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On October 30th, 2002 Sioux Mountain School had it's official grand opening ceremony and assembly. The opening was a resounding success with all involved including the students, teachers, staff, parents and representatives from other schools and organizations.

For pictures of the event and more details, visit the K-Net Photos site.

Victoria Linklater Memorial School in North Spirit Lake, O­ntario is looking for a Grades 7/8 Teacher, starting immediately.

In accordance with the following broad statement of duties, outlined within the North Spirit Lake Education Authority Policy Manual, the teacher shall:

• teach directly and by example, community Christian values, respect for the Creator, self, others and the environment;
• promote the native language and heritage through classroom displays and courses of study;
• encourage the students in the pursuit of lifelong learning;
• conduct classes as per scheduled time periods;
• prepare short, medium and long range goals and objectives as per  North Spirit Lake Education Authority policy;
• assist in the o­n-going development of cooperation among school staff;
• maintain, in accordance with North Spirit Lake Education Authority policy, proper order and discipline while in the classroom and o­n duty within the school grounds;
• participate in professional activity days at the direction of the North Spirit Lake Education Authority;
• use texts approved by the North Spirit Lake Education Authority;
• teach effectively and evaluate student progress in accordance with the academic timetable;
• participate in extra-curricular activities and committees;
• act through the proper lines of authority when seeking advice, guidance and clarification;
• prepare and implement individual student work plans in cooperation with administration, staff, resource and special education advisors;
• work cooperatively with parents through an "open door policy" and  invitations to classroom activities, home visits, sharing concerns, and homework assistance;
• above all, respect the rights and privacy of students, parents, and guardians at all times.

The teacher will also read and adhere to the more specific duties which accompany the above, as well, other duties as prescribed by the North Spirit Lake Education Authority in accordance with North Spirit Lake Education Authority policy.

Teachers fluent in the Oji-Cree language with proven administrative skills and experience prefered.

Enquiries and resumes can be passed along through:

Jim Teskey
Education Advisor
Keewaytinook Okimakanak
Call: 1-800- 387-3740 or 1-807-735-1381
Fax: 1-807-735-1383
Email: jimteskey@knet.ca

Some students from Sandy Lake are attending Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School in Thunder Bay. The students that left are Candice Meekis, Richan Meekis, Evangaline Meekis, Jocelyn Mawakeesick, Nicole Meekis, Stefanie Mamakeesic, Charlene Anishiabie and Korey Day. This group of students left Sandy Lake on Monday August 26, 2002 at 7:00pm on Calm Air. Good luck to all of you and have a safe and wonderful year!!!!

The Keewaytinook Internet High School is putting on a new face this coming school year. This year there will be thirteen KiHS classrooms located in First Nations across the north (http://kihs.knet.ca/classrooms.html) The teaching staff of KiHS (http://kihs.knet.ca/staff) met in KO's Balmertown office last week to receive their orientation session before flying off to their respective communities. Last week, the First Nation classrooms were being set up by the Classroom Assistants who met the week before in Balmertown for their training session. Last school year, KiHS used WebCT as our on-line e-learning environment but we struggled with the learning curve for both the teachers and students. As well, the price for WebCT was just getting too high for our small school. So this past winter the decision was made to create our own e-learning environment. Margaret Fiddler lead the crew of two (Jesse Fiddler and Steven Zussino) in building this on-line open source e-learning space which can be seen at http://kihs.knet.ca (just write to get access to the guest account to see the various on-line tools being used). This new e-learning environment will be of interest to any teacher involved in teaching any high school course through distance education. It would be great if other groups in the region wanted to take this tool and adapt it for their own use. We are inviting other educators to identify ways that we can work together to share in this new resource.

The Keewaytinook Internet High School is starting its third year of operation with its annual teacher orientation / training workshop in Balmertown the week of August 26 to 30, 2002. Thirteen KiHS teachers are gathering the tools and the information they require to travel into the First Nations that are hosting this year's KiHS classrooms. Check out their workshop pictures.

Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute is currently accepting resumes for the positions of Computer Skills and Web Development Instuctor, Project Team Leader and three Assistants for the Canada's Aboriginal Digital Opportunities program. For more information , please visit our website at www.oshki.ca

North Spirit Lake's youth participated in a science camp the week of July 26 to August 2. The camp was funded by INAC (Indian Northern Affairs Canada) and KO (Keewaytinook Okimakanak). Community youth had an eduactional experience learning and participating in various environmental activities. Check out some of the photos taken here

The First Annual General Meeting of Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute will be held Tuesday, August 13, 2002 in Thunder Bay, Ontario. As a member of the corporation, each First Nation is eligible to send one representative to the meeting. For further information, please contact Stephen Chase or Ruth Baxter at 1-866-63-OSHKI.

Keewaytinook Okimakanak is please to announce that we will be hosting our Science and Technology Summer Camp 2002. The focus of the camps is to promote the awareness of science and technology to the youth of KO. The topics include eco-systems, aquatic and land species, geology of the local landscape and traditional interpretation by elders. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact David Neegan or Curtis Lawson @ 1-800-387-3740 or (807) 735-1381. You can view the agenda at: KO Science and Technology Camp

The Johnny Therriault Memorial School in Aroland First Nation which has grades k - 8 has closed due to lack of co-operation from Indian Affairs to give us a school building for over 100 students. The community will be building tee pee's to provide schooling for the students, our leaders need support from other First Nations. We were promised a school building and now we are forced to fight for our inherited rights. For more info contact Aroland First Nation (807) 329-5333.