Board of Education Returns to Regular Office Hours Under New Safety Protocol

Boozhoo and greetings to all, hopefully everyone has had an enjoyable, safe and healthy summer. As we enter into a new/different working routine, there are some updates we would like to share with our community and clients.

Effective August 31, 2020, the Board of Education will return to regular office hours, Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. We remind our clients that the State of Emergency is ongoing and COVID-19 Safety Measures are in effect. Help us keep you safe by observing the following protocol:

  • Staff are available to assist the public by telephone or email. In-person meetings are also available by appointment only. Before you visit, please call ahead to schedule your visit to the office.
  • Face masks must be worn when entering the building (if you do not have a face mask, please ask our staff and one will be provided). A hand sanitizing station is available at the front entrance and must be used when entering and departing from the building.
  • Please keep a safe physical distance of 2 meters (6 feet) from one another.

Board Meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Special Board Meetings are held as needed. Attendees are encouraged to attend Board meetings via teleconference or Zoom (online), in order to practice safe physical distancing. Please inform our office if you have a Band Member Request by submitting a letter one week prior to a scheduled Board Meeting.

The next Call for Applications for the Nawash Education Diversity Assistance Program (NEDAP) will open September 15th, 2020 at 12:00 AM.  The deadline for applications is October 15, 2020 at 11:59 PM.

Please visit our the Board of Education page for more information and resources.

Safe Use Of The Government Dock At Neyaashiinigmiing

The Neyaashiinigmiing Dock is for use by all community members and community fishermen are welcomed. The following are some principles for safe use of the Government Dock by all.

 1.     No welding at dock.

2.     Vehicles may drive onto the dock to service vessels, but please park the vehicles off the dock to allow access for other community members.

3.     Fish offal is not to be left onboard and should be dumped in the designated area on Prairie Road.

4.     Fish offal or bilge water should not be dumped within 2 kilometers of the water intake to avoid contamination of the Nations water supply.

5.     All fishing gear is to be kept off the dock in the designated area. This is of strongest concern during the warm weather when members are swimming

6.     Swimmers need to be aware that there is a strong current, at times similar to a rip tide. Swimmers should use caution and not swim alone.

7.     Please keep boat launch clear unless launching or retrieving a vessel to allow others to use it.

Council Calls on Community to Help Reduce Litter

The Chief and Council are dismayed at the amount of trash that has started collecting in our common areas. Litter is scattered along our beaches, piling up in our ditches, and spoiling the environment around landmarks like the dock and lighthouse. Garbage can even be found lining popular trails.

Discarding trash on the ground, especially in common areas, is not acceptable to any of us. Neyaashiinigmiing is a stunningly beautiful location, one that we are very grateful to call the home of our First Nation. It is a treasure to our entire membership and there are certainly worse places to ride out a pandemic. We are the stewards of our entire Traditional Territory, but in this place in particular, in our own nest, we need to be more responsible with how we treat our environment. We have always been fierce advocates for the rights of the land, the water, the four winds, and the lives that rely on them all. Let’s keep that powerful tradition in our hearts and be mindful of how lucky we are to call this lovely place home.

In the coming days, we will work towards installing additional signage and new trash receptacles in some of the more popular locations around the community. In the meantime, please do your part and refrain from littering.

Help us keep Neyaashiinigmiing clean and beautiful!

Chi-Miigwech!

Applications Open for CORDA Funding

Applications are open for year 2021-2022 funding under the Canada Ontario Resource Development Agreement (CORDA). CORDA is an agreement between Canada, Ontario and First Nations’ members in Ontario, with the goal of building opportunities for Indigenous people in the development and utilization of natural resources. First Nations, their members and organizations, and Territorial organizations in Ontario are eligible to apply for up to $35000 in funding annually for projects that promote natural resource development, management, harvesting or conservation. Source funds for CORDA are provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and Indigenous Services Canada.

The application deadline has been extended to Monday, October 26, 2020, 11:59 PM EDT.

CORDA supports a wide array of eligible projects, which must include a focus on one or more of the areas of Commercial Fishing, Fur Trapping, Forestry, Non-timber forest products, Wild game utilization, Sport fishing and hunting, Domestic Fishing and hunting, Tourism and Commercial Recreation, Natural Resource Products Processing and marketing, Environmental projects, Natural resource planning. Projects may also include training opportunities, employment, stewardship, traditional learning, and equipment and stock purchases.

Review the CORDA guide book to learn more about the eligibility requirements, and download the application form.

More information is available on CORDA’s webpage or by contacting the CORDA office directly by phone: 705-295-7116, or email: corda@nexicom.net.

Nawash Fitness Centre to Re-open

Fitness is a big part of staying healthy. To help us stay fit, the Nawash Fitness Centre, located behind the Firehall, is planning to re-open for a trial period during the month of September, under a new set of health and safety rules.

  • Access to the facility will be restricted to one household at a time, with a maximum of 5 users from the same household at a time.
  • A booking for the Fitness Centre is made by sending an email request to confitnessbooking@gmail.com. The booking is not confirmed until you have received an emailed confirmation.
  • Users may book a maximum of 1 hour at a time, and a maximum of 3 bookings per week, per household. Up to 5 members of your household may use the gym during a single booking.
  • Bookings must be made one week prior to the desired time slot, and bookings will only be scheduled for the following week. (For example, bookings made the week of August 24-28 will be for time slots in the week of August 31- 4th.)
  • Users may book time slots for Monday- Friday, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM.

Thank you for your understanding and patience during this trial run of operations. If you have any further questions please contact Suzy Jones, CHR at 519-534-0373.

Employment Opportunity – Receptionist

The Chippewas of Nawash Administration is seeking a qualified, reliable and punctual person to join us as the permanent receptionist in the Band Office. This public-facing position is the voice and face of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation. The successful candidate will be professional, outgoing and a key player on the team. Find out more about the position and how to apply on the Employment Opportunities page. The deadline for applications is September 8, 2020.