Using Broadband Connections to Revitalize Communities: The Keewaytinook Okimakanak story Keewaytinook Okimakanak Research Institute (KORI) Presentation to CED Ontario Connections to Revitalize Communities (6 June 2011)

Words We Live By “Our people missed the Industrial Revolution, our people can’t afford to miss the ICT revolution” Grand Chief Stan Beardy “People say the ‘Net is some kind of highway… If this is true, I want our children to be drivers, not passenger.” KO Elder

Research Driven by Community Goals and Needs KO Leadership created KORI to build research capacity at the local level and to build bridges with supportive university academics KO is a partner of CRACIN, founding member of RICTA and DERAC and other knowledge clusters KO in partnership with LU Faculty of Education won a SSHRC grant to study First Nations digital education KO works in partnership with the National Research Council, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations and universities across Canada, the United States and Europe People are interested in what the KO First Nations have accomplished and are planning to do

KO is mentoring the Next Generation of Computer and Network Technicians and Community Researchers KO works with Families and Communities

Elders are central to KORI’s research activities

KO shares its promising practices at conferences around the world

Its not about Technology or Machines

Its about Relationships

Capacity Building at the Community Level First Nations youth teaching the next generation

Its about building capacity among First Nations community members in computer and network applications and building sustainable relationships with First Nations, the public and private sectors.

KO is partnering with university academics to share the many broadband “success stories” in the north

KO partners with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and other agencies to research and develop community-based programmes

KO is partnering with Indigenous Peoples around the world to share promising practices and lessons learned

“Its all about community”

Its about working for a better future

For More Information Brian Walmark, Director of Research KO Research Institute