The 32^nd Annual Wally Bernard Memorial Indian Youth Hockey Tournament was held at the Cape County Arena in Coxheath and the Pier Rink, Whitney Pier from March 3-6, 2005.  There were several divisions and at the end of the Tournament, Eskasoni dominated all of these divisions by winning the championship in each category.  The organizers were calling it a “Green Sweep.”

For the past 32 years, young hockey players have come to Sydney to play hockey and represent their communities.  Every player works hard to win and the coaches and volunteers deserve a lot of credit to ensure that all of this comes to happen.    32 years ago, the organizers of the first tournament had hoped to see the future development of Mi’kmaq Hockey players and if they could see things now they would know that this has come to pass with the likes of hockey players such as Chad Denny who now plays in the Quebec Majors for the Lewiston Maineiacs.  Mi’kmaq hockey players need the opportunity to display their talents and the Wally Bernard Tournament is their venue.

The tournament was a success and I am sure the teams will be back again next year to play for their communities.  Thanks to all who make this possible for the Mi’kmaq youth.

Marshall-Bowers.

The conference was held Feb. 24 & 25, 2005 at the Cambridge Suites Hotel in Sydney.  Principals from all MK bands attended.  Presentations were given by Isabel den Heyer and Valerie

Halifax was the site for this important activity, where as many as 80 participants from member bands and MK spent three days setting out their Educational Agendas. The purpose /objective is to develop operational plans for Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey and its member bands for 2005-2006.

Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey’s Operational Plan will be posted on its website at www.kinu.ns.ca.

Day 1, opened with a prayer by Elder, Albert Marshall of Eskasoni. The rest of this first afternoon was used to review highlights of each of the MK member bands Community Operations 2004 - 2005. Each community came prepared with very impressive power point presentations. Snapshots of educational achievement and community educational initiatives.

Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey followed with snapshots of its accomplishments for the year. It was here that Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey emphasized the importance of our Mi’kmaw language and culture and to continue its aim of preservation and reclamation of these gifts from our Creator.

Day 1 ended with a presentation by Doug Hill from Dadavan on the Student Information System. This initiative will allow our communities to better respond to changing demographics and provide them insight into aspects or trends in their system that are at present hard to come by. In the future when Governments ask us for our successes or more importantly when our communities ask for this information it will be readily accessible.

Presentations on Day 2 focused on exploration of issues such as:

-Special Education with Isabel den Heyer & Valerie Marshall-Bowers

-Student Support projects such as the X-Project - Joan Dillon; after school homework sessions program in Membertou

-Autism by Dr. Susan Bryson

-Community Law Templates with Trevor Bernard

-Obesity-Healthy Lifestyles Mrs McGrath: Food Bans Randy Kelly: Walking Program Cameron Frost

The group was then provided with options on how other communities have dealt with these issues. This then provides the MK community planning groups insights into how if they so chose they could tackle these issues. An important aspect of this day is that most of the presenters are from our communities or our organizations which means we have easy access to this expertise. That in many of these areas we are the leaders and innovators that others are turning to.

The end of Day 2 was high lighted by a presentation by the Grafton Street Dinner Theatre Group. This highly talented group performed a two hour musical skit featuring songs from the sixties and the seventies that involved participation by the audience.

The good food and laughter did not end there as a Karoake session followed. The huge crowd that attended this evening of song were treated to the amazing talent of MK’s own John Jerome Paul. Due to prior commitments his backup band “No Shame” was unable to join him. The group was also treated to the talents of performers such as; Liza and Kim from Waycobah. Other members of the group took this opportunity to enjoy the lights and other attractions of such of Halifax.

Day 3 was started when all community planning groups broke out into their groups to complete their review of their specific community operational plans for 2005 – 2006.

The purpose of the Operational Plan is to identify specific activities, roles, responsibility and timing required to achieve the objectives identified in the Strategic Plan. While the Strategic Plan worked on the big picture, the Operational Plan provides the finer details needed to direct actions toward achieving the goals, Mission and Vision.

This Operational Plan is a detailed outline of activities to be undertaken in the current year. It is set up in table format to allow readers and users to easily track progress and monitor outcomes.

This activity set the groundwork for the second activity of what our member communities would like MK to focus on. All the communities were asked to give suggestions on activities, deliverables they would like MK to focus on and or to facilitate. The notes/suggestions from this session will be integrated into the new MK Operational Plan and will be presented and reviewed by the Education Working Group in April. This new MK Operational Plan will be presented to the MK Board of Directors for approval at the next Board of Directors meeting.

In November our Chief and Council told us we were getting our Youth Center.  They started building it and it will soon be ready.  You can see it on Maillard Street near Buster’s Pond.  I’m happy about this because now my friends and I have a safe place to hang out.  We can play games, go to the C@P Site, do our homework and have snacks over there too.  I will let you know when it opens so you can come and visit us.

Arnold Doucette
3A, Shipyard Elementary School

This will be the 5^th year that this symposium will be offered on May 16 and 17, 2005 at St. F.X. University in Antigonish.  The success of this forum can be attributed to the efforts of the St. F.X. Education Department and Mi’kmaw participants who have facilitated this forum.

With the input and assistance of a committee drawn from First Nation educators in Nova Scotia, the symposium this year will focus on developing a framework document to Mi’kmaw Second Language.  It will present a vision, principles and strategy statements for Mi’kmaw language instruction from P-12.

This forum continues to be supported by Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey, Nova Scotia Department of Education, and Department of Indian and Northern Affairs.

Previous conferences have focused on promotion of Mi’kmaw language in the schools as this most precious of gifts is being lost.  The promotion and development of school-based strategies to stop and reverse this trend of language loss is the ultimate goal of this group.

Further information on this symposium and on previous conferences can be obtained from:

Jeff Orr, St. F. X. University, Antigonish, NS, Tel.: 902-867-2214        jorr@stfx.ca