Media.Knet.Ca

On April 28, Geordi, Peter, Cheryl, Darrin, Kevin and Brian met in Kenora to attend the regional municipal association session that included a presentation by Prime Minister Paul Martin. Roger Valley, Kenora Riding's MP, invited Geordi and Peter to join other supporters afterwards to meet with the Prime Minister. Geordi and Peter were able to briefly meet with the Prime Minister and present him with a letter, concept paper and DVD describing the e-Community work being done by KO in partnership with FedNor. Click here to see some photos from this event.

Earlier in the day, Brian Walmark, KORI Coordinator, attended the Prime Minister / FedNor's announcement at the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital. Click here to see the Chronicle-Journal coverage of this event - "FedNor will save us".

The package presented to the Prime Minister is now being circulated to groups involved in the Aboriginal Roundtable discussions. The following message is accompanying this material ...

These documents are being forwarded to the various organizations involved with the Aboriginal Roundtable sectoral discussions. Please feel free to distribute this information.

Two newer videos that provide additional information about some of the e-Community work that Keewaytinook Okimakanak is doing are available on-line.

1. The Keewaytinook Internet High School information video describes how KiHS is making a difference in the participating First Nations. This video was produced by Cal Kenny. Giving young people and their families a choice about where they attend high school is an important theme throughout this production. The impact that KIHS is having in these small, remote communities is also addressed. Check it out at http://streaming.knet.ca/KiHS/KiHS_300k.wmv
   
2. The latest Keewaytinook Okimakanak Telehealth (KOTH) information video describes the evaluation process and the importance of collecting this valuable information for the participating communities as well as the funding partners. George Ferreira, a PhD candidate worked with other members of the evaluation team, to produce this video. Check it out at http://streaming.knet.ca/telehealth/TH-Evaluation_300k.wmv

Additional video material about the work being done can at Keewaytinook Okimakanak is available at different locations throughout these web sites as well as under the Smart Communities link from the K-Net homepage.

The report of the founding meeting of the Research on ICTs with Aborginal communities (RICTA) cluster from this past March is now available on the RICTA website. Click here for the entire PDF copy of the report. (Research on ICT with Aboriginal Communities: Report of the founding RICTA meeting. March 11, 2005)

This report includes not only the meeting minutes but also the meeting evaluation and the biographies of RICTA members. RICTA is currently reflecting on the meeting to learn how it can keep the momentum moving forward.

Along with the report is a video description about RICTA that includes some of its founding members. Click here to view the video (requires Windows Media Player).

The Keewaytinook Okimakanak Research Institute and the National Research Council (NRC) established RICTA with a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council back in the fall, 2004. The SSHRC announced grants last fall to establish research clusters to identify areas of expertise where Canada can become recognized as world leaders.  One hundred and forty university researcher teams from across Canada applied for these cluster grants. KORI's application with its partner the NRC was one of only thirty proposals that was approved for funding.

NAN Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic describes his Ottawa meeting with INAC’s most senior education official as "positive." The Deputy Grand Chief was in Ottawa to raise awareness about the education crisis in the NAN territory and to seek additional funding to improve academic readiness with Line Pare, Director General, Education Branch, Indian and Northern Affairs. Kakegamic told Line about the various activities that KO is engaged in to improve educational opportunities at the community level. Kakegamic delivered an invitation from KO Executive Director Geordi Kakepetum to Ms. Pare to visit KO’s sub-offices in Balmertown. Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic said Ms. Pare expressed interest in touring the North.

First Nations SchoolNet RMO's and Cisco Systems Networking Academy Launch Distance Learning Initiative
Partnership to Bring Technology Training to Remote Communities

Click here to read the April 26 Globe and Mail article about this initiative - IT courses go the distance by Jack Kapica

Click here to watch the archived 32 minute press conference that included a video conference link with several sites (Windows Media Player required).

TORONTO, Canada – April 26, 2005 –– Cisco Systems Networking Academy and First Nation groups across Canada have launched an innovative and unique initiative designed to bring IT educational opportunities to remote First Nations communities. Over the past year, Cisco Networking Academy, Industry Canada (IC), Human Resource Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and First Nations SchoolNet Regional Management Organizations (RMOs) have collaborated to develop a customized distance learning program. Based on the Cisco Networking Academy HP IT Essentials curriculum, the First Nations Distance Learning Program incorporates a number of blended learning methodologies including in-classroom, instructor lead and online learning, enabling First Nations instructors and students to gain the necessary information communications technology (ICT) skills essential in today’s economy.

“Educational resources and employment opportunities remain a formidable challenge for First Nations communities, primarily due to our isolation and limited access to specialized programs,” said Randy Johns, General Manager for Keewatin Career Development Corporation, lead RMO for the project. “With Cisco’s leadership and unwavering commitment to this project, we are launching a program that can have a tremendously positive impact on the future of our youth and our communities. With the support of Industry Canada and Human Resource Skills Development Canada, we have developed a distance IT training program for First Nations students, taught by First Nations instructors, which takes advantage of world leading curriculum from the Cisco Networking Academy, and allows our students to gain knowledge and experience, regardless of their location.”

 “Industry Canada is pleased to collaborate with our SchoolNet RMOs, HRSDC, and Cisco Systems Networking Academy to support educational opportunities for remote First Nations communities,” said the Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry. “Distance education is an important initiative enabling First Nations to access education, life long learning services and important economic opportunities without leaving their communities.”

“The development of this unique program has been a true collaboration,” said Anne Miller, Canadian Education Marketing Manager for Cisco Systems Canada. “Over the past year, we have together developed a program that is a first-of-its-kind in terms of private/public sector partnership. The Cisco Networking Academy is pleased to continue its global role of supporting and facilitating information technology education by assisting Canada’s First Nations students in expanding their educational horizons and working to realize their career goals.”

Customized blended distance learning

The First Nations Distance Learning Program customizes and delivers Cisco Networking Academy HP IT Essentials I and II curriculum through blended distance learning - an instructor-facilitated learning environment that combines both in-person and remote access to equipment, curriculum, and other instructional materials. The RMO teams have developed and implemented the technology infrastructure required to support the program, including integrated educational software platforms, web-based collaboration tools, and integrated videoconferencing. 

The program aims to eliminate distance barriers through instructional classes that use information and communication technologies to enable students to interact with instructors via web-based video, audio, and text conference. All educational materials are posted on the Web and students interact with instructors and peers through Internet enabled communications.  Instructors are able to track student progress and perform assessments online and demonstrate the practicability of the curriculum regardless of geographic location.

The First Nations’ Distance Learning Program is also providing students with training to become qualified Cisco Academy instructors within their communities, in order to reach an even greater student base.

The curriculum

The Cisco Networking Academy HP IT Essentials I and II are comprehensive e-learning programs that provide students with Internet technology skills essential in a global economy.  The introductory course is a 70-hour, hands-on practical experience for students to learn about hardware and software. 

Specifically, students learn how to build a computer, install and run operating systems and gain a base understanding of local area network (LAN) architecture and networking protocols. IT Essentials II is an introduction to multi-user, multi-tasking network operating systems.  The IT Essentials II course is also 70-hours in length and incorporates hands-on learning to give students an overview of network operating systems.  The course is a stepping stone to help prepare students for careers in the IT field.

 “For our community, programs like this are a solid first step in helping put our young people on the road to success,” said Martin Sacher, Principal, Sunchild Cyber School. “An ongoing challenge has been access to programs and resources that provide educational content that will help our students be prepared for and compete in the job market. The Cisco Networking Academy program has allowed our students to become skilled in IT technology and to develop our own IT business to maintain and grow a network infrastructure for the entire community."

The SchoolNet Regional Management Organizations involved with the First Nations Distance Learning Program include:

• Keewatin Career Development Corporation, La Ronge, Saskatchewan, and Sunchild Cyber School, Alberta
• First Nations Education Steering Committee, British Columbia
• Keewatin Tribal Council, Thompson, Manitoba
• Keewaytinook Okimakanak, K-Net, Sioux Lookout, Ontario
• First Nations Education Council, Wendake, Quebec, and
• Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey in the Maritimes.

For more information about the Cisco Networking Academy Program, visit: http://www.cisco.com/go/netacad

About Cisco Systems Canada
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO), the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, this year celebrates 20 years of commitment to technology innovation, industry leadership and corporate social responsibility. Cisco Systems Canada Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc., has offices across Canada dedicated to customer support, sales and service.  In addition, Cisco has a significant research and development centre in Ottawa, Ontario.  Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com/ca. For ongoing news, go to http://newsroom.cisco.com/canada.

About First Nations SchoolNet
Computers and Internet access are important tools for creating stimulating learning environments. Recognizing the challenges that First Nations schools may face in accessing and applying these technologies, Industry Canada created the First Nations SchoolNet program.

Six non-profit Regional Management Organizations work with Industry Canada to deliver the program to First Nations schools. Any First Nations school under the Government of Canada's jurisdiction is eligible to participate in the program. For more information, http://www.schoolnet.ca/aboriginal/

Press Contacts:     
Karin Scott     
Strategic/Ampersand
416.961.5595 ext 408
416.709.2138 - mobile
Karin@stratamp.com

Gareth Pettigrew
604.647.2326
604.790.7539 - mobile
gpettigr@cisco.com

A three day site visit from Jeff Anderson of R.A. Malatest & Associates Ltd. (Edmonton office) was part of the formative, mid-term evaluation work he is doing for the final report for Industry Canada. His visit that addresses the case study portion of the report, included:

• interviewing the Regional Management Organization (RMO) program and contracted team members;
• learning about the Keewaytinook Okimakanak organization and their Kuhkenah Network (K-Net) initiative, as it relates to Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program;
• visiting Pelican Falls First Nations High School to learn about the impacts of the program and the use of ICTs within that environment;
• touring the Kuhkenah Network facilities and learning about its history and future development;
• meeting with First Nations SchoolNet / RMO supported e-learning program leaders (KiHS and the Grade 8 Supplementary programs);
• meeting with Carl Seibel, Industry Canada / FedNor program monitor for the Ontario region.

Carl's visit during these meetings also provided everyone with a stronger understanding about the important role that FedNor is performing in supporting the development of the broadband capacity and resources across Northern Ontario.

Career day at the Reverend Eleazor Winter Memorial School in Wapekeka First Nation included presentations by Kuhkenah Network (K-Net) personnel. Included in the presentations was video conferencing connections with the Sioux Lookout office using the school's new polycom unit. The different classes enjoyed meeting Cal Kenny, K-Net's Graphic Artist and Web Site Designer and Jamie Ray, K-Net's Helpdesk Technician.

Click here to check out the pictures

Students indicated they are using the internet for their own personal homepages and spend a lot of their time visiting other people's web site at http://myknet.org.

Lakehead University's Aboriginal Education faculty members visit the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Research Institute in Thunder Bay  ...

Dr. Rosemary White Shield, Dr. Cecil White Hat of Lakehead University's Aboriginal Education and Dr. John O'Meara, Dean of Graduate Studies visited the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Research Institute (KORI) on April 6, 2005 to discuss research opportunities and Keewaytinook Internet High School (KiHS). The visit included a KiHS presentation by Fort William's KiHS teacher Craig Hardy by video conference. The many successes of KiHS were the topics of conversation as well as the mode of delivery of the secondary courses and of future plans.

For a look at some pictures of the visit click here

to visit the KiHS site click here

The Keewaytinook Okimakanak Research Institute completed a report for Industry Canada's National Satellite Initiative (NSI) detailing the impacts of the use of the Public Benefit allocation provided to the Kuhkenah Network (K-Net) and its partner communities. The report details the use of this satellite bandwidth since this resource was first made available early in 2002. It provides a snapshot about the development process, the community and regional engagement work, the management of the C-Band Public Benefit resource and the many impacts on the satellite-served communities that were able to utilize this resource. With Industry Canada's National Satellite Initiative along with FedNor's local infrastructure development dollars, ten remote First Nations in Northern Ontario now are able to access broadband applications and services. 

Click here to see the report.

To find out what is happening across the remote parts of Northern Ontario, a lot of people are spending time visiting some of the Kuhkenah Network (K-Net) on-line services. The month of March is once again showing a marked increase in on-line traffic on a number of services.

MyKnet.org traffic once again increased dramatically with nearly 100 MILLION hits (98,561,022) in March from over 1 MILLION visits (1,014,887). This is a result of DAILY traffic from over 32,000 visits (32,738) with over 3 million hits (3,179,387).

The KNet.ca server also experienced a noticeable increase with over 6 million hits in March (6,352,979) and over 218,000 visits (218,051) throughout the month. On a daily average, there were 204,934 hits and over 7 thousand visits on this server.

Click here to see the on-line traffic reports but please note that due to some hardware and software configuration changes and upgrades over the past few months, all the reports are not complete.