The First Mile

Supported by the SSHRC-funded First Nations Innovation Project

June 20, 2011 - Press release announcing the K’atl’odeeche First Nation will receive $275,000 of funding from CanNor over two years for several Information and Communication Technology infrastructure and capacity development initiatives. [ NationTalk.ca ]

Mar 6, 2013

CanNor sent out a news release about several Northern connectivity projects.

These include the KFN fibre project, the K'asho Got'ine web portal and IT infrastructure, a feasibility study for a municipally-owned fibre optic network in Yellowknife, and a study for a strategic plan for connectivity across the three northern territories.

Press release: http://north.gc.ca/mr/nr/2013/11nr-eng.asp

Backgrounder: http://north.gc.ca/mr/nr/2013/11bk-eng.asp

A story from the Northern Journal (published April 22, 2012) about the K'atl'odeeche First Nation community network.

From the article:

The K’atl’odeeche First Nation (KFN) of Hay River is looking beyond the boundaries of its reserve with the dream of establishing a network of First Nations-owned telecommunications infrastructure in the NWT.

The First Nation, which established its own local fiber optic network on the reserve in 2011, is currently in conversation with a company in Alberta about linking the reserve to existing infrastructure in High Level.

While the company would build the line up to the border, KFN would pay the estimated $3 million to connect that fiber to the reserve, thus securing greater bandwidth for the community and anyone else who wants to lease the infrastructure or build their own to join up.

KFN’s hope is that the new link will not only create more economic opportunities for the band and region, but potentially link with nearby communities, providing a model for other First Nations wanting to establish and own their infrastructure, rather than be dependent on the sole telecommunications backbone in the North, owned by Northwestel.

Read the full story here.

On July 29, the Conference Board of Canada's Centre for the North released its comprehensive report on northern and Aboriginal connectivity in Canada.

The report, written by Dr. Adam Fiser and Anja Jeffrey, is titled Wiring the Future of the North: Report on Northern Connectivity. According to the report webpage:

In the information age, communications infrastructure is a critical enabler of both economic opportunity and social cohesion. Because the immediate need of Northerners for improved critical connectivity infrastructure is evident, it forms the primary focus of our upcoming report on Telecommunications and Broadband Connectivity: Mapping the Long-Term Options for Canada's North.


The report summary lists several conclusions. It highlights the following point around Aboriginal connectivity:

"Aboriginal participation in network development and IT services deserves encouragement and support. Not all Aboriginal communities and organizations are ready to host or manage network services, and not all Aboriginal governments and businesses are prepared to invest in network infrastructure. A one-size-fits-all approach to Aboriginal inclusion is insufficient and may be counterproductive."

• Download the full report