The First Mile

Supported by the SSHRC-funded First Nations Innovation Project

Keewatin Academy of Information Technology La Ronge - Saskatchewan

By Nick Daigneault and Jason Woodman Simmonds

The Keewatin Academy of Information Technology (KAIT) was formed in 2003 and was formally known as the First Nations SchoolNet Academy. A division of the Keewatin Career Development Corporation (KCDC) and partner with First Nations SchoolNet (FNS), and CISCO Network Academy, as of January 2009, KAIT offers the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Discovery curriculum, as well as the CISCO Information Technology Essentials (ITE) curriculum. In addition to delivering CISCO certified online training, KAIT also offers custom informal software skills training in applications such as Microsoft Office.

KAIT’s training is done primarily through distance education using videoconferencing units and “e-learning platforms such as Adobe Connect and Elluminate” but face-to-face training options are also available. While KAIT is able to offer CISCO certification, it currently does not offer the industry-certification testing required after that training. Becoming a Pearson Vue certified testing centre is something that KAIT is considering in the long-term. Presently First Nations learners in remote and rural communities in Saskatchewan are able to utilize the video conferencing units in community centres, health centres, schools, or band-offices to begin their training in the Information Technology field thereby gaining valuable skills to support their community’s IT needs. First Nations without video conferencing units are able to access the training through the aforementioned e-learning platforms.

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