Media.Knet.Ca

Keewaytinook Okimakanak (K-Net Services) and its partners, with funding support from Industry Canada's FedNor program, produced a DVD video entitled "The K-Net Story ... Weaving the Networked Economy in Kuhkenah First Nation Communities". The seven chapters of this production are now available on-line for everyone's viewing pleasure (choose between the high bandwidth or lower bandwidth options for your viewing pleasure).

Feedback about this video production is appreciated. Please send your comments to brian.beaton@knet.ca - thanks for taking the time to view this material and for sharing your thoughts about it.

George Ferreira, a PhD candidate at the University of Guelph's Rural Extension program, produced this DVD for K-Net. The "Visions for the Future" chapter contains the credits and participant list in these video clips.

On Saturday, December 11, Keewaytinook Okimakanak celebrated Christmas with the annual Children's Christmas Party.  It was a fun day with lots of activities for all who attended.  See pictures at http://photos.knet.ca/albun74.

The party started with entertainment from KO's Jim Teskey and his musical antics and a sing song.  

The KO kids participated in lots of fun and engaging activities including a tradition bone tossing game, a trip to Santa's Fishing Hole, Cookie Decorating, and Colouring.  The important event occured when a special visitor came.  Santa came loaded with bags of toys for all the kids present.

Lots of food made sure everyone left full and it definitely was "A Party to Remember".

The official opening of the Northern Indigenous Community Satellite Network (NICSN) and earth station in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, hosted by Keewaytinook Okimakanak Tribal Council is scheduled to take place in Sioux Lookout on January 19, 20 2005.

Community feasting and network demonstrations will take place at the site of the network hub. David Emerson, Minister of Industry Canada as well as other Federal government ministers and representatives have been invited to participate in the planned events.

Thirty-five Chiefs, Councillors and Mayors from the participating satellite network communities in the northern regions of Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec and representatives of the three partners who manage the network: Keewaytinook Okimakanak of Northern Ontario, Kativik Regional Government in Northern Quebec and Keewatin Tribal Council in Northern Manitoba. Attending as well will be the Ministers of Industry Canada, FedNor, Health and senior officials from Telesat, Bell Canada, and other major public and private sector investors.

The Northern Indigenous Community Satellite Network (NICSN) is the first inter-provincial community owned and operated broadband satellite initiative in Canada. It is a cooperative venture connecting over 30 remote communities from the northern regions of Manitoba, Quebec and Ontario. It is being administered through an innovative partnership of Keewaytinook Okimakanak, Keewatin Tribal Council and the Kativik Regional Government.

NICSN is the result of four years of development and over $5 million in strategic capital investment by Industry Canada and has brought together partnerships from industry, not-for-profit and government to serve the broadband needs of the participating communities. Keewaytinook Okimakanak and its Kuhkenah Network (K-Net) has led this development for the past four years.

For more information about this event and background information about this strategic partnership visit http://smart.knet.ca/satellite

For pictures and the video of the 7.3M satellite dish begin put in place visit http://tech.knet.ca/photos/satellite

A team of First Nation workers are meeting in the Fort William First Nation Learning Centre to learn and create new on-line resources for their community schools and communities. The workshop is lead by a crew of K-Net members including Tabatha Jourdain (Couchiching), Jamie Ray (Flying Post), Cal Kenny (Lac Seul), Jesse Fiddler (Sandy Lake) and Jeannie Carpenter (Lac Seul). This workshop also has representatives from the First Nations of

• Bearskin Lake,
• Fort Severn,
• Rainy River,
• Shoal Lake 39,
• Lac Seul,
• Kasabonika,
• Slate Falls,
• Poplar Hill,
• Cat Lake,
• Whitedog,
• Kashechewan,
• Aroland,
• Ongegaming.

Others members of the First Nation SchoolNet Youth Initiative will be gathering early in the new year for a second workshop that is being planned for southern Ontario.

Workshop topics include network development, video conferencing, computer service and maintenance, web site development, video production and editing, along with networking with other workers involved in this SchoolNet Youth Employment Initiative.

This project is sponsored by Keewaytinook Okimakanak's Regional Management Organization program with funding support from Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program and the First Nations SchoolNet Youth Employment program. Cal Kenny put together a short video clip from the training session providing an overview of what was planned and delivered in terms of the training and the workshop objectives. Click here to watch the video

Click here to view pictures from the workshop.

KO Chiefs are discussing various major issues affecting their communities in Thunder Bay this week at the Norwester Hotel. On Thursday evening everyone is gathering for the traditional Christmas feast and entertainment.

From the AFN Annual General Assembly that took place on July 20, 21 & 22, 2004, in Charlottetown, PEI, six resolutions moved by the KO Chiefs in attendance were recently adopted. These AFN Resolutions include:

A two day planning and development workshop (December 1 and 2) has resulted in the production of an on-line template that will become a place for Aboriginal artists in video, painting, writing, music and photography to share their work and meet together. The five member team meeting in Balmertown included Jesse Fiddler, Cal Kenny, Tina Kakepetum-Schultz, George Ferreira and Fernando Oliveira. Click here to check out the pictures of the team at work.

This on-line Aboriginal gathering place is intended to support Aboriginal artists in their efforts to promote their work and being established. It will include tutorials and resources for Aboriginal artists to use these on-line tools to further develop their skills. The environment will support peer-to-peer sharing and collaboration in production and support efforts.

Fundraising to complete the development work and support the ongoing operation of this on-line environment will now be undertaken. It is hoped that this initial investment by Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program in creating this template will help raise the funding required to continue the development of the Kuhkenah Aboriginal artists virtual gathering space.

Keewaytinook Okimakanak celebrated the Grand Opening of the new Centre of Excellence in Balmertown on Tuesday, November 30th. This building is located on 253 Dexter Road and is home to the administration offices for KO Telehealth and Keewaytinook Internet High School (KiHS). The building is a beautiful renovated structure made possible by contributions from Industry Canada through the Smart Communities project. A big thank you is extended to Industry Canada and FedNor for making this possible. Check out pictures at http://photos.knet.ca/albun68

During the celebration there was a feast at the main KO office at 12:00 noon, which was followed by an open house at the new building from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Many communities from the north were connected via video conferencing to share in the celebrations. We are sure that the medical and educational health of the communities with benefit greatly from this venture.

Several guests were able to participate in this celebration. Geordi Kakepetum, KO’s executive director welcomed everyone and gave opportunity for remarks from special guests. Mayor Dunc Wilson congratulated the organization for their lead in using ICTs in health and education. Former Grand Chief for Ontario, Tom Bressette brought greetings from the AFN. Jerry Fontaine, special advisor for the National Grand Chief, also brought congratulations and greeting from the Grand Chief and staff at the AFN. Raymond Mason, chief of Keewaywin brought remarks on behalf of the community and the Chiefs of the organization.

A welcomes was sent out to all from Kevin Houghton, KO Telehealth Program Manager, as well as Darrin Potter, KiHS Principal. Ribbon and cake cutting followed as guests mingled and enjoyed tours of the building.

The staff of KO, KO Telehealth www.telehealth.knet.ca and KiHS (www.kihs.knet.ca) wish to thanks everyone who participated in this event. Please come by and visit our centre if you are ever in Balmertown.

Brian Walmark, Coordinator of the KO Research Institute and the K-Net Coordinator met with Kevin Pasluk, IT Director of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM). Discussions and strategies to find ways to work together to support First Nations across Northern Ontario and first year students in NOSM in their four week placements were shared.

The opportunity exists for First Nations with broadband connections in place to provide a positive learning experience for NOSM students during their first year of studies at the new school. The first round of placements will take place in the spring of 2006. Working with KO and Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program, NOSM is committed to working with communities to ensure these learning experiences are successful for everyone involved.