• Many of our readers don't have HTML-enabled email readers, and have only been able to see the text in our newsletters.

• The download time on some newsletter issues has been considerable: this will allow readers to choose WHEN they want to read the News.

Let us know what you think of this new approach. For discerning subscribers, there is always, of course, the deluxe edition...a hand stitched, hand-lettered, personalized copy of the Consilium newsletter in a green embossed leather slipcover, printed on calfskin and autographed by the editor, and personally couriered to your home or workplace by a Consilium partner. Call Leslie for costs and details.
 

• Nunavut has frequently led the way in the development of innovative telecommunications services in Canada, and the work of the Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation (NBDC) and its predecessor, the Nunavut Broadband Task Force, continues that tradition. NBDC is currently negotiating the final details on financing to implement its ambitious plan to provide high speed, broadband Internet access to every community in Nunavut. Because a successful roll-out of these services would require extensive training on both the technical and applications areas, Terry Rudden was asked to work with Neill Burgess, Dave Smith and Lorraine Thomas to prepare a framework for the development of a comprehensive, long-term training strategy to support the introduction of broadband services, and to ensure that Inuit, and all Nunavummiut, get the full benefit of this powerful new tool for social, cultural and economic development.

• Chris Grosset returned from a successful two-week trek through the Kitikmeot, conducting on-site research on potential trades and occupational training facilities for the Government of Nunavut Department of Education. His research will contribute to an assessment of the availability and suitability of various facilities for training for a number of trades and occupations. With Chris on the project are Greg Smith (Project Manager), Catherine Moore, Robert Billard, Helen Klengenberg and Bert Rose.
   

Cambridge Bay in
the Kitikmeot Region

• Terry Forth, Lazarus Arreak and Terry Rudden are continuing consultations with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) and the Regional Inuit Associations on ways to deliver programs and services to Inuit beneficiaries more efficiently and economically.

• Jennifer David of ARDOS, unquestionably the most artistic of our partners, will be facilitating a series of workshops for Aboriginal Media Artists currently funded by the Canada Council for the Arts. Scheduled for Winnipeg in May, the workshops will assist developing young artists in establishing positive, productive mentoring relationships to support their development.

• Greg Smith and Ryan Lotan have started an evaluation of the Home and Community Care/Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative Application e-Health Solutions Pilot Project for the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada. Fern Assinewe will also be assisting with the research.

HAPPY ENDINGS

• Consilium partner Fred Weihs has completed a planning project with the Township of Lanark Highlands as part of the Province of Ontario's Lanark Highlands Innovation Team, a pilot project under Ontario's Ministry of Municipal Affairs. Lanark Highlands is a rural community located only 20 minutes from Fred's home in Almonte. The Innovation Team worked with members of the community to review the community's economic development priorities, plans and activities, and to prepare a detailed report providing specific recommendations on how the community can move ahead on a development agenda that yields concrete economic benefits in the short-term. Following a review of the community's planning documents, the team spent three days in the community in consultations with community members from various local development and municipal organizations and from various parts of the Township. For each of the priority areas addressed in the report, the Team presented specific recommendations on specific actions to pursue priority initiatives, identified current capabilities of the community for moving forward using local resources; and provided a case study on approaches used successfully by other municipalities. The report was very well received during a presentation back to community members. The members of the Innovation Team along with Fred were Anne Robinson of Anne Robinson and Associates and Bonnie O'Neill, an Economic Consultant with the Ministry, supported by Brian Ritchie, Bruce Moore and Luigia Cistera of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.

• Chief Returning Officer Helen Klengenberg, Assistant Chief Returning Officer Lazarus Arreak and their team of local returning officers and polling clerks oversaw a smooth NTI election process on March 16th. Congratulations to newly elected NTI President, Paul Kaludjak and re-elected Second Vice President, Raymond Ningeocheak. A new feature this time around was a web site created especially for the elections: www.ntielections.com by our friends at ComguardCTS in Iqaluit. You can visit this site for the complete results.

• Terry Rudden and Jerico David delivered a workshop to the staff on NTI's Implementation Department NTI's Implementation Management System, a powerful Access-based database that will enable NTI to track implementation of the hundreds of Government, DIO and NTI obligations arising from the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.

• Ryan Lotan has completed the final report on an audience survey for the Inuktitut-language broadcaster Taqramiut Nipingat Inc. (TNI). The survey project was managed by Greg Smith, with support from Terry Rudden. Residents of Nunavik (northern Quebec) were interviewed about their radio and television listening and viewing preferences. The information will be used by TNI to further develop and improve its programming.

• Terry Forth and Lazarus Arreak delivered a one-day workshop on advocacy to members of the Qikiqtaani Inuit Association Social Policy Committee. This is the body that addresses issues in areas like health, youth, elders, and women's issues on behalf of the Inuit of Qikiqtaani (Baffin) region. Designed by Terry Rudden, the workshop reviewed the meaning of "Advocacy" and its application to the work of QIA, and included a step-by-step review of the process of preparing an advocacy strategy.

Lazarus Arreak with QIA Social Policy Committee
Photograph credit:  John McDougall, QIA

• A report on Aboriginal broadcasters perspective on broadcasting policy has been delivered to the Department of Canadian Heritage by Greg Smith. The report consolidates issues and concerns of Aboriginal broadcasters funded under the Northern Native Broadcast Access Program (NNBAP) and the Northern Distribution Program (NDP), as identified during a three day policy discussion session. Recommendations by the broadcasters for improvements to federal programs and policies affecting them are also included in the report.
   

GOSSIP

• As attentive, long time readers will recall, the April edition of the gossip section is the Birthday Edition. By an extraordinary concentration of circumstances, 75% percent of Consilium's partners and 100% of Consilium's staff named Leslie celebrate their Birthdays this month. Just to make things a bit more exciting, let's see if you can match the Consiliumite up with their birthday...
   

Match…

With…

Leslie Sutherland

First Day of Summer in Iceland

Greg Smith

Anzac Day in Tonga

Terry Rudden

Tamil New Year

Ron Ryan

Palm Sunday

Marianne Smith

Zimbabwean Independence Day

Mehrun Forth

Shakespeare’s Birthday

• And since we’re in a quizzy mood…what do you suppose these three Consilium partners  are discussing?
   

We’ll tell you next month. It’s pretty cool.