Keewaytinook Okimakanak

1992

• 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

1993

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

1994

• 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)

1995

• 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

1996

• 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

1997

• 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

1998

• 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

1999

• 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

2000

• 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

2001

• 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)

2002

• 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