Indigenous peoples and First Mile networking projects
Indigenous peoples have always sought to address the challenge of digital divides in ways that benefit their communities. In the early years of the Internet, they called for full and effective participation in the Information age on their own terms. Many examples exist of these efforts. For example, a 2013 report from the United Nations focused on Indigenous peoples and emerging uses of ICTs. You can read the Executive Summary here.
Despite this work Indigenous peoples around the world continue to face digital divides regarding access to and distribution of digital information. They also face capacity challenges, in terms of the skills and literacies required for effective use of ICTs. Trust is another factor. ICTs represent a vulnerability to further colonialization and threat to the viability of Indigenous cultures, languages, and religions. Some people are worried about lack of protections for traditional knowledge, intellectual property, and collective guardianship.
At the same time, numerous on the ground projects reflect First Mile broadband developments. For example, in the United States the Southern California Tribal Digital Village (SCTDV) operates a high-speed broadband infrastructure on tribal lands for the benefit of community members. It is operated by the Southern California Tribal Chairman’s Association. In the Southwestern United States, the Navajo Nation and Navajo Tribal Utility Authority acquired a majority stake in a service provider that will enable the tribe to offer 3G and 4G connectivity to residents of the Navajo Nation. On a national level, the Native American Broadband Association acts as a resource for Native communities looking to connect.
In New Zealand, Maori are involved in the decision-making process of two key government-led broadband initiatives: the Rural Broadband Initiative, which seeks to extend broadband connectivity to 97% of New Zealand Households; and the Ultra Fast Broadband Initiative, which aims to secure delivery of ‘ultra fast’ broadband to 75% of all New Zealanders. These activities are coordinated by an association called Impurangi Maori.
Australia’s Aboriginal communities have also undertaken First Mile connectivity projects. The Tanami Network connected four communities in an Aboriginal video-conferencing network in a way that emphasized a shift to decentralized communication and local information and knowledge production. The Outback Digital Network (ODN) is a way to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in determining their own future. These projects arose in response to the perceived failure of last-mile networking projects to take into account the context-specific needs of remote Aboriginal communities.
Indigenous peoples have always sought to address the challenge of digital divides in ways that benefit their communities. In the early years of the Internet, they called for full and effective participation in the Information age on their own terms. Many examples exist of these efforts. For example, a 2013 report from the United Nations focused on Indigenous peoples and emerging uses of ICTs. You can read the Executive Summary here.
Despite this work Indigenous peoples around the world continue to face digital divides regarding access to and distribution of digital information. They also face capacity challenges, in terms of the skills and literacies required for effective use of ICTs. Trust is another factor. ICTs represent a vulnerability to further colonialization and threat to the viability of Indigenous cultures, languages, and religions. Some people are worried about lack of protections for traditional knowledge, intellectual property, and collective guardianship.
At the same time, numerous on the ground projects reflect First Mile broadband developments. For example, in the United States the Southern California Tribal Digital Village (SCTDV) operates a high-speed broadband infrastructure on tribal lands for the benefit of community members. It is operated by the Southern California Tribal Chairman’s Association. In the Southwestern United States, the Navajo Nation and Navajo Tribal Utility Authority acquired a majority stake in a service provider that will enable the tribe to offer 3G and 4G connectivity to residents of the Navajo Nation. On a national level, the Native American Broadband Association acts as a resource for Native communities looking to connect.
In New Zealand, Maori are involved in the decision-making process of two key government-led broadband initiatives: the Rural Broadband Initiative, which seeks to extend broadband connectivity to 97% of New Zealand Households; and the Ultra Fast Broadband Initiative, which aims to secure delivery of ‘ultra fast’ broadband to 75% of all New Zealanders. These activities are coordinated by an association called Impurangi Maori.
Australia’s Aboriginal communities have also undertaken First Mile connectivity projects. The Tanami Network connected four communities in an Aboriginal video-conferencing network in a way that emphasized a shift to decentralized communication and local information and knowledge production. The Outback Digital Network (ODN) is a way to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in determining their own future. These projects arose in response to the perceived failure of last-mile networking projects to take into account the context-specific needs of remote Aboriginal communities.
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