[NAEP] MPES newsletter, March 3, 2008

[Dawn Wiseman]

								March 3, 2008
 
		Volume 1, Issue 4

From where we sit, it's hard to believe that 
spring arrives this month. In Montreal, we've had 
almost 3 metres of snow, and there's more coming. 
You can't tell so much in the city, where they 
truck away each storm, but out in the suburbs the 
snow banks are huge. In megamall parking lots the 
piles are often twice as high as the box stores.

Despite the snow, our animal friends are telling 
us spring is just around the corner. Birds have 
returned from the south. Skunks have come out of 
hibernation. The chipmunks out at the office in 
Kahnawake are all over the place. Environment 
Canada tells us it's been warmer than usual, so 
even if we don't believe it, the animals know 
what they're talking about.

They even wrote about it in last week's GazetteŠ
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=7ea64da2-31ce-4e81-8dbe-599541f7c47d&k=70700


3.14 Pi Day
Each year on March 14 mathematician's (and 
others) celebrate the circle on Pi Day. Here are 
some sites with suggested activities for this 
year's 20th celebration.
http://www.piday.org/
http://www.mathwithmrherte.com/pi_day.htm
http://www.exploratorium.edu/pi/


Beavers and drought
The beaver is a loyal friend in the battle 
against drought, says a University of Alberta 
researcher.
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=4825f818-b72f-47ff-95e9-3e91450914c9
http://www.projectalberta.com/board/viewtopic.php?p=53875

Profiles in Learning
The Canadian Council on Learning web site 
includes a section called Profiles in Learning, 
featuring articles that explore the lives and 
learning experiences of well-known people in 
Canada. 

So far the monthly series has featured two Aboriginal learners.

James Bartleman, until recently Ontario's Lieutenant Governor
http://www.ccl-cca.ca/CCL/Newsroom/Profiles/PILJamesBartleman.htm
Paul Okalik, Premier of Nunavut
http://www.ccl-cca.ca/CCL/Newsroom/Profiles/PILPaulOkalik.htm


8,000 Drums
This notice comes to us by way of our friends in 
the Native Students' centre at Concordia. Here is 
the message in full Š
HELLO, GREETINGS, ANIIN, TANSI, HAN, HAKODA!!
Darlene Courchene was contacted by my friend 
Gilles Novaks who is a Montagnais Indian from 
Montreal. He is a Medicine Man and a Healer. He 
asked me to get as many Tribal people to 
participate in a worldwide ceremony called the 
"8,000 Drums". He was contacted by two Huron Clan 
Grandmothers from up there in Canada and they 
asked him to help spread the word to all Indians 
everywhere.
The event will take place on March 21, 2008 at 
12:00 noon (Eastern, so adjust based on your 
location). All you need to do is play a drum 
either alone, or with a group or have the whole 
Tribe participate. The purpose is to fulfill the 
Otomi Prophecy, "When 8000 sacred drums play 
together, an intense healing of Mother Earth will 
commence." The Otomi's are Mayan Olmec and Toltec 
descendants. The drums will be played so that the 
Creator will hear us and grant our wishes as we 
pray for help in the Healing Process of our 
Mother Earth.

Under the Sea
Scientists investigating the icy waters of 
Antarctica said Tuesday they have collected 
several mysterious creatures from 2,000 metres 
below the ocean's surface, including giant sea 
spiders and huge worms.
Australian experts taking part in an 
international program to conduct a census of 
marine life in the ocean at the far south of the 
world said many species may never have been seen 
before.
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/02/19/antarctic-animals.html
http://www.aad.gov.au/default.asp?casid=34320

Upcoming events
March 13-14, 2008
Indian Education in the 21st Century
Hilton Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico
http://www.aecdinc.org/upcoming.html

Corinne will be presenting at this event hosted 
by the Alliance for Education and Community 
Development.


Next issue
The next issue of the MPES newsletter is due out 
in two weeks. If you have any information you'd 
like to share with colleagues please email it to 
dawn at nativeaccess.com.