Media.Knet.Ca

 

The Yellow Ribbon campaign is happening in Sioux Lookout and across the Nishnawbe Aski Nation thanks to the efforts of Norma Kejick, principal of the Wahsa Distance Education Centre. Working with Norma, Cal Kenny (K-Net's Multi-media Coordinator) produced a video of this year's Suicide Awareness Walk for Life event in Sioux Lookout.

The video is available online as a Flash presentation at ...

http://knet.ca/walk_for_life/walk_for_life.html

The first clip highlights the different parts of the event. Then the speakers share their stories and thoughts for all the participants.

The final clip is the "SEE ME, HEAR ME" music video produced this year by the Grade 6, 7 and 8 students attending Eel Ground First Nation School in New Brunswick. This song is used in a play about Suicide Awareness and Teenage Stress, that the students produced and presented this past month at various gatherings. They won 5 awards at this year's NB Drama Festival for their performance.

From CBC News Online ...

Video game lets users rewrite Canadian history
May 31, 2007

A video game simulation based on Canadian history is launching Thursday with high hopes the youth-friendly technology will make the country's past come alive for students.

HistoriCanada, developed by Toronto media firm Bitcasters, runs on the platform of the well-established Civilization III strategy game. Thomas Axworthy, HistoriCanada co-creator, said he hopes the game will engage Canadian youth in their own history.

"Canadian history is sometimes portrayed as dull as dishwater, and there's a perception that history is only interesting if there are a lot of battles," said Axworthy, the chair of the Queen’s University Centre for the Study of Democracy.

"But one of the things about civilization is that it's not just a war game, and that there's a complex interaction of economic, religious, social and military choices."

By putting those choices in the gamers' hands, Axworthy said, the new game will allow players to reshape Canadian history in a more interactive "what if?" approach.

"One of the most appealing elements of the game is anyone can win. If you are a skilful player playing as the Mi'kmaq, Atlantic Canada can be yours. And that's an important thing, because too often we tend to look at history as inevitable. But if you looked at a map in 1640 it sure didn't appear that way," he said.

Gamers can play as either the English, French, Ojibwe, Huron, Mohawk, Algonquin, Montagnais, Mi'kmaq or Abenaki. The first episode focuses on the years between 1525 and 1763. Two more episodes are expected to be released in the coming months, taking players to the year 1896, through Confederation and the expansion to the West.

While players will have the option to rewrite history and take the country in a new direction, the game developers say that understanding the real history will enable players to be more successful. Historical resources including the Canadian Encyclopedia are built into the software.

After players complete each episode, the HistoriCanada website can rate their performance and provide background into what actually happened in Canada's history.

The game can currently be downloaded for free from the website, provided users already have Civilization III and the popular game's Conquests expansion pack on their computers. But the full game, including Civilization III, will be available early next week.

Bitcasters CEO Nathan Gunn said he expects the game to be a success, in large part because it is fun to play. And he also thinks educators are increasingly starting to realize the value of injecting fun into teaching methods.

"Games that teach are becoming more accepted now," he told CBC News online. "I think the worm has turned and we've gone beyond the idea of video games as Duke Nukem first-person shooters."

There are plans in the works to distribute 100,000 free copies of the game bundled with the Civilization III software.

The million-dollar project has been 10 years in the making, with active development for the past two years. Funding has been provided by Telefilm Canada and supported by Historica and Canada’s National History Society.

Online Bullying Prevention Education

Description:

Facilitators from the Ontario Principals Council will be conducting a workshop regarding bullying prevention. Join us to learn more about how we can make our schools and communities a safer place to learn.

Agenda - FRIDAY, JUNE 1

8:00 – 11:00 CST 

• Types of bullying and how to recognize warning signs (Placemat activity)
• Making bullying prevention a priority in your community

12:00 – 14:30 CST 

• Strategies and tips on how you can help to prevent bullying (Fishbone activity)
• Where to go for bullying prevention resources

There is no cost for the workshop. There will be group work and exercises so make sure you have enough room to work. All are welcome; you can join for the full, or half day.   

Please book your video conference site as a participant at least one-day prior to the workshop. 

Contact: Terry Moreau   Phone: 877.737.5638 X 1266   Email: tmoreau@knet.ca 

Please fax the following form to: 807.768.4817

AFN's HEROS OF OUR TIME SCHOLARSHIPS

Deadline for applications: June 21

Click here fore the Application Booklet

Background:

Since 1988/1989 the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) has sponsored the Heros of OUr Time scholarships to recognize the hard work, dedication and academic achievements of Aboriginal post-secondary education students who demonstrate excellence in their educational development. The scholarships are now divided into EIGHT categories that represent eight First Nation heroes and academic disciplines, each with a value of $2,000.

The Heros of Our Time scholarships provide an excellent opportunity for the AFN to acknowledge and celebrate the success of Aboriginal students in achieving their educational goals. It gives us great satisfaction to know that we are helping those who hold the future of First Nations in their hands.

The Awards:

• Jake Fire Award - CRIMINOLOGY
• Tommy Prince Award - NATIVE STUDIES
• Walter Dieter Award - SOCIAL WORK
• Omer Peters Award - POLITICAL SCIENCE
• Robert Smallboy Award - MEDICINE
• James Gosnell Award - LAW
• John Young Award - SCIENCE
• Doctor Freda Ahenakew Award - EDUCATION

The following press release from the First Nations Education Council in Quebec addresses many of the same challenges facing First Nation schools across the country. Another shortfall facing First Nation secondary schools is the outdated formula funding only addressing the needs of community elementary schools and not taking into account the additional demands for providing an adequate secondary school program in the First Nations (ie. counselling services, accreditation, etc).

Press Release ...

FNEC challenges Prentice to solve long-term issues in First Nations education

     OTTAWA, May 28 /CNW Telbec/ - The First Nations Education Council (FNEC) is today embarking on a huge communications and public relations campaign designed to make the public aware of the realities of funding for First Nations schools and influence the federal government. Today, the FNEC along with a number of Quebec First Nations Chiefs, are urging the federal government to take another look at funding for First Nations schools, which are at a severe disadvantage when compared to the other schools in the province. "Our schools are attempting to survive with an outdated funding formula that has hardly changed in the last twenty years. This situation is unacceptable and intolerable." stated the Chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador, Ghislain Picard, at a press conference held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

     On the eve of the appearance of the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, Jim Prentice, before the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, Quebec First Nations have been expressing their major concerns on funding and reiterating that it does not correspond to real costs or reflect First Nations needs. "How can we possibly fight against the high dropout rate when we have nothing for sports programs, nothing for vocational training and nothing to buy books with?" continued Chief Picard.

     Lise Bastien, Director of the First Nations Education Council, recalled that numerous studies confirm that the funding formula used by the federal government since 1988 is outdated and fails to meet current needs in education. "For years, the government has been telling us that they are revising these programs. This answer is unsatisfactory. Time has come to take action in order to offer essential services in First Nations schools as of September 2007," she stated.

     The First Nations funding formula was drawn up in 1988. Some of the costs it ignores are:

• Costs connected with the integration of technology in schools.
• Costs connected with running libraries in schools.
• Costs connected to vocational training.
• Costs connected to extracurricular sports and recreation.
• Costs connected to following provincial reforms, which have considerable impact on the curriculum, teaching hours and support measures such as homework assistance, etc.

     In addition, funding of First Nations schools has not been indexed since 1996.

     Lastly, unlike all the provinces have done, the federal government has never invested to equip First Nations with modern management systems. "Its refusal to provide First Nations with the resources to access quality education means that the Government of Canada is deliberately closing the door on their future," concluded Ghislain Picard.

     Should you wish to receive further information, we invite you to visit our Web site, at www.avenir-future.com.

     The FNEC is a non-profit organization, which defends First Nations interests in the field of education.

-30-

/For further information: Lise Bastien, FNEC Director, (418) 842-7672; For requests for interview, please contact: Alain Garon, (418) 956-5720; Source: Eric Cardinal, Communications advisor, (450) 638-5159, Cell: (514) 258-2315/

Greetings,

Could you please forward or post the Train the Trainer AD to others who may be interested in this evidence based training opportunity taking place in Kenora. The training is FREE

Reaching In Reaching Out (RIRO) is an evidence based resiliency skills training program designed to help adults help children (0-6 years of age) develop a resilient approach to handling life’s stresses and challenges.  Both small and large organizations are welcome to identify a staff member to be trained as their trainer, who would then in turn spread the information to their larger organization  

The 0-6 Children’s Mental Health Northern Network will host a ‘Reaching In, Reaching Out’ Train the Trainer event from June 11th – 15th in Kenora.  Please see the following program information and feel free to visit the website at www.reachinginreachingout.com as well.  

The registration form must be directed to Tammy Ross at Algoma Family Services (see registration form) by Monday, May 28th.  Space is limited and preference will be given to those with training backgrounds and ready access to a group of professionals and paraprofessionals who work with young children and their families.

Resiliency Promotion – TRAIN-the-TRAINER opportunity

Reaching IN…Reaching OUT (RIRO) is an evidence-based resiliency skills training program for professionals / paraprofessionals. It helps adults help children develop a resilient approach to handling life’s inevitable stresses and challenges. More information about RIRO can be found at:

www.reachinginreachingout.com.

RIRO has received funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to pilot its “Train-the-Trainers” program aimed at Ontario’s Early Learning & Child Care training professionals. This five-day train-the-trainers program and training materials are provided at no charge; a $10.00 fee will be charged for food per day. For more details about the training program, please contact us at the email address below.

The 0-6 Children's Mental Health Northern Network will host the next RIRO “TRAIN-the-TRAINER” event on:

June 11-15, 2007

240 Lakeview Drive
Super 8 Convention Centre

Kenora, Ontario
8:30am to 4pm

(Trainers working in NORTHERN Ontario are given priority)

Who should apply?

Experienced trainers in the ELCC community with access to a ready network should apply. While we are targeting trainers from larger ELCC provider organizations and umbrella groups, trainers from smaller organizations are also eligible.

In exchange for the free training, participants will be asked to commit to offer RIRO skills training at least once in their institution/ready network in the six-month period after the training. Because this is a pilot event, participants will be asked to take part in the evaluation of the training.

Organizations sponsoring participants are asked to commit to offering ongoing RIRO skills training within their organizations at least once a year after the initial six-month period.

How will the training be taken out to the communities?

After the 5-day trainers’ event, participants will be prepared to deliver both parts of the RIRO Resiliency Skills Training (Adult Skills and Child Applications) as well as the Community and Parent Information Sessions. Ongoing support through email, telephone and website will be provided to participants.

RIRO’s evidence-based model has been modularized providing trainers with the flexibility to adapt the delivery format to meet their community’s needs. Both RIRO’s adult skills and child applications training can be delivered in full-day, 2-half-day or shorter formats (for “lunch-time” or “after work” series).

Registration:

Contact Tammy Ross at tross@algomafamilyservices.org or 705-945-5058 ext. 2422 for a registration form and further information about the trainers’ program. Space is limited, so please register early.    

Reaching IN – Reaching OUT “Train-the-Trainer” Program
Registration Form

To register for the Reaching IN – Reaching OUT (RIRO) Train-the-Trainer Program at Lake of the Woods Child Development Centre in Kenora (June 11-15th, 2007) please complete the following and return by May 28, 2007(see below).

Name:      _________________________

Workplace: _________________________
 
Address:

 Street:     _______________________

 City:       _______________________

 Prov.:      _______________________

 Postal Code: ______________________

Phone: _____________________________

Fax:   _____________________________

Email: _____________________________

Describe your experience in offering professional development training and why you want to be able to deliver this training.

____________________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

Explain briefly how you will use your current networks to bring this training into your own community.

____________________________________

____________________________________

If I am accepted, I will commit to offer RIRO skills training at least once in my institution/ready network in the six month period after the training.                        YES ____

There are limited spaces, so please register early.  Please EMAIL your completed form to:

Tammy Ross at tross@algomafamilyservices.org or fax it to (705) 942-9273.

***If you have food allergies or special needs please indicate this below***

________________________________________________________________

Note:  The RIRO program is currently only available in English.

The Bachelor of Education Program Management Committee is pleased to announce the completion and updating of our web site. 

Click on  http://www.nnec.on.ca/bed/  for information about courses and other details.

We are moving forward!

Click here for a PDF copy of the information flyer

Click here for a PDF copy of the application form

NADF press release ...

Project Beyshick Accepting 2007 Applicants

Project Beyshick is a youth mentoring program focused on career mentoring and entrepreneurship among First Nation youth.

Based on an application process, participants are trained by professors from leading Canadian business schools and matched with Toronto-based business executives for hands on job-shadowing experience.

2007 marks the third year of the program which has received national news coverage and recognition from Lieutenant Governor of Ontario the Hon. James K. Bartleman and the Government of Ontario.

NAN First Nation entrepreneurs, community leaders, and students aged 21-35 are urged to apply by emailing, faxing, or mailing the APPLICATION FORM to Ron Marano by Friday June 1, 2007.

For more information please contact:

Ron Marano
Youth Business Development Officer
Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund
106 Centennial Square, 2nd Floor
Thunder Bay, ON P7E 1H3
(807) 623 5397
(800) 465 6821
rmarano@nadf.org.

Communications and Media jyoung@nan.on.ca. 4/19/2007

The only journal of its kind in Canada, the Journal of Aboriginal Economic Development provides a view of economic development from a uniquely Aboriginal perspective. Published jointly by CANDO and Captus Press, the Journal is peer reviewed by a distinguished academic editorial board to ensure high quality Aboriginal content. The Journal covers the following areas:

• Best Practices: Learning from Experience
  • Lessons from Research
  • Book Reviews
  • Commentary

Call for Papers: Issues 6.1 and 6.2

Published jointly by the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO) and Captus Press, the Journal of Aboriginal Economic Development (JAED) features academic articles, examples from economic practitioners, and book reviews. Published twice yearly, the Journal is a unique resource for anyone interested in Aboriginal community economic development.

This call is for the next two issues (6.1 and 6.2). Issue 6.1 of JAED will be published in September 2007 in preparation for the CANDO14th Annual National Conference & AGM (Kamloops, British Columbia). Issue 6.2 will be published early in 2008.

Papers should relate to one of the following areas:

• Aboriginal Community Economic and Enterprise Development
• Aboriginal Small Business and Entrepreneurship
• The Analysis of the Aboriginal Economy
• Evaluating Aboriginal Economic Activity
• Aboriginal Corporate Responsibility, Social Auditing, and the Triple Bottom Line
• Economic Partnerships
• Indigenous Knowledge and Economic Development
• Aboriginal Organizations and Management
• International Aboriginal Trade and the Global Economy
• Aboriginal Community Development: The Role of Women and Youth
• Change: Traditional and Modern Aboriginal Economies

We invite papers and case studies from academics and practitioners that address these issues. Academic papers will be subject to the usual double-blind peer-review process.

Please note that we are not just looking for academic papers; we are also looking for interviews, case studies, and other practitioner views and perspectives. Submissions from practitioners will be reviewed by the co-editors.

We believe such submissions will be particularly valuable, and it is our objective to publish as many as possible, if not in this issue then in subsequent issues of the JAED and/or in CANDO N-Side News. We want to know what people are doing, what is working, what is not working, and why.

Academic and Practitioner papers (double spaced, 12 point font, and 1 inch margins) should not exceed 25 pages in length, including appendices. Length can vary – 1 to 25 pages. The preferred format style is APA.

The deadline for receipt of submissions for Issue 6.1 is May 1, 2007.

Submissions may be forwarded to:
Warren Weir - Editor
c/o Svitlana Konoval
Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers
9635 - 45th Avenue
Edmonton, AB T6E 5Z8
E-mail: skonoval@edo.ca.
Phone: 1-800-463-9300
Fax: (780) 429-7487

Submissions by e-mail are welcomed, in fact preferred. Send the paper as an attachment to the e-mail address above. If your paper does not make the cut for this issue, or needs extra work, it will be considered for publication in Issue 6.2. The deadline for receipt of submissions for Issue 6.2 is November 1, 2007. Should you require further information please contact Svitlana Konoval, CANDO Executive & Administrative Services Coordinator at 1-800-463-9300 or skonoval@edo.ca.

Download The Call for Papers (32kb PDF) at http://www.edo.ca/pages/download/6_911