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Today Keewaywin started their Community ICT Strategic Planning workshop as part of the Kuh-ke-nah Smart First Nations Demonstration Project workshop. These workshops are being coordinated by Les Meekis and will be happening in each Keewaytinook Okimakanak First Nation. On hand for the workshop from KO are Les Meekis, Lars Dixon, Jesse Fiddler and Dan Pellerin. Helen Aitkin and Ricardo Ramírez from Telecommons Development Group are here providing facilitation and training support for the workshop. The Keewaywin workshop started on Monday, Nov 19th. The first meeting was held at the e-center where all the staff discussed the format that they will follow over the next few days. Roles and responsibilities were clarified for everyone to make sure the workshop is successful. Monday's community meeting was planned for that evening. The community meeting was to inform the community members of the workshop agenda and to give everyone a chance to meet each other. The meeting started with Lorraine Kakegamic doing the opening prayers. Raymond Mason began the meeting by introducing the staff, members of the Smart team, and K-Net staff to the community members. Les Meekis then made some opening remarks about the Kuh-ke-nah workshop, explaning the workshop agenda and the format for the workshop. He discussed everything regarding the community services such as health, education and the local gov't/economic development and recapping upcoming events. Helen gave a demonstration using powerpoint slides to show the community the surveys that were done two years ago and again this year. These slides showed a dramatic difference over these two years in the changes in the use of technology in Keewaywin. Ricardo was also on hand to share in the discussion about some of this information. There were questions about the surveys and what the surveyers did to collect this data. They explained that Keewaywin and the other KO First Nations are like ambassadors to the other countries where they also work where many are just now beginning to explore the use of this technology as it becomes available worldwide. Dan made a presentation about the work that K-net is doing. He explained using a flipchart about the K-Net connections and how modems are used. He was very impressive and impressed a lot of people with the information about the upcoming cable hook ups to the houses. He estimated that this work should be completed in about five weeks or more. He also stessed that there will only be twenty modems available for the community through the project. That got a lot of people's attention with many already vying for one of the twenty modems that will be available. Raymond Mason asked Lorraine Kakegamic, the Education Director for the Keewaywin School. to close the community meeting with a prayer. Keewaywin's Kuh-ke-nah Smart First Nations Demonstration project workshop photos

Keewaywin sure had a busy day and night on October 31st - Halloween. The Band staff were required to dress up in costumes or were to be fined if found without any costumes. The Northern Store also had their staff dressed up. It was fun going to the store and being served by people in costumes. The school and the church members also had activities planned for the night, for those who could no go out to trick or treat. They also had a buffet style spread of refreshments for the public. The e-center was also very busy - trick or treaters coming and going. The community technician was setting up for the night event for the adults. A movie night - a very scarry movie was shown for halloween, The Excorcist. Everyone sure enjoyed themselves this night. For photos click http://photos.knet.ca/Halloween

The doctor and nurse came to Keewaywin on the 17th of October to give flu shots to the community. The school students and staff were the first people to get their flu shot, and anyone who happened to walk in were also given a flu shot. This is to prevent from the community from having an all out flu epidemic. See pictures on the knet photo gallery. click on http://photos.knet.ca/Kww2 to view pictures.

We had a partridge hunting contest this weekend in Keewaywin. Which was set up by David Fiddler and volunteers. We had two winners and a consolation winner. In the men's division Anthony Thompson won, the youths division Anthony Kakegamic and the consolation prize for the youth went to Timothy Kakegamic. There were no enteries for the women's division. Door prizes were awarded and fifty fifty draws. The judges for the contest were Lawrence Mason, Karen Kp, and Nancy Kp.. The judging and the gathering were done at the clinic. People who were there had a great time. Congratulations to the great partridge hunters.

Today the reserve of Keewaywin out of respect for our late elder has shut down its offices in the community. David Kakegamic was believed to be in his late nineties when illness took our elder at 5 am at Margaret Cochenour Memorial Hospital. He was one of the original elders that seeked Keewaywin reserve status. As a respected elder in our community we will miss his wisdom and advice. He is survived by five sons and three daughters and lots of grandchildren and great grandchildren. His sons, Solly Kakegamic is the Keewaywin Chief, and Silas Kakegamic is a Keewaywin Councillor. Goyce Kakegamic the Nan Deputy Grand Chief. Our hearts and prayers go to family and friends.

With the sudden death of Bill Mamakeesic on Wednesday, July 11 in Thunder Bay, Nishnawbe Aski Nation has lost another well known leader. Bill was the first Chief of Keewaywin First Nation in the late 1980's. Bill worked hard with the elders and community members to begin building a new community on the traditional lands of the people in that region. Later as Deputy Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Bill expanded his vision across NAN for strong and healthy communities in each of the portfolios and especially in education for which he was responsible.

During his second term as Chief of Keewaywin in the mid 1990's, Bill worked with the other Chiefs of Keewaytinook Okimakanak supporting the development of K-Net. He always looked for ways to ensure that the communities could prosper and grow. Bill worked to protect the Native language and encourage young people to contribute to their communities. The vision he shared with Keewaytinook Okimakanak involved providing the tools for the people to have meaningful lives wherever they chose to live.

Geordi Kakepetum recalls how “Bill always advocated for more services, activities and opportunities that would benefit the young people in his community and across Nishnawbe Aski Nation. Everyone remembers different accomplishments and efforts that Bill put forth on behalf of the Nishnawbe Aski.” One recent effort included Bill's representation of the Chiefs of Keewaytinook Okimakanak on the Northern Nishnawbe Education Council Board of Directors for the past several years.

Keewaytinook Okimakanak extends its sympathy to Bill's family, the people of Keewaywin First Nation and across Nishnawbe Aski Nation, as we honour and remember Bill.

The week of May 28 was Career Fair Week at the elementary school in Keewaywin First Nation. Guests arrived all week long and were invited into each of the classrooms in the school. The students and teachers worked hard to prepare a warm welcome for everyone who was able to attend the Career Week.

Congratulations to everyone in Keewaywin School involved in making this Career Week such a successful experience for everyone.

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The first on-line community meeting in Keewaywin took place on January 26, 2001. Brian Beaton went to Keewaywin on January 25 to deliver and set up the community's first Polycom videoconferencing unit (configured by Dan, John and Adi before leaving Sioux Lookout). The unit was set up in the school library where the community router is presently located. The set up turned out to be a short plug and play exercise thanks to the configurations completed by K-Net staff. Lucy Kakegamic, Lorraine Kakegamic, Allison Kakepetum and Jonathn Kakegamic participated in a number of short training sessions on January 25 to get comfortable with this communication medium. Read the Full Story and Photogallery

Keewaywin First Nation residents now have their phones working thanks to many partners including FedNor, NOHFC, ONAS, INAC and Bell Canada! See their on-line Telephone Directory for their new phone numbers (December 4, 2000)