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On Thursday and Friday, Feb 17 and 18, Brian Beaton travelled to AKRC and their member communities of Anishinaabeg of Naongashiing (Big Island) and Big Grassy River First Nation to discuss various broadband solutions for their schools. The meetings with AKRC team addressed their connectivity plans for their existing video conferencing and T1 connections that are presently in place in their office in Northwest Angle #37 territory. Denise Bluebird, the AKRC Education Advisor, is looking forward to seeing other member community schools connected so they are able to work with them on common issues and events.

The school in Big Grassy River First Nation is well outfitted with computer work stations. Their Public Library in the school also acts as their Community Access Centre. Their two-way satellite connection provides internet services for two computer labs and the computers in each of the classrooms. There are at least 30 computers in the school which serves about 60 students. Click here to see the pictures taken during this trip. The Pegamigaabo Elementary School staff created a web site at http://pegamigaabo.firstnationschools.ca/ a year ago. They also created an excellent on-line resource about their land claims negotiation and treaty information as part of Industry Canada's Digital Collections - http://bgfn.on.ca/index.html. The school internet connection also serves the local health centre through a DSL connection. This sharing of this resource makes their school very attractive for a broadband connection because then other groups in the community can help support the T1 service on an ongoing basis if the school subsidy under the First Nations SchoolNet ever ceases to exist.

Pictures of the school at Big Island First Nation are also available. The students and staff were on an outdoor adventure day so a visit to the band's new administration building proved valuable.

Tom Meecham, Manager, Inherent Right Negotiations and  Ron Mavin, Senior Intergovernmental Affairs Officer, Indian and Northern Affairs, Governments Relations are travelling with Kevin Houghton to visit Keewaytinook Okimakanak programs across the north. Under the governance program, Keewaytinook Okimakanak worked with INAC in the development of a regional financial management strategy to better serve the needs of the KO First Nations. Kevin lead this initiative over the past fiscal year.

Tom and Ron wanted to meet with the KO leadership to discuss new opportunities for using the resources that KO has been able to put into place to deliver further support services for the KO member First Nations.

Various international publications are highlighting some of Keewaytinook Okimakanak's work. Recent releases include:

• Community Informatics Research Network (CIRN), 2004 Colloquium and Conference Proceedings, Sustainability and Community Technology: What does this mean for Community Informatics? 29 September - 1 October 2004, Monash Centre, Prato, Italy. Contains a Jesse Fiddler's paper ... Walking the talk: Connecting remote Indigenous communities globally
  and Adam Fiser's Doctoral presentation ... ICTs for Education in Ontario First Nations
• The Journal of Community Informatics, No. 1, Vol. 2, winter 2005 issue (Sustainability and Community ICTS) contains Geordi Kakepetum's open letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin - Broadband connectivity in aboriginal communities
• Macromedia Case Study profiling the use of Breeze for the delivery of the Kuhkenah Smart International Conference - “The success of the Kuh-ken-ah Conference directly depended on our ability to deliver a platform that would work in some of the most remote areas on Earth, and Breeze delivered. Presenters were able to ramp up in no time, and it proved to be a flexible and effective way for other indigenous people to learn from one another. In the end, we were able to connect groups from as far away as Argentina, Guatemala, Australia, and Tanzania through Macromedia Breeze. It was a remarkable experience.” For the archived and final report information about this international conference visit http://smart.knet.ca/international

For those who were not able to attend the actual event on January 19, the opening ceremonies consisting of video clips, pictures and stories are now available on-line for everyone to see. Visit http://smart.knet.ca/satellite/opening_ceremony.html to watch Geordi Kakepetum, Executive Director of Keewaytinook Okimakanak, Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic from Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Grand Chief Arnold Ouskan from the Keewatin Tribal Council in Northern Manitoba, Patrick Exekiel from the Kativik Regional Government in Northern Quebec, the Honourable Joseph Comuzzi (Minister of State for FedNor), the Honourable Roger Valley (MP for Kenora riding), and the Honourable Howard Hampton (MPP for Kenora Riding and leader of the New Democratic Party) share their stories and wisdom with the conference participants.

The background information, press coverage and other material produced and shared at this event are now all available on-line at http://smart.knet.ca/satellite

Some of this material includes:

>> History of NICSN <<

>> Partner Profiles <<

>> View the Agenda <<

>> KO Press Release <<

>> Telesat Press Release <<

>> Demonstrations <<

>> NICSN Video <<

>> Press Coverage <<

>> Community Impact Stories <<

On Wednesday, February 9, Carl Zoccole (Band Councillor responsible for Education), Terry Favelle (Economic Development Officer) and Tim Gardener (Youth Worker) met with the First Nations SchoolNet Regional Management Organization team (Keewaytinook Okimakanak) to discuss establishing a broadband connection to their First Nation school. The proposed solution is being funded by the First Nations SchoolNet initiative along with Health Canada to connect in the school and the community health programs into the Kuhkenah Network. Video conferencing and high speed internet are two planned applications to be carried on the network. The community plans to present a proposal to FedNor to develop their "last mile" solution for connecting all their houses, businesses, organizations and program services to this network.

A new "course" has been established by Fernando Oliveira, the on-line Grade 8 Supplementary Courses instructor, to support First Nation educators to explore and discuss different features required to support the creation of an effective e-learning environment for First Nation learners. First Nation educators are invited to join in this effort by signing up for an account at http://moodle.knet.ca

The open source Moodle environment was selected to be the main platform because it is presently being used in at least three First Nation e-learning programs with participants from across Ontario and Northern Saskatchewan. Participants in the two day planning workshop held in Balmertown and on-line produced a set of recommendations, one of which was to continue this planning work on-line using this tool. The workshop was made possible through funding from Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program and the Ontario Regional Management Organization.

The agenda and workshop report along with some video clips are posted on-line within the MoodleFN course.

Seventeen First Nation grade 8 classrooms are participating in the next round of on-line Math supplementary course material being offered to First Nation schools across Ontario. Visit http://g8.firstnationschools.ca to see a list of the communities involved in this Math course. There are over 180 students registered to participate in this experience that is made possible through funding provided by Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program.

This year, many of the grade 8 classrooms are being supported by youth workers who have been hired by Keewaytinook Okimakanak to work in the different First Nation schools across Ontario providing technical and web support for their local schools and community groups. To date over 45 youth have been employed by this project.

As part of Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program, Keewaytinook Okimakanak works with First Nation schools across Ontario searching for ways to get them connected to broadband connectivity infrastructure necessary for video conferencing and other applications. On Feb 2, three Eagle Lake First Nation representatives travelled to Sioux Lookout to discuss various applications and opportunities for getting their local school a broadband connection that would support these applications.

Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation (OFNTSC) is partnering with a number of programs, including Keewaytinook Okimakanak's Regional Management Organization (a project funded by Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program) to bring the popular presentation "Soar with Science" to First Nation classrooms across the province. Twelve showings of this program are now scheduled ... click here to read more about this program and the shows

Contact Kevin Sherlock at (807) 623-9595 or ksherlock@tbay-ofntsc.org for more information.

On Wednesday January 26th 2005, Canada Connects moderated  a National Round Table Discussion on how broadband technologies could be used for the competitive advantage of Canada and Canadians.

The event was webcasted using the K-Net Breeze presentation platform and is available for viewing at http://breeze.knet.ca/p78044893/. An article about the meeting and discussion was published in the latest ORION newsletter (click here to read the article).

Everyone is invited to participate in a much larger debate that will provide all Canadians with an opportunity to take part in the exploration of how our businesses, institutions, communities, citizens and country can adapt to the new opportunities provided by broadband infrastructure and connectivity.

To register for the National Vision announcement list, or to find out how you can be heard in this national debate please visit: http://www.canadaconnects.ca/nationalvision