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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute established by Nishnawbe Aski Nation offers post-secondary education and training programs.  We offer choice, accessibility, flexibility, opportunities and support services for our students.  The Institute is an independent institution and currently offers courses in business, social services, website development and early childhood education.

The Institute is inviting applications for a Finance and Administrative Officer.  Under the supervision of the Executive Director, the Finance and Administrative Officer will ensure accurate and timely financial reporting, develop and maintain finance and administration budgets, maintain an internal control structure that ensures the integrity of information and maintain other documentation related to the overall operations of Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute.  The incumbent will also perform general bookkeeping and administrative services to assist the Executive Director and Program Coordinators, and to support the operation of the general office of the Institute.

Candidates for this position should:

• Possess a diploma or degree in Business Management, Accounting or in any related field;
• Have a minimum of 3 years experience in financial management and office administration;
• Be a highly motivated energetic self-starter with excellent interpersonal skills;
• Be proficient with computer accounting systems, database management, and word processing;
• Possess strong analytical , communications and problem solving skills;
• Hold a valid driver's license;
• Fluency in either Ojibway or Cree would be an asset.

Interested candidates are invited to submit a letter of interest and a resume, with three references, to:

For further information about this position, please contact:

Closing date for applications is Monday, September 19, 2005 at 12:00 pm.

While we appreciate all applications for this position, only those who are selected for an interview will be contacted.

NOTE: The following message was received from the Ghost River ReDiscovery program. Jesse Terry, a Lac Seul band member, recently returned from his 6 month job that he had in Finland through this program. He found the experience to be very valuable.

Hello,  

I am very excited to let you know that Ghost River Rediscovery is looking for 10 outstanding youth to participate in an International Youth Leadership Program in Kalinago Territory and the surrounding indigenous communities of Dominica. The International Youth Leadership program offers youth the opportunity to obtain international experience related to youth leadership development. This program, based on Aboriginal culture and traditions, exposes its participants to a variety of unique experiences. Additional information is available by contacting me at the e-mail address below. Please ask for copies of the Youth Leadership Program poster, Application and Team Leader job description. Please also refer to our website for more information! You can find out more about existing and past placement by going to the Youth Leadership Section. www.ghostriverrediscovery.com

 Please pass this information on to anyone that might be interest. We look forward to receiving applications!

 All My Relations,

 Candace St.Denis
Program Assistant
Youth Leadership Program
Ghost River Rediscovery
#303, 227 - 10 Street NW
Calgary, AB T2N 1V5
PH: 403-270-9351
Fx: 403-270-9371
email: ylpadmin@ghostriverrediscovery.com
www.ghostriverrediscovery.com

Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Corporation
Employment Oppportunity
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE WORKER

Two news stories from the regional newspapers highlight Claudette Bradshaw's, Minister of State (Human Resources Development) commitment to supporting regional the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy which includes the Sioux Lookout Area Aboriginal Management Board (SLAAMB). Bob Bruyere, Executive Director of SLAAMB and Peter Campbell, SLAAMB's chair and Keewaytinook Okimakanak's Public Works Manager met with the minister on Monday in Kenora to discuss the issues she is very interested in addressing in cabinet.

http://chroniclejournal.com/story.shtml?id=28140

Getting natives into labour market minister’s goal

By Julio Gomes - The Chronicle-Journal

July 20, 2005

Ensuring that native youth have all the skills they need to thrive in a modern economy will require the efforts of a cross-section of partners, says a federal government minister.

“The private sector, the chamber of commerce, the Rotary clubs — everybody needs to be participating. Everybody has to say, these are the basics we need to make sure that the retention is there,” said Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of State (Human Resources Development).

Bradshaw was in Thunder Bay on Tuesday to meet with native groups and literacy organizations to discuss strategies for improving the labour market participation of Canada’s aboriginal peoples.

In a speech delivered Friday to the Manitoba Keewatinook Ininew Okimowin (MKO), Bradshaw said native youth and working-age adults are the fastest growing segment of Canada’s labour force.

However, she noted in that address, “Far too many of these young people are struggling to find a meaningful job that could lead to a productive career.”

To that end, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada is responsible for delivering the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy, or AHRDS.

During the first five years, it assisted more than 90,000 people to find employment and more than 26,000 to return to school.

Based on those numbers, AHRDS has been renewed for another five years, with $1.6 billion in funding.

During Tuesday’s visit, Bradshaw toured the Our Kids Count non-profit program in Academy Heights. It’s part of the Thunder Bay Aboriginal Headstart program, which provides a place for native children aged 2-6 to develop language and cultural skills as well as eat regular meals.

The program is dear to Bradshaw (L-Moncton–Riverview–Dieppe). In 1974, she founded the Moncton Headstart Early Family Intervention Centre, where she served as executive director until 1997.

It’s programs like these, she said, that provide the building blocks to allow natives to gain the confidence to succeed in life and get the good jobs that are going unfilled. Companies like Bowater and Home Depot, she said, are crying for workers and are willing to sit down to develop plans to give natives in both urban centres and remote First Nation communities the opportunities they need to successfully make the transition to the 21st century workforce.

“We don’t need to bring foreign workers to our communities,” Bradshaw said. “We have the Canadian people here to work within our communities.

http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/story.php?id=173535

Minister of State searching for answers to aboriginal employment issue, literacy
Every company says it wants to hire them — and many act — but then the problem is continuing their employment because things like housing and literacy get in the way.

By S. Patrick Moore
Miner and News
Tuesday July 19, 2005

Every company says it wants to hire them -- and many act -- but then the problem is continuing their employment because things like housing and literacy get in the way.

These sentiments, and others, have been repeated for the past three weeks to Minister of State (Human Resource Development) as she travels Canada holding discussions with aboriginal and business leaders to develop strategies for increasing aboriginal employment rates and improving literacy. She will address the cabinet with her recommendations in October or November.

She came to Kenora Monday because it offers a better glimpse into problems associated with remoteness. Although her trip to a First Nation was canceled, Bradshaw intends on visiting some before her report in parliament.

Currently, aboriginal unemployment rates are 2.5 times higher than non-aboriginal levels. In every community Bradshaw visited, the aboriginal unemployment rate has never dipped below 25 per cent, she said.

The ministry expects a labour shortage in Canada’s future, and therein lies a hope.

The ministry identified aboriginal people as a potential “untapped resource”; indeed the aboriginal population is the youngest and fastest growing domestic segment of Canada’s population (50 per cent of aboriginal peoples are under the age of 25).

Businesses have told Bradshaw they would like to hire aboriginal people but they want a safety net because of low retention levels.

Bradshaw said this is because support networks are lacking. To explain, she told an anecdote about Ted, a man who left his remote community to find work, succeeded in that task but could not find affordable housing or a social support network. Ted suffered too much economic and social burden and left work. But Bradshaw said Ted could have succeeded with help and better education.

One solution Bradshaw has obtained in her travels is to help municipalities build transitional housing so people from remote communities can stay there while they “get their feet on the ground,” thus helping them enter the labour market.

“We need a lot of life-skills. We need to build houses,” she said, later adding we “might have to start thinking differently on how we do things.”

Union representatives have told her the word “jobs” should be replaced with “careers,” and they have suggested getting aboriginal workers into apprenticeship programs, Bradshaw said.

Still Bradshaw says the answer is to address the problem on the basic level: education, which, she said, gives an individual freedom of choice.

But Bradshaw said she must hold more in-depth talks with the Aboriginal communities, because education, although a seemingly simple solution, possesses problems not readily explained. For example, about 30 per cent of the 950 Beaver Brae students registered last year came from a First Nations background and less than half of them were expected to complete the year, according to media reports.

Education’s cure and propeller will not be money, at least not money without vision.

Bradshaw said grassroots organizations are good with money and she hopes to give them more to allay their frustration of seeing solutions but not being able to act.

“They know what to do with it,” she said, noting of the 26 different literacy groups in the region, their total funding is less than $1 million. She said it makes little sense to give money to people when they are not trained to handle it.

“You gave us all this money but none of us are bookkeepers,” she said, imitating what she said she’s heard from aboriginal communities.

Currently, the government gives $85 million towards its Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnerships, a five-year program to develop skills and promote major economic development projects -- almost 60 such projects have been received since it began in 2003 but only nine implemented.

The government also renewed its $1.6-billion Aboriginal Human Resource Development Strategy which is an all aboriginal inclusive community-based strategy to help aboriginals find, train, obtain and maintain employment. The program is slated to end in 2009.

Since inception, the programs have yielded 92,000 jobs and 27,000 aboriginal youth returning to school while child care spaces doubled to 14,000.

Stepping out of economics and sociology, Bradshaw said there was another big problem: dreams.

“Kids don’t dream they can be a bookkeeper or pilots,” she said, adding communities need to sell children on their potential.
Bradshaw’s next meeting is in Thunder Bay.

Ahki-Pimadizewening Weecheewaywin Healing Centre Job Opportuntiy

Executive Director

Under the direction of the Regional Board of Directors of the Ahki Pimadizewening Weecheewaywin Healing Centre, the Executive Director will be responsible for the Program Services Delivery and the Management. The Executive Director will be accountable to Nishnawbe Aski Nation and the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy in program management and operations.

Pacific Peoples' Partnership is pleased to announce

Our 2005-2006
Indigenous Peoples Abroad Programme

Six-month paid positions in the South Pacific starting September 2005

If you're interested in international Indigenous issues and Pacific Island Cultures please visit our website for further information on the following opportunities:

• Civil Society Researcher in Honiara, The Solomon Islands
• Vintner's Assistant at a Maori Trust owned winery on the South Island of Aotearoa (New Zealand)
• Youth Leader for culturally based youth adventure programmes on the North Island of Aotearoa (New Zealand)
• Environmental Education Officer on water quality on Rarotonga, in The Cook Islands
• Marine Researcher/ bi-valve Hatchery Assistant on Aitutaki and Tongareva in The Cook Islands
• Communications Officer/ Investigative Journalist in Suva, Fiji

For further information and eligibility requirements please visit our website at www.pacificpeoplespartnership.org

The deadline for applications is Friday, June 3rd, 2005 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

Watch for more several more exciting new placements in the South Pacific over the coming weeks!

Glenn Raynor
Programme Officer
Indigenous Peoples Abroad Programme
Pacific Peoples' Partnership
407-620 View Street
Victoria, BC V8W 1J6
Tel: 250.381.4131
Fax: 250.388.5258
ipap@pacificpeoplespartnership.org
www.pacificpeoplespartnership.org

A new site has been added to the K-Net platform featuring extensive online e-commerce training resources http://lone-eagles.knet.ca

Most rural indigenous communities worldwide are still struggling to develop strategies to access broadband connectivity solutions. Community networks partnering with K-Net are now ready to begin focussing on those broadband applications which can create true cultural sovereignty.

The potential exists to grow the capacity to use communication tools like Macromedia Breeze and other on-line resources to work with other indigenous communities worldwide. Teaching and demonstrating how they too, can protect and preserve their cultures by making a living, in a culturally appropriate manner, via e-commerce and telework initiatives are required. Creating successful on-line businesses and learning environments could also be the key to sustaining the Kuhkenah Network (K-Net).

 Lone Eagle's best rural Innovation resources, including extensive Alaskan Native resources are available on-line at http://lone-eagles.com/future-proofing.htm

Two examples of potential clients for interested e-commerce mentors include:

1. The Coeur d'Alene tribe just built a million dollar community technology  center. They are now busy installing wireless interest across the reservation. As well they are beginning to plan for a tribal entrepreneurship program. Their casino brings in $20 million in profit per year, but their goal is economic diversification to prepare for the days when casinos are no longer as profitable. What might an on-line entrepeneur have to offer regarding lessons learned? Skills to transfer? The Coeur d'Alene site is at  http://www.cdatribe-nsn.gov/
2. Another project involves the Blackfeet nation which hopes to soon access funding for wireless access in Browning, Montana with a population 1000. What fast-track training might an on-line entrepeneur provide to bring this community up and online in just months instead of years?

I'm talking with a company seeking to create call centers in indigenous communities. They seek a single community with which to create a first success story; www.cfoadvisors.com

Just last week I had a conference call with Industry Canada. They are now trying to figure out what type of community-based programs can be rolled out in rural communities - to begin focussing on the adoption and applications that bring real benefits to real people instead of simply internet access.

The challenge is motivating citizens to get involved and to sustain their motivation by producing measurable outcomes in the short term. One such model community learning program is "Sustainable Ecommerce Education Development Strategies (SEEDS)" that is available on-line at http://lone-eagles.com/seeds.htm

Where will the first successful community learning program be demonstrated that showcases the will and vision of a community determined to prove itself sustainable? 

Here are two reports on Native Entrepreneurship for everyone to review:

• http://www.cfed.org/imageManager/_documents/Native_Entrepreneurship.pdf  
•  http://www.ag.iastate.edu/centers/rdev/pubs/contents/185.htm

Lastly, the Microsoft Telecentre Support Network will be unveiled in November. www.telecentre.org

Lone Eagle's online lessons providing an easy introduction to your opportunities with entry-level ecommerce and telework are accessible to everyone at http://lone-eagles.com/ecom.htm

What tribes will lead the world in Ecommerce Innovation in order to protect indigenous cultures worldwide? 

We're limited only by our imaginations!

All the best,

Frank Odasz
Lone Eagle Consulting
http://lone-eagles.knet.ca

See the website link below and each job that is located in Ottawa.  Deadline May 6, 2005.

The Sioux Lookout Area Aboriginal Management Board (SLAAMB) met with federal government officials from Human Resources Skills Development (HRSD) on Wednesday in Thunder Bay to continue the negotiations to re-open the Sioux Lookout based operation. Members of the Chiefs political group, the board and Bob Bruyere, SLAAMB Program Manager attended this meeting. An agreement in priniciple was worked out where "it would business as usual" for the SLAAMB office once the chiefs meet on April 26 in Sioux Lookout to review the terms and conditions that are being submitted this week to HRSD.

The story about this meeting was also reported in Thursday's Chronicle Journal (Thunder Bay) on the front page.

Click here to read last week's article about the closure of the office that was in the April 7 issue of the Chronicle Journal.

Click here to read's Wawatay's coverage of the closure.

Join the newly formed Boreal Prospectors Association and the Ontario Prospectors Association for their Symposium entitled "Exploring the Land Together" on February 22-23, 2005 in Sioux Lookout at the Sunset Inn & Suites.

Land use, economic development, and the minerals industry.  Participate, learn, and be heard!