About K-Net

 History
Of
Keewaytinook Okimakanak

• Early KO staff members pose at Front Street premises in Sioux Lookout. KO has grown from its founding staff of two to the current 94, many of whom are based in the First Nations.

  Seven Chiefs form Keewaytinook Okimakanak in November 1991 – founding First Nations are Deer Lake, Fort Severn, Kasabonika, McDowell Lake, North Spirit Lake, Poplar Hill and Keewaywin
• Staff grows from two to eight, working in Sioux Lookout (over D.J.'s Gas Bar) and in Fort Severn
• First move to larger premises at 74 Front Street in Sioux Lookout
• Advisory services in Finance, Community & Capital Planning, Technical Services and Economic Development begin

• Health and Outreach comes on line
  
• Keewaytinook Okimakanak celebrates reserve status with Keewaywin

• Education Advisory Services are added
  
• First of the memorable staff retreats takes place in Lutsen, Minnesota
  
• Keewaytinook Okimakanak's Education Department launches a BBS (electronic bulletin board)

• The K-Net BBS is expanded to all First Nations in the Sioux Lookout District—delivers post secondary course over K-Net in partnership with Lakehead University

• Keewaytinook Okimakanak's new three-level building, Sioux Lookout

  Purchase and move into new three-level quarters at 115 King Street in Sioux Lookout
  
• KO staff and Chiefs support Deer Lake in their hosting of Keewaywin Conference
  
• North Spirit Lake gets electricity
  
• First of the famous bus tours takes place, this one to Sault Ste. Marie
  
• Keewaytinook Okimakanak becomes Industry Canada's First Nation Schoolnet Helpdesk serving Northern Ontario
  
• K-Net delivers Aboriginal Teacher Assistant program in partnership with Con College

• Poplar Hill gets electricity
  
• Telepsychiatry Demonstration Project begins
  
• K-Net develops unique system for remote First Nations internet access; regional on-line training programs for local Computer Technicians established

Students from Northern Eagle High School explore the K-Net web site at the Grand Opening of the original Red Lake office.

• The big move to Red Lake occupies the fall; all staff arrive by December
  
• Second bus tour, this one to Ottawa and Toronto with dozens of meetings with governments
  
• Staff retreat in McDowell Lake
  
• Public Internet Access Centres established in the KO First Nations in partnership with the Industry Canada Community Access Program

• John Manley visits Red Lake as Minister of Industry Canada
  
• Red Lake Doctors begin to serve Poplar Hill
  
• Staff retreat to Poplar Hill this year
  
• K-Net leads regional participation in the CRTC High Cost Serving Area process; application to Industry Canada SMART program entered into second phase for business plan development
  
• North Spirit Lake celebrates it all: water & sewer, new clinic and local phone service
  
• Deer Lake gets their water & sewer

• Ribbon Cutting for the Launch of Keewaytinook Internet High School

  Launch of Keewaytinook Internet High School
  
• Keewaywin telephone service established
  
• Smart Business Plan is submitted to Industry Canada
  
• Purchase, renovate, enlarge and occupy Balmertown building (where we are today)
  
• Video conferencing becomes available in each of the KO First Nations, opening up a new way of doing business
  
• Poplar Hill residents are hooked up to sewer and water

• Kuh-ke-nah Ribbon Cutting - July 6, 2001 in Balmertown.

  This year's retreat goes to the tundra – Fort Severn
  
• Still more space is needed – Economic Development moves out to their own portable in Balmertown
  
• Kuh-ke-nah SMART First Nations is launched
  
• launch of Telehealth Project (KOHS-NORTH Network)

• First Nation Connect Conference - February 11 to 14, 2002 in Thunder Bay.

  KO hosts "First Nations Connect" Conference for NAN Communities
  
• Poplar Hill opens its new Business Centre with E-Centre, Post Office, Motel and Northern Store
  
• KO celebrates ten years with a big feast under the tent in Balmertown