------

Research Contract

AFFILIATION:   Chiefs of Ontario Education Department
STATUS/ CONDITIONS:  Contract for 5 weeks, ending March 31, 2005
CONTRACT AMOUNT:  Subject to Negotiation

DESCRIPTION:

 In the spring of 2004 a joint working group consisting of representatives of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) agreed to conduct a comparative study relating to the Band Operated Funding Formula (BOFF), which supports First Nations schools on reserve.   Regional simulations were conducted to determine the amount of funding First Nations schools receive under the BOFF, and the amount of funding they might otherwise be eligible for under provincial funding formulas.   The purpose of this research project is to conduct a critical assessment of the research methodology utilized to complete the comparative study for Ontario (hereinafter referred to as “the study”) and assess the validity of the conclusions of the study. 

DELIVERABLES:

The successful contractor(s) shall be responsible for a final report, which includes the following elements:

1. An assessment of the research methodology utilized in the study for the purposes of calculating the application of the band operated formula on a per capita basis.
2. An assessment of the research methodology utilized in the study for the purposes of calculating the application of the Ontario education funding formula on a per capita basis.
3. An assessment of the validity of the final conclusions in the study.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

 Recognized post-secondary credentials in Education Administration, Economics, or related field.   Working experience with the Band Operated Funding Formula and/or Ontario education funding formula   Experience with qualitative and quantitative data analysis and synthesis.  Working knowledge of computer software MS Word and PowerPoint.  Excellent demonstrated written and analytical skills.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 

Monday February 21, 2005

PLEASE SUBMIT CURRICULUM VITAE, REFERENCES & WRITTEN WORK SAMPLE TO:

Karihwakeron Tim Thompson
Education Coordinator
Chiefs of Ontario
188 Mohawk Street
Brantford, Ontario
N3S 2X2

Telephone: 519 750-1016
Facsimile:  519 750-1316
e-mail: tim@coo.org

There's no place like home...

A day-by-day report from the nations capital where the PFFNHS representatives are seeing the city and ....

As part of Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program, Cal Kenny (http://calkenny.myknet.org) joined seven students, three staff and the expedition leader (Burton Penner - http://canada-dogsled.com) on a two day dog sledding wilderness adventure.

Cal is the Graphic and Web Site Designer at Keewaytinook Okimakanak, the Regional Management Organization for the First Nation SchoolNet Program. His work is becoming more and more involved in video production and publishing this material on the internet.

Three video clips from this adventure are now available on the internet for everyone to view. As well, a special series about this educational adventure is being published in the Chronicle-Journal (click here to read the first article from the Feb 5 issue). A write up about the 2004 dog sledding trip is contained in the Wawatay Newspaper - April 8, 2004 

The three video clips include (click on either High - high speed connections or Lower for dial up type connections to view):

1. Heading out to the camp -
   High Quality  or  Lower Quality
   
2. Trapping Beaver -
   High Quality  or  Lower Quality
   
3. The Return Trip -
   High Quality  or  Lower Quality

Everyone is welcomed to share their dog sledding stories and thoughts about these videos and this experience that the students undertook.

Please check out our regular updates of our educational trip to Ottawa, ON. online at http://www.nnec.on.ca/pffnhs/specialevents  

Eight Co-op students are leaving Sunday for downhill skiing, lunch on the hill, visit with MP Valley, tour of Ottawa U and to attend the BFF Conference.

Cal Kenny, K-Net's Graphic and Website Designer, joined seven Pelican Falls First Nations High School students o­n a two day dog sledding trip 15km south of Vermillon Bay. Cal, as part of his contract work with Industry Canada First Nations SchoolNet, was video taping the trip so it could be posted o­n the Pelican Falls' web site.

Darren Lentz and Donna Chief, teachers at Pelican, organized the trip. They worked with Burton Penner, a Vermillon Bay dog sledder and trapper, to provide the youth with a wilderness adventure that they will remember for a long time to come.

Click here to view the pictures from this trip

Watch for the upcoming video clips from the trip

Pelican Falls First Nations High Schools' first annual Science and Technology Camp took place on November 18 and 19, 2004 at the school site.
	The camp's goals included educating the students about First Nation contributions to science and technologies, raising the profile of science and technology as a career choice and allowing the students to meet and discuss the recent and past innovations in science and technology made by aboriginal people. It is the hope of the staff that this science and technology camp and the curriculum will provide the students with the unique experience to see science and technology in a new light.

Videos from the different sessions include:

• Introduction to the Science and Technology Camp - High, Low 
• Ida Kenny - Traditional Medicines - High , Low

November 23, 2004 - from http://www.afn.ca/Media/2004/nov/november_23_04.htm

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Responds to Auditor General’s Recommendations on First Nations Education

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine responded to recommendations on First Nations education in the Auditor General of Canada’s report released today in Ottawa. The report includes recommendations related to First Nations primary and secondary education and post-secondary education, noting that “educational parity is still a long way off for First Nations”.

“The lack of progress on First Nations education is alarming,” said National Chief Fontaine.  “In the last four years there has been literally no progress in closing the gap in graduation rates between First Nations and Canadian citizens. At the current rate, it will take 28 years for First Nations to catch-up to the non-Aboriginal population. If this is left unchecked it’s going to create a crisis in Canada’s economy.”

The National Chief noted that in 1996, the federal government capped funding increases for Indian Affairs’ core programs (which includes education) at 2% per year. This does not match inflation or population growth and follow-up studies have found that the gap in overall quality of life between First Nations and non-Aboriginal Canadians stopped closing at this point.  At the same time, recent studies show that the number of Canadians withdrawing from the labour force will exceed those entering by 2015.  At the same time, the First Nations population is young – more than  half the First Nations population is under the age of 25.

“Education is a key determinant in the quality of life of Canadians and it will be a key determinant in the quality of life of the country,” said the National Chief. “Our population is young and will be driving the country’s economy in the coming years. If Canada is going to be a player in the world economy then the only solution is for the government to work with First Nations and support our efforts to ensure our citizens are equipped and educated so they can become the work force of tomorrow. It is a simple but important truth that, now more than ever, our future is Canada’s future.”

The report also examined the problems with the government’s administration of the $273 million annual Post-Secondary Student Support Program for First Nations.  The Auditor General reports that, in administering the program, the government does not ensure that as many students as possible have equitable access to the program.  The number of students has been declining in recent years. In 1998-99, participation rates of Registered Indians was at a high of 27,157 but dropped to 25,075 in 2002-03.

“We have 10,000 First Nations students on waiting lists, ready and willing to further their education and contribute to the economy, but they cannot access the resources they are rightfully entitled to,” said National Chief Fontaine.  “Access to post-secondary education is critical to the improving the quality of life for First Nations individuals, families, and communities.  Post-secondary education is also a fundamental building block of self-sufficiency and self-government.  It is true that we need more resources dedicated to education, but we can also make better and more efficient use of the available resources.  First nations are best-placed to identify where the needs are because they deal directly with their students.  What’s really needed is more First Nations input and control over administering the program.”

The Assembly of First Nations commissioned a thorough national review of First Nations post-secondary education in 2000 and found that there are two fundamental problems with the funding of First Nations post-secondary education in Canada:

1. There is a large unmet need of students who wish to attend post-secondary institutions but are deferred because of a lack of available funds; and
2. The way the current funding is allocated and managed doesn’t ensure maximum benefits to students, families and communities.

The second point above is confirmed by the Auditor General’s report released today.  The problems with how the funding is managed begin right at the center of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada – allocations to regions are made in blocks, and so regional senior officials can move funding amounts between program areas at their discretion.  When funding is transferred to First Nations to disburse to students, the terms and conditions under which the money flows do not ensure maximum impact or benefit.

The AFN intends to work closely with the Federal Government to ensure that changes are made to both the way post-secondary funds are managed within INAC and in relation to the terms and conditions attached to funds when they leave the department.  

“It is the fundamental position of the AFN that education at all levels is an inherent Aboriginal and Treaty right as recognized in the Canadian Constitution and international law,” said National Chief Fontaine. “The AFN is ready to work with government and has put many ideas on the table already to ensure maximum benefit to students, families and communities from existing funding amounts, and to identify and increase student funding so that First Nations participation rates in post-secondary education get back on a positive increasing trend.  This is good for First Nations and it is good for Canada.”  

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.

Contacts:

• Don Kelly, AFN Communications Director 613-241-6789 ext. 320 or cell 613-292-2787
• Ian McLeod, AFN Bilingual Communications Officer 613-241-6789 ext. 336 or cell 613-859-4335
• Nancy Pine, Communications Advisor, Office of the National Chief
  613-241-6789 ext. 243 or cell 613-298-6382

Northern Nishinawbe Education Council Post Secondary celebrates 25 years!!