Ten projects strengthening Aboriginal languages were funded in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.  Financial contributions in the amount of $287,000 came from the Department of Canadian Heritage/Aboriginal Languages Initiative.  Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey was selected by the Assembly of First Nations to solicit and review proposals.Final selections were made by a committee representing all Mi’kmaw Bands and organizations in NS/Nfld.  Those selected to receive funding were:

Mi’kmaq Language Literacy for this Millennium 2000-2001, St. Anne’s School, Conne River, NFLDRecord/Document/Preserve First Nations Language, Mi’kmaw Etli Mawatasik, Chapel Island

Mi’kmaq Immersion Language 2000 (Millennium ‘K2), Pictou Landing

Mi’kmaq Language Revival 2000, The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq

Mi’kmaq Language Project, Indian Brook

Mi’kmaq Language Immersion Pilot Project, Eskasoni School Board

Waycobah First Nation Mi’kmaq Language Program, Waycobah Elementary School

Atlantic Aboriginal Language Preservation via the Internet, Atlantic Canada’s First Nation Help Desk

Mi’kmaw Language for Millbrook First Nation, Phase Three, Millbrook

Digital Audio Visual Language Library (DAVLL) Project, Mi’kmaq Native Friendship Centre, Halifax

The Indian Brook community showed their appreciation to Madeline Michael, a kindergarten teacher of thirty-one years at the Sister Elizabeth Coady School.  The event was held September 1st at the Indian Brook Community Centre.Chief Reg Maloney expressed appreciation on behalf of the community for Madeline’s long service to the community.  Marjorie Gould, Executive Director for Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey, expressed good wishes to Madeline on her retirement from the Board of Directors and staff as well as from her colleagues and friends in other Mi’kmaw communities.  Musical entertainment was provided by Sarah Michael which was followed by a wonderful banquet.

The Assembly of First Nations Chiefs Committee on Education (CCOE) and the National Indian Education Council (NIEC) met in Ottawa on July 10, 2000 to help complete a cabinet document which seeks to increase funding for special education needs of Aboriginal children in Canada.  Marjorie Gould and Chief Morley Googoo represented Nova Scotia and Newfoundland at this meeting.The final document must be presented to government by the end of September.  A massive letter writing campaign is being conducted across the country to seek community support for this initiative.  Your support is needed!  Letters supporting increased funding and documenting the needs of communities may be sent to:

Honourable Robert Nault, Minister
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6

Representatives of Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey met with senior officials of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs in Ottawa on July 5, 2000.  Chief Reg Maloney, Indian Brook, Darren Googoo, Membertou, Marian Paul, Eskasoni, and Marjorie Gould, Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey, were in attendance.  The group discussed funding issues related to the school Capital Program.  The Capital Committee will meet in September to continue their work on communities’ school capital issues.

DIAND has agreed to enter into a contribution agreement to fund the negotiation workshop that was held in May. A second professional development workshop led by Saint Mary’s University is planned for this fall.  This workshop will focus on conflict resolution and mediation.  These professional development opportunities will enhance the negotiation team’s ability to negotiate the next generation Education Funding Agreement.