ICTs at Work in Remote and Rural Communities Brian Beaton, K-Net Services Coordinator Connect NWT Symposium February 6, Yellowknife, NWT Building Sustainable Broadband Community Networks in Remote and Rural First Nations The Importance of the Digital Economy in Remote and Rural Communities Brian Beaton, K-Net Services Coordinator Ontario Digital Economy Conference October 2, 2008 – Huntsville, Ontario

THE PEOPLE and THE COMMUNITIES

“From Potential to Practice: Telecommunications & Development in the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation” K-Net Account Penetration Local Area and Municipal Area Networking Capacity Building Community Access to the Internet Website Utilization Helpdesk Services Network Design and Strategy Development Affordable Network Access Growth in Digital Service in First Nations Key Challenges and Issues...

Historical Highlights … Wawatay Native Communications Society – establishing the environment for effective IT use – Industry Canada’s MSAT / DirecPC Pilot Projects (1998) – First Nations SchoolNet, Community Access Program and FedNor – Industry Canada’s Smart Communities Demonstration project (1999) – Industry Canada’s National Broadband Task Force (2001) –

Building the network … meter earth station install Sioux Lookout Fiber 2001 Cable Plant Installs – Community Satellite installs

Planning for ICTs in remote communities through effective community consultation Accessing sufficient bandwidth required to support two way symmetrical video conferencing Partnering with the telecommunication providers, other communities and organizations to invest in adequate infrastructure Fundraising efforts with different levels of government as well with the various departments and agencies Expanding the network and services within a manageable and cooperative environment ESTABLISHING MINIMUM LEVEL OF SERVICE …

ESTABLISHING CREDIBILITY WITH INDUSTRY and GOVERNMENT … Working with strong leadership who understand the need for these tools in their communities Improvising using available tools - eg MSAT / DirecPC / HSI networks before infrastructure was in place Making mistakes (good ones) and learning from them Getting lots of “no’s” but willing to work with partners to learn with us Transferring and sharing what is learned to other First Nations and organizations Focusing on building human networks to support technological ones

Building Sustainability and Interoperability … Planning networks in isolation from community networks results in many “thin” pipes serving communities Sharing existing resources and services required in small communities

Having a local champion who knows the community and who is trusted and respected to share information and developments Learning about the various options concerning infrastructure and application providers (there are lots of choices out there) Deciding what applications are needed & why, requires lots of planning providing opportunities for community engagement Finding the right partners, especially the local and regional organizations and groups who share similar goals and needs Taking the first steps, for example, setting up a public access site so the community can learn about on-line services & applications Searching for similar models and communities who are willing to share their stories and experiences Being willing to take risks knowing that mistakes might be made but that corrective actions can be taken along the way Working together to aggregate the local demand saves dollars, sustains the community network, and contributes to a strong, healthy and prosperous rural sector for all Challenges and Issues Summary …

Challenges Staffing Training Partnerships Traditional health care practices Online Resources and Turning the Corner with First Nations Telehealth position paper (3:29 min) Case Study on Health Teleradiology - Telehealth information videos Community Applications - TELEHEALTH …

Community Application – E-LEARNING … Challenges Traditional institutional attitudes Legacy of Residential Schools Local support systems and programs for youth Equivalent resources (funding, counseling, etc) Online Resources and Open Source e-learning platform development – KIHS information video - Case Study on Education - Youth Employment Training Residential School Gatherings video material Sharing our ICT stories – Poplar Hill Grade 8 video -

Other Applications – RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Challenges True partnerships with institutions Establishing credibility Defining clear goals and services Fundraising with competitive and well-funded institutions Online Resources and “Turning the Corner – Using Broadband Effectively in Canada’s North” (May 2005) - Keewaytinook Okimakanak C-Band Satellite Public Benefit Report (March 2005) "The K-Net Story - Weaving the Networked Economy in Kuhkenah First Nation Communities" (Dec 2004) - Smart Communities project evaluation – The K-Net Development Process: A Model for First Nations Broadband Community Network (2005) –

Building LOCAL Relationships … Creating a culture of change that supports open, transparent and innovative social and economic opportunities and ways of doing business as well as delivering services to others Investing in local businesses, people and infrastructure instead of spending scarce resources outside the community results in construction, maintenance and sustainable local networks Developing long term strategies and solutions that support local employment, new businesses, services and partnerships Listening carefully to our children and youth for directions that provide them with the choices to stay or return home Finding government champions, policies, programs and agents that respect and understands the unique needs of small communities Avoiding corporate and institutional sustainability strategies that require dependencies and consumptive behaviours from their clients resulting in all the resources leaving the community Changing traditional business, sales and management strategies to support local and distributed online practices AN OPEN INVITATION TO ONE and ALL TO VISIT US IN SIOUX LOOKOUT…