The 3rd Annual Mi’kmaw Speech Festival was held in Eskasoni on March 7, 2000 with students from Chapel Island, Eskasoni, Membertou, Pictou Landing, Wagmatcook, and Waycobah participating.  The Festival encourages Mi’kmaw language use among our youth.  The location of the festival rotates among different locations.  This year’s festival was held in the Cultural Centre of the Eskasoni High School.

The festivities opened with the singing of “O Kanata” by Membertou elementary students.  It was very encouraging to see our youth excel in using the Mi’kmaw language in this manner, and it was especially nice to recognize the large strides some communities have made in their efforts to reclaim their language.

Atlantic Canada’s First Nation Help Desk sponsors contests to encourage educational activities by Native students. Currently, two contests are underway. The class project “Time Capsule” is bound to create a lot of interest and speculation. The students will decide what will be placed in the time capsule and when it should be opened. The winning entries will actually receive a time capsule that will be buried on First Nation territory. Permission will be sought from each of the three First Nations with winning entries. The time capsule will then be buried in cement with a commemorative plaque showing the contributors and date to be opened. The current individual contest is called, “Our Culture … Our Images”. Students will submit an original image (a photograph, drawing, or painting) that depicts Native culture and its people. Entries will be judged on originality, beauty, and how well Native culture is represented. Each contest will have three winning entries: one each from elementary, junior high, and high school categories. The deadline for each contest is April 28, 2000 and is open to First Nation schools, First Nation groups, or from Native students in provincial schools throughout the Atlantic Provinces. Full details can be found on the internet: firstnationhelp.com

This Post Secondary Education study has now been completed and the final report was forwarded to the Assembly of First Nations in Ottawa. It is our hope that this report will help ensure an appropriately funded and secure PSE Program. Post secondary education is vital in allowing First Nations to develop our capacity to govern and manage our programs.

The Special Education Needs Committee is actively researching special education  requirements of Native students in Nova Scotia.

“Special education needs” includes many special situations related to educational programming for those who are visually or hearing impaired, have mobility difficulties, or other special needs.Currently, the levels of support and funding in First Nation schools seem not to be on par with those in provincial schools.  The research group is planning to make community visits in April and May 2000 in order to properly assess the needs in our communities.  The committee will then be able to make informed recommendations in this important area.

Committee members pictured are from left to right, John Jerome Paul, Marian Paul, Lauren Furdas, Isabel DenHeyer, and Meredith Gillis. Committee members not pictured include Darren Googoo, Jean Knockwood, and Barry Evans.  Ms. Cathy Martin of Restigouche also attended and shared information she has learned from doing similar work in her community.

The Science Camp Committee will be meeting to organize this summer’s camp.  The camp is tentatively scheduled for July and will be held at the Canadian Coast Guard College in Sydney.After two successful camps in 1998 and 1999, 2000’s camp is expected to be even better.  New activities will be incorporated and favourites from previous camps will remain.

Further updates on this year’s Science Camp will be posted here … so stay tuned!