MANITOBA FIRST NATIONS EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTRE VISION MISSION “Support First Nations to develop and implement a comprehensive To help First Nations improve education for all learners to achieve: holistic educational system inclusive of First Nations languages, • mino-pimatisiwin (Cree, Ojibway, Oji-Cree)” world views, values, beliefs and traditions with exemplary academic • honso aynai (Dene)” standards, under First Nations jurisdiction.” • tokadakiya wichoni waste (Dakota)”

www.mfnerc.org December 2009

Message from the Executive Director By Lorne C. Keeper INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Tansi Everyone. It Since August, the MFNERC management has Cree Culture Camp...... 2 is with great pride hired twenty-five new staff. I send a welcome to History of Sea Falls...... 3 to congratulate our new staff that are now employees of the MF- all on a produc- NERC. Each and every one of them will bring tive year in your a wealth of experience from across the disci- schools, class- plines to our organization and to the schools.

rooms and your On that note, as educators enter a new realm own personal work within our field, others leave. I would like to life. let the schools and educators know that one of With restructuring our prized specialists has moved onto greener of the MFNERC spe- pastures. Darcy-Anne Thomas was with our cialists into teams, organization since its inception in 1999 and Year-at-a-Glance...... 4 this fall has been an especially busy one. The worked diligently as an English Language Spe- MFNERC is now entering its twelfth year of ser- cialist. Darcy-Anne, we wish you all the best vice delivery to Manitoba First Nations schools. in your new endeavors! We would also like to If you have questions regarding the MFNERC wish Violet Okemaw, former In-Schools Co- teams and specialists, please do not hesitate to ordinator all the best in her academic studies. contact Rab Subedar, Director of Service Deliv- The MFNERC hosted it’s 11th Annual First Na- ery. He is stationed at the MFNERC sub-office tions Circle of Knowledge & Practices Confer- in Winnipeg. The toll free number for the MF- ence on October 22 -23 at the Radisson Hotel, NERC Winnipeg sub office is 1-877-247-7020. Winnipeg. It was a great success with four hun- First Nations Circle of The Winnipeg based office of the MFNERC dred and forty in attendance. As always, excel- Knowledge Conference....5 is still located on Sherwin Road, however lent presentations were made. Stay posted for Knowledge of the Forest there is a new sub office located at 200-1090 more information on the 12th annual Light- Workshop...... 6 Waverley Street. Our phone number at this ing the Fire Conference to be held May 12-14, sub office is 594-1290 or toll free at 1-866- 2010 at the Victoria Inn & Conference Centre.

319-4857. Feel free to drop by when you Ekosani, are in the city. The Instructional Resource Lorne C. Keeper Centre is still located at 1791 Dublin Ave.

Matootisan: The

Sweat Lodge By Wilfred Buck Mahtootisan (The Sweat Lodge) can be found approximately two hand spans from the end of the handle of the Big Dipper. On star charts, Matootisan is known as Corona Borealis. First Nations School Gardening Program...... 8 Mahtootisan is part of the constellations that talk about Assini Awasis (Stonechild) and the Science Fair 2010...... 10 history of how the sweat lodge came to the MFNERC New Staff ...... 11 Matootisan: Sweat Lodge; Artwork by Edwin Bighetty people. Principals’ Newsletter • December 2009 1 Kinosawi Sipi Cree Language and Culture

Camp 2009 By Ralph Arthurson

he Kinosawi Sipi Cree Language and Culture Camp is held at Sea Falls which Tis about 40 kilometers from the Cree Nation. Sea Falls is a traditional camping area of the Norway House Cree.

The purpose of the camp is to promote, maintain and develop the Cree Language and the Cree Culture by bringing people of all ages together in a forum to share traditional knowledge and skills of the language and culture. This gathering is an opportunity for our Elders and knowledgeable First Nations people to share and teach the traditions, traditional skills, the Language and the Culture.

It is intended to share and teach the Language and culture to the children and youth in the hopes of maintaining it. The camp is also a great opportunity for those Cree speakers who do not have an opportunity to use their Language everyday to hear, speak and learn it from the experts like our Elders.

The camp is a three day event with traditional ceremonies and several workshops. This year’s workshops included, drum making, arts and crafts, children games, face painting, traditional medicines and teachings, tipi teachings, sweet grass teachings, traditional cooking teachings, sacred shaking tent teachings, local boat tours to rock paintings, and sharing circles to name a few. Evening activities included sharing circles, karaoke, and storytelling.

The camp is organized and run by a local committee of volunteers. The Chief and Council, Frontier School Division and the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Above: Local boat tours to rock paintings; Centre Inc. are also contributors to the event. Below: Offering tobacco at rock paintings. In addition many volunteers work unselfishly throughout the days before, during and after the event to making it a great success. 2 December 2009 • Principals’ Newsletter We believe that we must work together to honor our loved ones who have journeyed on into the Spirit World. It is through their visions that we as a people must work together in harmony, in balance and in unity. It is with these teachings that all of us have special unique gifts in helping together in time of needs, wants Clockwise: Sacred fire burns; Look out at Sea Falls; and aspirations Tipi at Cree Culture Camp for a better life. History of Sea Falls Let us pray and

he location today is known as Sea Falls Sea Falls was a major obstacle for work together but is commonly known as “Winipeko freighters, York Boat trippers and dog team so we can fulfill TPawistik” by the local inhabitants of the mushers who had to endure hauling and Norway House area. Historically, the Sea Falls area portaging of freight and cargo. According to the visions of was called Sea River Falls by the French, English the Hudson Bay Company documents, it is our ancestors. and the Scottish canoe freighters and explorers. recorded that people died in the area due to the Sea Falls is situated along the , hardships that the falls presented. They have set the referred to as “Kischi Sipi” by the Cree people. foundation of our The Nelson River is one of the major rivers in Since time immemorial, the Cree ancestors who Manitoba with an immense water supply flowing inhabited the surrounding areas came to camp values and virtues. in from as far as British Columbia. During the at Sea Falls. Here the Cree people fished, hunted, Hudson Bay’s Fur Trade era, the Nelson River trapped and gathered native and traditional - The Spiritual Vision was a major water way between herbal remedies. In the 1970’s, primitive of the Cree (Hudson Nay) and the Red River Settlement artifacts were located at the Sea Falls site. Some Cultural Camp situated at the forks of the Assiniboine and of the artifacts found consisted of clay potter, Red Rivers (Winnipeg, Manitoba). For centuries pieces of tool implements and bone items. As the Cree ancestors found sustenance and well, old primitive fire pits were located at the survival on the lands around the “Kischi Sipi”. site. Principals’ Newsletter • December 2009 3 MFNERC MANITOBA FIRST NATIONS Year-At-A-Glance EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTRE INC. Dec 17 MFNERC Open House 11:00 am to 3:00 pm Dec 21 - Jan 1 MFNERC Holiday Break (MFNERC Offices Closed) Jan 4 Christmas Break Ends MFNERC Offices Re-Open Jan 7 IDT Meeting Jan 20 & 21 Speech & Lang. Regional Workshops - Island Lake CHRISTMAS Jan 22 Resource Teacher Meeting - Brandon OPEN HOUSE Jan 26 Science Team Meeting Feb 15 Louis Riel Day 1151 SHERWIN ROAD Feb 17 Service Delivery Unit/ Subject Area Meeting DOOR PRIZES FOR THE FIRST 100 PEOPLE Feb 18 IDT Meeting SILENT AUCTION - HALF THE PROCEEDS GO TO Mar 16 SEU Unit Meeting THE CHRISTMAS CHEER BOARD Mar 23 IDT Meeting Mar 24 & 25 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2009 Speech & Lang. Regional Workshops - Dauphin 11:00 AM TO 3:00 PM Mar 24 & 25 First Nations Science Fair Mar 26 Resource Teacher Meeting - Dauphin Mar 29 - Apr 2 Spring Break Apr 4 Good Friday (MFNERC Offices Closed) Apr 27 IDT Meeting Apr 28 Service Delivery Unit/ Subject Area Meeting May 12 - 14 Lighting the Fire Conf. May 24 Victoria Day (MFNERC Offices Closed) FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 940-7020 May 25 General Staff Meeting VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.MFNERC.ORG/ May 26 IDT Meeting

4 December 2009 • Principals’ Newsletter The First Nations Circle of Knowledge & Looking ahead, Practices Conference By Joy Keeper I believe that he 11th annual First Nations Circle of Dr. Michell in the near future at another event Knowledge and Practices Conference, for those who missed out on this dynamic the underlying October 22-23 was a great success for presentation. T all attendees and presenters. A total of four importance Another speaker who had a captivating audience hundred and forty participants gathered for on the second day was Dan Vandal, Winnipeg two days at the Radisson Hotel in downtown of higher City Councilor. Dan spoke about his troubling Winnipeg. This year’s theme was, The Voices of Wahbung, referring specifically to those First education, of Nations leaders who identified a clear direction science, of for the vision of First Nations education. It is important at this time of educational change technology, of that we retrace our steps to examine what has taken place thus far in our communities, research and schools and classrooms.

Over twenty workshops were offered during scholarship this two-day event. On the first morning, Dr. Herman Michell, who is currently the to our quality Vice President of Academics at First Nations of life, to the strength of our economy, to our security Dan Vandal, Winnipeg City Councilor in many youth and making it through the system to become successful in sports and politics. He dimensions talked about the challenges Aboriginal youth continue to face in the city of Winnipeg and will continue beyond. His message of hope and inspiration reached the First Nations audience, that came to be the most out to see him, in a captivating way. important One of the most exciting sessions which took place during the conference was the First message. Nations planetarium. As always, dozens of Dr. Herman Michell, Vice President, First Nations delegates delved into the planetarium, entering - Charles Vest University of Canada the celestial realm. We know that the First Nations planetarium is the only one of its University of Canada, spoke at length about kind in North America. Thank you to Rockford First Nations communities and education. He McKay and Wilfred Buck for hosting it over the spoke of the need for reconnecting elders and two days. youth; the need for First Nations to reconnect with the land and the development of First The annual First Nations Circle of Knowledge Nations’ research methodologies; about having & Practices Conference will continue to be held our own school systems built from our own during the provincial SAG day and a day prior. constructs of how schools should be governed; For further information on this event or any and the need for safe spaces for First Nations other upcoming events, please do not hesitate students and academics to go beyond the to contact Joy Keeper, Communications & boundaries of western parameters to take risks Conference Coordinator at the MFNERC at research and development. The MFNERC Winnipeg office at 940-7036 or toll free at staff and management look forward to hosting 1-877-247-7020.

Principals’ Newsletter • December 2009 5 “Education is “Knowledge of the Forest” Experiential I a human right Workshop for Teachers-in-Training with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development.”

- Kofi Annan

hat is Education for Sustainable The workshop brought an opportunity to the Development (ESD)? This question students to interact directly with First Nations Wwas asked of the university students Elders, environmental specialists, and the training to become teachers at an ESD workshop logging industry currently operating in the held in the Duck Mountain Provincial Park on Provincial forest. Many of the students had September 14-17, 2009. Through an immersion never ventured into the Duck Mountain and so approach to understand the concept of ESD, the were unaware of the diverse level of activity the “teachers-in-training” from the Dauphin centre Mountain provided to the various stakeholders of the Brandon University Northern Teachers of the region. First Nations Elders of the Education Program (BUNTEP) participated in a Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Reserve, which is hands-on learning camp that aimed to promote located directly south of the Duck Mountain Education for Sustainable Development Forest Reserve, introduced the students to the (ESD). The workshop, entitled “Knowledge Anishinabe (i.e., Ojibway) world view of the of the Forest,” brought the students to the forest and the land. Students not only had environment of the Duck Mountain Provincial the opportunity to listen and talk directly to Park with the intention of introducing them the Elders, but were also invited to participate not only to the natural beauty of the region, in traditional ceremonies and practices that but also offering different aspects of knowledge honoured all the life that was provided by the relevant to sustainable development. The land. Through their participation, students workshop was made possible through a funding gained a greater appreciation of the traditional grant provided by the Manitoba Model Forest teachings of the Indigenous peoples in the area (MBMF) and was organized collaboratively and their regard for the earth as a “mother.” by the Research and Development Unit The students also visited the Louisiana Pacific (RDU) from the Manitoba First Nations logging mill located in Minitonas, Manitoba, Education Resource Centre Inc. (MFNERC), and were given an on-site tour of the facility the Faculty of Education from Brandon and presentation of the practices utilized University, and the West Region Tribal Council by the company. Following the plant tour, Resource Management Office (WRTCRMO). students and representatives from the logging

6 December 2009 • Principals’ Newsletter industry visited two logging cut blocks, one “Thank-you so much for giving us the that was in operation and another that had opportunity to do some amazing hands-on been decommissioned for nearly eight years. learning. It is an experience I will never forget.”

Through the experience, students were provided “I really enjoyed learning about the Aboriginal first-hand awareness of the logging industry culture with hands-on learning. The Elders and its approaches to sustainable harvesting were very understanding and welcoming with of the forest. The Brandon University students our questions and interests.” also had the opportunity to meet with an independent wildlife biologist who works “I gained a lot of valuable knowledge that and lives in the Swan Valley area and who I know I’ll use in the classroom as a future is immensely knowledgeable of the overall teacher.” ecology of the Duck Mountain. Students were As this workshop raised awareness of ESD and a provided with an environmental perspective diverse approach toward teacher training, it is of the Duck Mountain area and the impacts hoped that this learning camp will be the first of of different uses on the land and the life it many. For more information on the workshop, supports. As well, students also participated in please contact: a nature walk of the region accompanied by a botanist from Brandon University, who gave Dr. Betty Lynxleg the students direct awareness of the plant life in MFNERC the region and the need for protecting certain [email protected] land areas. 937-5984

As the workshop was considered a unique or approach for training new teachers in the Dr. Helen Armstrong concepts of ESD, it was expected that the Brandon University students would gain a greater intrinsic [email protected] understanding of sustainability and the role 727-7329 of education in it. To bring this outcome to reality, the students, after leaving the workshop, were expected to develop curricular lessons that would be professionally published in a handbook by MFNERC and distributed to the First Nations schools surrounding the Duck Mountain region. The development of the handbook is currently underway.

Throughout the planning and delivery of the “Knowledge of the Forest” workshop, the organizers and the student participants asked if the workshop could be held as an on-going event for other teachers-in-training and there is shared optimism that this outcome can be realized. Currently, teachers-in-training gain most of their knowledge through an “in class- room” approach; however, this in-the-forest experience has demonstrated that all up- coming teachers could learn on and with the land. New approaches to teaching and learning become apparent as teachers-in-training are immersed first-hand in the knowledge they intend to communicate to their future students. Some of the feedback provided by the workshop teachers-in-training included:

“This was a special experience. . . . I was inspired and spiritually uplifted.”

Principals’ Newsletter • December 2009 7 “It is said, that First Nations School Gardening Program By Rudy Subedar when God made he past school year has seen the beginning student and the community in which he/she this world he of a new and promising trend among lives. No one can deny that one of the greatest some First Nations schools in Manitoba. challenges facing our communities today made many T A number of schools have begun planning for, is declining health, largely related to a diet, different things, or have already started implementing gardening which we have been quietly manipulated and programs. An integrated school/community marched into by the corporations that control that is why the gardening program offers potential benefits too the food system. Freedom from this situation newcomers and numerous to list in a single brief article, such as requires education plus food security and food this. However, some highlights will be explored sovereignty at the local level. A good community First Nations herein. Development and implementation of a and school gardening program can provide both people must help school/community gardening program can help the foundation of this transformation, and the to address a wide range of issues facing schools glue that holds it together.

each other and and communities. Here are a few common How can we deliver meaningful, hands on programs questions and concerns for which a good work together.” with the limited financial resources available? gardening program can help provide answers.

Not only is it relatively inexpensive to start - Louie Dih ttheda How can we make curriculum more relevant and and maintain a gardening program and plant (Dene Elder: Black motivating for students? science curriculum, but there are a number Lake First Nation) The fact that students become most engaged in of additional funding sources through which learning when it is hands on is understood by a school or community can access money for most educators. While this program can include this program, such as Food Matters Manitoba, integrated academic skill and content from Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives, elementary plant and nutrition science through the Northern Healthy Food Initiative, and scientific research and experimentation in Heifer International, among others; and a agrology, to advanced chemistry and biology, comprehensive community school gardening at every level it is built upon students’ program can produce between ten and fifty active engagement with their hands as well times the amount invested, in healthy food for as their minds. Studying the human body, the community. The main resource required by nutrition, and health sciences is something a program such as this is people power.

that everyone can relate to. Food is the first How can we get parents and elders more involved step and central link to all of these, and is in the school? something that every person is in contact with and mindful of several times a day. Curriculum The type of program being discussed herein could not get more relevant than this. provides an opportunity for parents, students, and teachers to work together on constructive Curriculum should also be about the real life tasks, where they function as partners learning of students and their communities. As such from, teaching, and supporting, each other. In it should be designed to develop skills and virtually every community which I have visited knowledge of importance to both the individual I have met a handful of elders who are skilled

8 December 2009 • Principals’ Newsletter at cultivating foods and harvesting natural over several millennia, potatoes, sweet We see an un- foods from the wild. Invariably they note that potatoes, beans, tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, these are dying arts within our communities melons, sunflowers, peas, avocados, pineapple, usual opportu- and would welcome the opportunity to work and many other foods unknown to the rest of with and teach the youth these skills. Bringing the world before the arrival of the Europeans. nity...to foster students together with elders from whom they Imagine what a contribution to the world all can learn these valuable skills will also situate of this was. Imagine, for example Italian food creative and them in a context in which the elders can also without pasta sauce – that is what it would pass on many other traditional teachings and have been before the Spanish took back tomato interdisciplinary help to develop character and values in students. plants from here in 1519, and it reached Italy nearly 100 years later. collaboration

Today, over 60% of all the food consumed on the and offer ser- planet is derived from plants given to the world by the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. vices that are Recognized as one of the four major traditions of herbal healing which evolved on the planet truly student- over thousands of years, and which gave rise to and continues to inform modern medicine, centered, that along with Chinese, Ayurvedic (India), and Egyptian medicine, Native American medicinal is, well-integrat- plants and healing practices have contributed immensely to the modern pharmaceutical ed, seamless industry which only developed over the past 130 years into what we know it as today. Imagine and responsive the light in your students’ eyes, the pride in their chests, and the deep interest in their to individual minds, as they research and discover the wealth of history, plant technology, health, healing, and collective and nutrition science developed by their own needs. ancestors over thousands of years and given to Why should First Nations students study and the rest of the people of the planet. Imagine the – Margaret Spear practice gardening, were we not the hunters / rich curriculum that your staff could explore, gatherers, and the Europeans the farmers? develop, and implement, beginning with these ideas. On the contrary, many of the foods that we take for granted, and that are eaten all over the world, Each school and community is invited and were first developed by indigenous Americans, encouraged to consider beginning a gardening north and south. Consider corn, today the most program. Such a program can enhance and widely grown crop on the planet, used not only provide a living context for the integration of in its raw form, but to produce high fructose nutrition, plant, soil, chemistry, and human corn syrup, which provides both the calories biological sciences, as well as history, geography, and the ‘glue’ in over 60% of the processed and native studies. At the same time it provides and pre-packaged foods you eat every day; as a context for the school and community to well as providing more than half of all animal work together on a concrete project. The four feed used on the planet. First domesticated and questions covered in this article is just “the tip developed from a wild grass called teosinte of the iceberg”. For further information or help by indigenous people of what is now Mexico starting a program such as this, please contact 7000 years ago, spread both north and south the project leader, Rudy Subedar at rudys@ across the continent, and was grown as far mfnerc.com or Research and Development north as southern Canada 1000 years before the Coordinator, Florence Paynter at florencep@ arrival of Europeans, who then adopted it and mfnerc.com. To begin a program which results transported it back to Europe, and on to the rest in actual planting this growing season it is of the globe. recommended that schools / communities get started early, at least in January, with the In the same way, Indigenous north, south, and planning. central Americans developed and cultivated,

Principals’ Newsletter • December 2009 9 MANITOBA FIRST NATIONS EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTRE Science Fair 2010 8th ANNUAL March 24 & 25, 2010 Red River College, North Gym Winnipeg, Manitoba For those wondering, this year the MF- Science Fair NERC Science Fair will be held a bit later & Science Symposium than usual. We have managed to contact the Jet Propulsion Laboratory located in Pasadena California, U.S.A. which is part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, better known as NASA. We are lucky enough to have Jane Houston-Jones, Senior Outreach Specialist for the Cassini Program agree to attend, present and be a guest judge at our Science Fair. Looks to be another exciting science fair and judging by the ideas for science projects that I have been given the opportunity to listen to, students and their supporters will again represent themselves, their schools and communities in an awesome and inspir- ing manner. Once again, the Health Sci- ences Career Symposium will be held in the south gym on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 hosted by Wayne Mason, manager MARCH 24 & 25, 2010 of the Training Initiatives Program and his team. Hope to see you all there.

Red River College For more information call: By Wilfred Buck Winnipeg, Manitoba Rudy Subedar, Wilfred Buck, North Gym – 2055 Notre Dame Avenue or Rockford McKay at 204-940-7020

10 December 2009 • Principals’ Newsletter Sandy Robinson – New Staff Member You are en- andy Robinson joined MFNERC as School Regional UCN campus for one year, Principal Planning Specialist for the First Nations of ONR high school in Cross Lake for three rolled in a full- SEducation Student Success Program years, Facilitator of school improvement for the time informal in October 2009. He is a member of the Cross Lake Education Authority for three years, Cree Nation (a.k.a. Cross Lake). Principal/Director of Education for the Central school called He is the oldest of ten children born to Grace Quebec School Board in northern Quebec for and Baptiste (deceased), and has three adult five years, Vice Principal/Curriculum Developer LIFE. Each day children (Glenda, Loretta, and Jessica) and in northern Quebec for five years, and Junior three grandchildren (Raven, Jobena, and Kyle). High Teacher/Counselor in northern Quebec in this school, (and Ontario) for ten years. Sandy received his post-secondary education in three provinces: Brandon University, University Sandy’s languages are as follows (listed according you will have of Quebec in Chicoutimi, and Queen’s to proficiency and use): English, Cree, Naskapi, University (honors) in Ontario. He also did Montagnais, and French. His next interest is to the opportunity study sessions at UBC, McGill, and Laval. His learn and speak Ojibwe. to learn high school years were in Winnipeg (Sisler & Sandy looks forward to working with all the Grant Park) and Dauphin (DRCSS – Gr. 12). staff at FNSSP, EPP, MFNERC, and eventually, lessons. You Sandy’s work experience in education spans the staff at the various Manitoba First Nations over 27 years: Coordinator of the Cross Lake schools in Manitoba. may like the lessons or think them irrelevant Gertrude Sanderson – New Staff Member and stupid. ertrude Sanderson originate from who were severely delayed, as well as with Fisher River Manitoba. She has a students who needed remedial support.

Bachelor of Education, Post Bac. in G Gertrude likes to travel, play sports, coach, and –Seneca Wolf Clan Special Education, and a Diploma of Theology. attend church. She has traveled all over the Gertrude has worked in the United States of Teaching Lodge U.S., Canada, and Europe. Gertrude is happily America, Africa, and Canada. married and had the opportunity to travel to She has substituted in the U.S. and Canada, Hawaii for her honeymoon. Gertrude is excited worked as an overseer in the villages in Africa, to be working for the centre and considers taught on Fisher River Reserve, taught in it a privilege to service the First Nations Winnipeg in the inner city in an Adapted Communities in Manitoba. Skills Program. She has worked with students who were moderately delayed to students

Jonathan McKenzie – New Staff Member

onathan McKenzie is an IT professional with Academically, Jonathan has attended the over 20 years of experience. This includes University of Winnipeg, the Red River Jworking with the Province of Manitoba College IST program, and is currently Year 2000 initiative where he gained valuable working toward Microsoft certification. on-site experience with equipment deployment As a traveling technician, expect to see and data migration techniques. Currently, he Jonathan installing and diagnosing is working with the Data Management unit equipment for our on reserve First Nations of MFNERC to provide a single, web-based schools as the Data Management project information interface for students and teachers. kicks into high gear. Hobbies include playing pool, guitar and spending time with his wife and seven children.

Principals’ Newsletter • December 2009 11 Strong, deeply Angela Wood – New Staff Member rooted desire ngela Wood is the Administrative of Winnipeg in October 2009. Her past work Assistant in HR/Finance. Angela comes experience includes being the Human Resource is the starting Afrom and Coordinator with FRCN and Executive Assistant has 3 children. She successfully received her with ILTC. She is honored to work for an point of all Human Resource Management Diploma and organization that strives to provide better Management Certificate from the University education for our children. achievement. Morris Saunders – New Staff Member - Napoleon Hill orris Saunders has been working in the Community Access programs and Youth the IT Field since 2000 and is from Initiative programs. He was also a network Mthe community of York Factory First administrator intern with Cree, Dene, Dakota, Nation, located in Northern Manitoba. He and Ojibway Networks from June 2006 to received his Computer Systems Technology January 2008 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. With Diploma from the University College of the CDDO Networks, he worked on varies projects, North in Thompson, Manitoba in June, 2003. such as setting up local area networks in and He also received his Internet Systems Specialist around Winnipeg with different organizations, Diploma from the University of Winnipeg, setting up Wireless Internet Service Providers Division of Continuing Education in May, 2007. in First Nations communities, such as Long He obtained two certifications, IC3 Internet Plains, Dakota Tipi, Dakota Ojibway, Rolling and Computing Core Certification (2005) from River, and Swan Lake. For 2008, He did contract Certiport and A+ Certification, IT Technician work for York Factory Future Development, (2008) from CompTIA. building a website to inform band members of

the ongoing negotiations between York Factory His past technical experience started with his First Nation and Manitoba Hydro, in regards work practicum while in the Computer System to the proposed Keeyask Generating Station. Technology program with Manitoba Hydro, Morris also took a Perl programming internship maintaining computer technology in various with Northern Computer Solutions Ltd, a web locations in Thompson, Manitoba. While hosting company in Winnipeg, Manitoba. nearing the end of this program, He started working as a Technical Support Specialist for Morris is currently employed with Manitoba Aboriginal Broadband Communications and a First Nation Education Resource center as an Computer Technician for MicroAge Computers IT Technician with the Data Management from 2002 to 2004 in Thompson, Manitoba. In Team. Morris will be participating in the 2004, Morris did contract work in Thompson, implementation of a new data management and York Landing doing computer repairs, system that will allow First Nations schools to maintenance and upgrades. From November enhance and support the collection and analysis 2004 to February 2006, He worked for of data on students and school performance Manitoba First Nations SchoolNet as Northern which is critical to a school’s ability to advance Regional Coordinator, working with youth in and track student achievement.

CONTACT US:

Head Office Winnipeg Sub-Office Thompson Sub-Office Waverley Sub-Office Swan Lake First Nation 1151 Sherwin Road 202-79 Selkirk Avenue 200-1090 Waverley Street Unit 7, 4820 Portage Ave Winnipeg, MB R3H 0V1 Thompson, MB R8N 0M7 Winnipeg MB R3T 0P4 Winnipeg, MB R4H 1C8 Phone: (204) 940- 7020 Phone: (204) 677- 0930 Phone: (204) 594-1290 Phone: (204) 831-1224 Toll Free: 877- 247- 7020 Toll Free: 877- 879- 0930 Fax: 1-204-831-1301 Fax: (204) 942- 2490 Fax: (204) 677- 0938

12 December 2009 • Principals’ Newsletter