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Keewaytinook Okimakanak's Kuhkenak Network (K-Net - http://knet.ca) Coordinator is travelling to First Nations along Highway 11 and 17 over the next two weeks to meet with community leaders, education and health directors and local technicians. The meetings are an opportunity to discuss the development of local broadband connections and partnerships.

The journey began on Thursday, April 19 with the evening drive to Thunder Bay.

Friday (April 20):

Meetings began with breakfast with Carl Seibel, FedNor Telecom Officer and later with Brian Walmark to discuss upcoming projects and work to completed. The regularly scheduled INAC's First Nations SchoolNet meeting with Suzanne Lebeau took place from the KORI (http://research.knet.ca). A chance drop-in visit with Carmen Blais, Dilico Health Director provided an opportunity to connect via video conference her with Penny Carpenter to discuss K-Net's work with Ontario's Smart Systems for Health Agency (SSHA) and getting all the Aboriginal health centres and programs connected to that network. Meetings with KORI staff provided an update on the Thunder Bay Meet-me project and other potential developments in the areas of economic development and online gathering session facilitation. Meetings with Jamie Ray provided an opportunity to discuss and further plan the development of the First Nations libraries connectivity strategy.

Weekend (Sunday, April 22):

A short visit at the Red Rock First Nation near Nipissing provided information about the health programs being offered at the local Band office. Their Dilico health programs are available out of the health office located in Nipissing.

A quick drive into Rocky Bay First Nation and Sandpoint First Nation provided some pictures of the locations of the health and administration buildings serving those community members.

Continued driving to Long Lac, passing the turn-offs to Aroland, Long Lac 58 and Gingogaming. These communities were visited this past winter by Jamie Ray, with their local schools, health centres and band offices connected into the network and being supported by Matawa First Nations Management.

Monday (April 23):

Drove from Long Lac to Constance Lake First Nation (www.clfn.on.ca), spending the day with Jacob Moore, the local Network Technician. Got to briefly meet with Chief Arthur Moore, Raymond Ferris (Councillor), Terry John-George (Executive Director), Monica Peunish (Acting Director), Hannah Myers (Health Director) and Elizabeth Moore (Eagle's Earth Administrator). Was gifted with a wonderful tour of the band's new Eagle's Earth development - http://eaglesearth.com). Set up a video conferencing unit at the radio station and introduced Jacob to the K-Net team in Sioux Lookout and Thunder Bay. Constance Lake First Nation has a 10M fibre connection installed by Northern Tel under a K-Net contract that was funded by FedNor.

Drove to Cochrane for the night.

Tuesday (April 23):

From Cochrane, drove to Taykwa Tagamou (New Post) where a 10M fibre connection was installed by Northern Telephone under the FedNor funded e-Community 2 initiative. Worked with the Health Centre staff and a community volunteer (Kevin Archibald) to run network cable from the 10M connection over to the health centre telecom room and into their patch panel. Set up the video conferencing equipment in the health centre's public education room. New Post has a 10M fibre connection installed by Northern Tel under a K-Net contract that was funded by FedNor. Did some training with the local team before leaving at the end of the day for Matheson.

Wednesday, April 25:

From Matheson, drove to Wahgoshig First Nation to meet with Chris St. Germain, the community's GIS/GPS Technician as well as their IT Technician. Met with members of the Lands and Resources, Health, Education and Band Administration teams. Working with Chris, we were able to get the video conferencing equipment working in the Health Centre as well as in the Band Office. Wahgoshig First Nation has a 10M wireless connection installed by Northern Tel under a K-Net contract that was funded by FedNor. Left Wahgoshig in the evening and drove to Kirkland Lake.

Thursday, April 26:

KEEWAYTINOOK OKIMAKANAK
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Keewaytinook Okimakanak is seeking to hire a full time Director of Operations who will have the overall responsibility to the organization, direction and operations of the administration office.

Responsibilities

1. Administration and Financial Management
2. Implementation of Workplans, Resolutions and Directions
3. Reporting of Tasks and Activities Completed
4. Chiefs Meetings Coordination

Qualifications

• Demonstrated personal commitment to improve the lives and protect the rights of the First Nations people.
• A post Secondary degree in business administration, political science or management related fields; and/or a minimum of (5) years of senior management experience in a First Nation or government organization,.
• Competency in understanding financial statements and cash flow projections.
• Demonstrated skill in the area in issues of staff management.
• Excellent communication skills in the area of report/brief preparations, proposal development and general information sharing.
• Demonstrated skill in the area of computers; Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.
• Ability to speak/write Ojicree, Cree and Ojibway will be considered an asset.

Remuneration

The salary is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

To Apply

Submit your resume, 3 professional references and a cover letter outlining your qualifications no later than the closing date, April 30, 2007, at noon to:

Geordi Kakepetum, Executive Director
Keewaytinook Okimakanak
P.O. Box 340, 8 Mine Road
Balmertown, Ontario
P0V 1C0

For more info, please call 1-807-735-1381, ask for Geordi Kakepetum

A roundtable discussion is being held today in Sioux Lookout in the SLAAMB boardroom "about the impacts of connectivity and social capital in Aboriginal communities in Canada. The goal of this work is to produce a document that reflects the potential of connectivity and information and communication technology in relation to social capital in Aboriginal communities in Canada."

Everyone is invited to contribute to this final document by:

• joining the discussions either today (Monday, April 16) or tomorrow in the boardroom in Sioux Lookout (video conferencing connections are available - just call Lyle at 877-737-KNET (5638) ext 1387 to join the session); OR
   
• sharing your thoughts in the online discussion forum at the K-Net Meeting Place at http://meeting.knet.ca/moodle/mod/forum/view.php?id=2347

From the study's Meeting Place web site at http://meeting.knet.ca/moodle/course/view.php?id=86 ...

The study "Increasing Aboriginal Social Capital" is being conducted by the University of Manitoba in partnership with Crossing Boundaries National Council, and is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

This study seeks to examine the idea of social capital from an Aboriginal perspective, specifically in relation to the potential of information and communication technology.

Discussions are welcomed related to how connectivity is impacting Aboriginal communities. As well, sharing experiences about the issues and challenges around the implementation and sustainability of the new technologies and networks. Personal experiences are especially welcomed. This site can also be used as a means through which to share work and research material on related topics. 

Feedback and comments of the Preliminary Paper (available on the web site) are welcome and can be send to henley2@cc.umanitoba.ca.

Social capital characterizes a community based on the degree that its resources are socially invested, that it presents an ethos of trust, norms of reciprocity, collective action, and participation, and that it possesses inclusive, flexible and diverse networks.  Social capital of a community is assessed through a combination of its bonding (within group relations), bridging (inter-community ties), and linking (relations with formal institutions) dimensions.

A link to a discussion forum where you can post any questions or thoughts you may have regarding the topic or where you can respond to and add your input to discussion topics posted by others. To access this discussion forum click on IASC.

The study "Increasing Aboriginal Social Capital" is being conducted in partnership with the Crossing Boudaries National Council which recently conducted the Aboriginal Voice project.

The Aboriginal Voice initiative focused on:

• creating a forum for Aboriginal communities and organizations to have dialouges around e-government and e-democracy in a multi-stakeholder context;
• raising the profile of Aboriginal ICT opportunities and challenges at both the national and regional levels; and
• enriching and informing the dialogue and agenda of the Crossing Boundaries National Council by raising their awareness of Aboriginal specific e-issues.

Click here to access the final report of the Aboriginal Voice National Recommendations "From Digital Divide to Digital Opportunity".

Susan O'Donnell (http://www.susanodonnell.info) travelled from Frederiction, New Brunswick to Thunder Bay where she met with KO staff at the KO Research Institute. Visits KO partners at the Metis Nation of Ontario, Oshki and Fort William First Nation KIHS classroom provided Susan with the opportunity to meet with people using video conferencing to support program and service delivery.

Susan is working with KORI and K-Net team members to examine how video conferencing and online video material is supporting Keewaytinook Okimakanak and our partners in developing and supporting their programs and services. For more information about the Videocom research initiative, visit its web site at http://meeting.knet.ca/moodle/course/view.php?id=50 (you must log into the K-Net Meeting Place).

Susan works at the National Research Council (www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca), a Canadian national research agency. She is a researcher specializing in the communications and social aspects of ICT (information and communication technologies). Her positions include:

• Research Officer, People-Centred Technologies Group, National Research Council Institute for Information Technology
• Adjunct Professor, Sociology, University of New Brunswick

Her work analyzes:

• Communications aspects of ICT (primarily how people and groups use the Internet to communicate)
• Social aspects of ICT (social, economic, political, cultural issues surrounding ICT) 

Her research builds:

• Understanding (social science analysis leading to improved policies and use of ICT)
• Technology (social science analysis as part of a multi-disciplinary technology development team)

The Chiefs of Keewaytinook Okimakanak met together several times throughout the past week to discuss various issues requiring their attention as directors of the organizations.

Most of the meetings took place at the KO office building in Thunder Bay at 216 Algoma Street. The finance and budget meeting took place on Tuesday evening at the Travelodge Inn.

On Wednesday afternoon, a delegation from Bell Aliant including Mark Hanlon, the Chief Operating Officer, Ontario met with the chiefs and staff at the KORI office. Video conferencing connections with Balmertown, Weagamow and Saugeen Nation provided everyone with an update about KOTH and KIHS.

Network technicians from remote First Nations in northern  Manitoba and Ontario are meeting in Sioux Lookout to discuss the operation and maintenance of their local satellite earth stations and community broadband network connections.

The technicians are meeting together to share local experiences and challenges; learn about the C-Band satellite network; obtain experience in the maintenance and operation of the equipment involved in sustaining their network connection; meet and network with other community technicians working with similar equipment in other communities; and to meet the network helpdesk staff from K-Net and Keewatin Tribal Council who are working together to support the provision of broadband services in these remote First Nations.

The training session is being supported by the First Nations SchoolNet program and each of the participating First Nations and organizations.

Two researchers from the University of Manitoba were in Sioux Lookout this week meeting with different Aboriginal organizations and making arrangements for the upcoming roundtable workshop on "Connectivity in Aboriginal Communities - Increasing Aboriginal Social Capital".

Any community with video conferencing is invited to attend the Sioux Lookout roundtable. Click here to see the invitation poster

INCREASING ABORIGINAL SOCIAL CAPITAL

We would like to invite you to participate in a roundtable discussion about the impacts of connectivity and social capital in Aboriginal communities in Canada.  Our goal is to produce a document that reflects the potential of connectivity and information communication technology in relation to social capital in Aboriginal communities in Canada.  We will be holding roundtable meetings in various communities across Canada for interested parties to share their experiences.

Study objectives:

1. Review the theory of social capital from as it applies from to Aboriginal people in Canada;
2. Analyze current debates on social capital as it applies to building capacity in Aboriginal communities and institutions, and to how it relates to improvement in social, economic and health outcomes;
3. Assess the potential and opportunities afforded by information and communication technology, and the issues and concerns that this presents for Aboriginal, federal and provincial governments;
4. Research the roles that this technology can and does play in the formation of social capital in Aboriginal communities.

Study benefits:

1. Provide the opportunity for participants to network with other individuals involved in ICT and connectivity in Aboriginal communities, both online and in person;
2. Share the results by providing all participants with the final report;
3. Support the understanding of social capital and increase awareness of the impact of social capital and information and communication technology in Aboriginal communities;
4. Identify potential applications that contribute to Aboriginal social capital, through both direct and indirect means.

To participate please contact:

Heather Henley
Research Coordinator
Faculty of Human Ecology
University of Manitoba
204 474 7142
henley2@cc.umanitoba.ca

Please RSVP for catering purposes.

Another way to participate in this research and share your story about "Connectivity in Aboriginal Communities - Increasing Aboriginal Social Capital" is to go online and join the discussion forum to learn about this important topic. Visit http://meeting.knet.ca/moodle/course/view.php?id=86 for more information and http://meeting.knet.ca/moodle/mod/forum/view.php?id=2347 to join the discussions set up for this research project.

Members of the Keewaytinook Okimakanak team, lead by Darlene Rae, worked with Manitoba's First Nations SchoolNet team to host a two hour video conference with First Nation youth from across Ontario and Manitoba.

The video conference was held yesterday afternoon, February 20. The gathering was web streamed and archived and is available for viewing online at http://webcast.knet.ca/events (on Page 4 under FNS Ont_Man Youth Conference). Please Note: viewers do require the codec for displaying these videos that will pop-up when you click on the video.

Youth presenters spoke about their work in their First Nations in supporting the introduction and development of local ICT networks and applications. Some of the presentations included:

• Jesse Fiddler / Curtis Drake – Sandy Lake First Nation – Demonstration on line training
• Ryan Kemash (Manitoba FNS Helpdesk) - Online support using Messenger
• Christopher Foltz / Lisabeth Boissoneau – Garden River First Nation - the importance of ICTs in their community
• Andrew Wavey – Fox Lake - Former Youth Intern Success Story
• Derek Kanate – North Caribou Lake First Nation – Nov 2006 Youth Training session in Sioux Lookout
• Richard Debassige - M'Chigeeng First Nation - A video tour of my community
• Shauna Spence / Angeline Nelson - Orientation and Training Session June/July 2006 for Manitoba youth
• Terry Moreau (Lac Seul) / Franz Seibel – Keewaytinook Okimakanak Research Institute Youth Employment placement
• Beverly Endanawas – Sheshegwaning First Nation - setting up and using the video conferencing equipment
• Chris Guimond – Sagkeeng & Andrew Wavey – Fox Lake - Broadband Connectivity and the Community
• Cal Kenny – Lac Seul First Nation – Video Production and online multi-media training
• Jason Bruyere, Desmond Blacksmith - Community Contribution, Employment Enhancement and Opportunities

Keewaytinook Centre of Excellence

LOGO and NAME CONTEST

The Keewaytinook Centre of Excellence prides itself with providing exceptional, technical water plant operator training. Students come to our Centre for water and wastewater training programs.

We are looking for a fresh NEW look.

We would like you to design a logo for our Centre to compliment what we do here, which is watertraining.

Contest Contact Information:

Paul Otis—Program Manager
Susan Lappage—Program Assistant
Suite 209– 100 Casimir Ave
Dryden, ON P8N 3L4
Toll Free—1-866-889-1135
Fax: 807-223-8426

The Logo should be:

• SIMPLE—LIMITED DETAILS
• WATER RELATED
• NO WORDS
• FEW COLORS

In addition to a Logo, help us out with a unique new Name for our Centre.

Each class may submit one Name.

GREAT PRIZES

FAX ENTRIES TO: 807-223-8426

DEADLINE DATE: FEB 23/07

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K-Net Coordinator, Brian Beaton is presenting at the Connect NWT conference (see http://connectnwt.ca for more information) on Tuesday, Feb 6.

His presentation, "ICTs at work in remote communities" will highlight the work being IT infrastructrue and application development work being completed in Aboriginal communities across Ontario.

Pictures of the trip to Yellowknife to attend the conference along with short tours of nearby Aboriginal communities (Ndilo and Dettah) are being posted at http://photos.knet.ca/albuo74