Thursday, November 23, 2006

Tontakaiê:rine ( It has become right again,) Tyendinaga Justice Circle, Restorative Justice Program



The TJC is currently being run through First nations Technical Institute with a satellite office maintained at the Tyendinaga Police Station. The TJC is an alternative to the current justice system, with a focus on youth from 12-17 years of age. The circle consists of community members who have taken the initiative to become involved. Not to be confused with the ‘Sentencing Circle”, the forum brings together victims, offenders and their supporters in a safe, controlled environment to discuss the offence and its effect and to jointly decide how to right the wrong that has been done. The Objective of the TJC is to return to a traditional form of justice. This process can be recognized as a proactive strategy to empower the community to regain their perspective roles of respect.

What is Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice can be seen as a set of principles which guide agencies and practitioners rather than a particular practice. It offers alternative ways of thinking about crime by emphasizing the harm crime does to the community, and how the community rather that the court system can respond to crime in more satisfactory ways. It may incorporate a variety of approaches, applied at various stages of the criminal justice process, i.e. Pre-charge and post charge cases. Restorative justice places an emphasis on all those involved in an offense – victims, offenders and the community – and seeks to reconcile, restore and repair relationships and situations.


Indigenous Perspective

In First Nations community justice projects, communities develop their own models that in varying degrees incorporate the traditional, spiritual and cultural practices that will best serve their specific community needs based on their cultural understanding of justice concepts. They embody traditional practices associated with first Nations justice appropriate to each community. Offending behavior is viewed in the context of both contemporary and historic circumstances that include the inter-generational affects of attendance at residential schools and impact of colonialism in respect to traditional Indigenous practices. Depending on the particular circumstances and community practices, aspects of spiritual ceremonies may or may not be incorporated into a community justice process.


Contact Numbers

Office located at First Nations Technical Institute 613-396-2122 ext 123
Tyendinaga Police Dept. 613-967-3888

Friday, November 17, 2006

FNTI instructor recieves award

Rick Hill, MA, left, of FNTI’s Indigenous Community Health Approaches program, received the Aboriginal Institutes’ Consortium (AIC) Faculty Achievement Award for his teaching and mentorship from FNTI President Karihwakeron Tim Thompson. "Rick inspires students to think critically and empowers them to gain control over their learning and educational path," said program manager Suzanne Brant. .Hill received the award at graduation ceremonies for the program on Six Nations Territory in November.

Indigenous Community Health Approaches Program Graduation

Graduating class of 2006 included: Audrey Anderson, Wanda Antone, Cindy Carpenter, Cindy Ecker-Flagg, Kim Henry, Betty Maracle, Cindy Martin, Dawn “Bloss”, Shani Martin, Alberta Monture, Gail Whitlow, Shani Martin, Alberta Monture, Gail Whitlow, Amy Williams

First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI) graduation was held on November 10, 2006 for Six Nations residents who successfully completed the Indigenous Community Health Approaches program that was delivered at the Grand River Territory over the last year. The learners were awarded an Indigenous Community Health approach Program (post-diploma) graduate certificate.

The Indigenous Community Health Approaches program explores Indigenous knowledge and philosophies as they relate to human health and the natural environment. The program is rooted in Indigenous knowledge and exposes First Nations health professionals to cultural teachings which broaden their understanding about health, health care and environmental and human health issues facing First Nations communities.

This one-year graduate certificate (post-diploma) program provided the First Nations health professional with the opportunity to acquire new skills and understandings. The program of study outlines how cultural knowledge can be applies in resolving health issues facing First Nations communities, while creating opportunities for enrichment of their own personal cultural knowledge.

The program consists of twelve courses totaling 600 hours of study. The program is offered through a partnership agreement between First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI) and St. Lawrence College of Applied Arts and Technology.

Instructors for the course include: Suzanne Brant and Janice Brant, both from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory; as well as Norma General, Dan Longboat and Rick Hill, all from Six Nations.

The graduation ceremony took place Friday, November 10, 2006 at the Six Nations Community Hall.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Innoversity Summit in Toronto

Tiar Wilson, an FNTI media student who has done internships at CTV Sudbury and APTN in Winnipeg, used her skills as a video journalist to report from the recent Innoversity Summit in Toronto.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Award-winning photojournalist works with FNTI media students

Adrienne Fox-Keesic critiques photos students shoot


Sioux Lookout's Adrienne Fox-Keesic, an award-winning photojournalist and former editor of Wawatay, taught an advanced photojournalism class at in the Aboriginal Media Program at FNTI.

Students said viewing her portfolio, and hearing about her experience as a shooter, were highlights of the third-year class. "She encouraged us," one said.

Fox-Keesic, a graduate of Loyalist College's well known photojournalism program,asked the students to do a week long photo diary of their lives before the class. While she was at FNTI she assigned them to shoot both active and passive photos. Each phioto was to showcase one or two elements from a list of design principles.

Before shooting, the students completed a News U on-line course (News U, from the Poynter Institute, can be found at www.newsu.org) called the Language of the Image.

After shooting, the students, under Fox-Keesic's leadership, viewed and critiqued each other's work. On this page you'll see some of the students' work, and read some of Fox-Keesic's comments.

Nine students expect to graduate from the FNTI media program in June. The program, in partnership with Humber institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, stresses hands-on media industry placements alternating with in-class sessions. Learners come from all over Turtle island.

Nice attempt using reflection in image composition said Fox-Keesic of Colin French's photo of working man.


Jennifer Ashawasegai shot this at Garden River First Nation as part of her diary assignment.


She impressed me with her strong personal vision said Fox-Keesic of this silouhette shot by Christina George.


Well composed said Fox-Keesic about Wendy Sero's photo of students about to race at Sandbanks Provincial Park.


Victoria Lathlin has a nice comedic touch says Fox-Keesic.


Tiar Wilson shot Bruce Spence, senior producer of APTN National News, as part of her diary assignment. Fox-Keesic was impressed by her "great sense of timing."


Fox-Keesic said "his photos are solid" of Brent Wesley's signs of fall shots.


She shot a beautiful composed photo of a gentlemen by a fire said Fox-Keesic of Marlene Girouard.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

FNTI journalism students learn to pitch at Innoversity Summit in Toronto


Sell your story with preparation, polish, and above all passion, speaker says

by Jennifer Ashawasegai

“Pitch pitch, pitch.” That’s the advice from a fiery red-head at the Innoversity Summit’s Story Pitching session. She is CBC’s Sandra Porteous, who held the rapt attention of more than 50 people. Porteous has been in journalism for about 30 years, and had a lot to share.

Pitch, pitch, pitch says CBC's Sandra Porteous


Over 500 registered for Day One of the Innoversity Summit 2006, held downtown Toronto Oct.23 and 24. The summit’s theme this year, is The Power of Diversity. A whole range of people were eager to hear from professionals with industry experience. In the Art of the Pitch, “Secret of the Sell,” Porteous says her father, a freelance journalist and her mentor, told her, “If you have an idea, you’ll never be out of a job.”

To find advice on selling stories click here Sell your story with preparation, polish, and above all passion, speaker says With her own experience as a freelance journalist and with CBC, Porteous adds to her own father’s sage words, "Having a great idea is not enough. You have to know what to do with it” She says it doesn’t matter what thc product is, “a pitch is a pitch is a pitch. You have to sell your idea.” Porteous illustrates her point with examples of both successful and unsuccessful pitches.

The pitches that will fall on deaf ears include negative stereotypes such as The Pushover, who unloads an idea and will not defend it, The Robot, whose proposal is formulaic and articulated without passion, the Used-Car Salesman who does not have any new ideas or changes, and The Charity Case who she describes as a needy person, or someone who just wants agreement and uses tactics like begging and pleading. Before releasing the brainchild story idea into the ether, Porteous says, “Don’t pitch until you’re ready. Resist the urge to pitch until you’re ready.” She recommends the five P’s .

In other words, do the homework, do the research, talk to all the people involved, and OWN the story. It’s called Prep, and Porteous says it’s key to a successful pitch. Other tips include stepping outside of the box. Porteous suggests Pretending to be a tourist. That means seeing life with fresh eyes, and never, ever stop asking questions. Porteous herself keeps an ideas journal.

She squirrels away little bits of information she tears out of newspapers or writes down curiosities she sees. Porteous tells of the time she was awoken every night at three a.m. in a Yellowknife hotel. Footsteps were loudly passing her door at the same time consecutively for a few nights. At work one morning, she told her colleagues of the nightly disturbances. Her colleagues tell her it’s a regular thing and nothing unusuaL The noise is from Japanese tourists who leave the hotel to go and watch Aurora Borealis and take pictures. Well, Porteous says. now that’s a story. It’s also finding a different angle to a story.

Porteous strongly encourages brainstorming. Grab a piece of paper she says, and write down the subject in the very middle, and make a spiral of every possible question you can think of. Answer those questions and you may find a unique angle to the story. “Somewhere in there, “she says, “is a new approach to the story.” When you are pitching an idea to seasoned veterans in the business, they will want to know why they should care, why the story matters, and how the information will move the story ahead. Then, once all the legwork is done, and the questions answered, it's time to Practice and Polish the pitch. This includes torturing friends and family. Practice on them. Make them interested. Make them care. If your practice audience has questions. write them down, and answer them.

Porteous also offers these important instructions: Know who you are pitching to, tell the story in a sentence, don’t allow anyone to cut off your pitch before you’re done, understand the politics involved and explain you’re the best person for the pitch. Also, make sure to mention official sources to lend credibiliry to the pitch.

Porteuos says most important of all, is to have Passion in the pitch.Emotion is good. Some of the time, she says people have gotten a foot in the door with a less than stellar pitch. They got in there because they were passionate about their story.