The First Nations Innovation Project
Remote and rural First Nation communities are using broadband networks and information and communications technologies (ICT) in many innovative ways – to support e-health, e-learning, e-business, e-administration and many other applications and services. Community members use ICT to access services online and communicate with people everywhere.
A team of First Nation organizations and researchers is studying and celebrating these achievements since 2005. We recognize the value of research to support and develop understanding, evidence-based policy and transformative change. Our research project is now called First Nations Innovation (FNI). Since 2005, our research has been supported by SSHRC and in-kind donations by our research partners.
Click here to access all the FNI publications.
FNI is creating new benefits for Canada by:
- Sharing and documenting First Nation innovative success stories and best practices with other First Nations, academics and the Canadian public
- Supporting First Nation ownership, control, access and possession of ICT tools, infrastructure and capacity through appropriate and respectful documentation and presentation of innovative practices by First Nation partners
- Developing an understanding of how First Nations are using technologies for community, social and economic development
- Making the links between broadband networks in First Nations and self-determination, treaties, and national and international policies such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Partners and people in the First Nations Innovation project are:
- Keewaytinook Okimakanak (KO) the Northern Chiefs Council, a tribal council serving First Nations in northwestern Ontario. The contact is Franz Seibel, Research Director of the KO Research Institute: franz.seibel@knet.ca
- Atlantic Canada’s First Nation Help Desk, part of the Mik’maq Kina’matnewey education organization in Nova Scotia, serving all the First Nations in Atlantic Canada. The contact is Kevin Burton, Coordinator of the Help Desk: admin@firstnationhelp.ca
- First Nations Education Council (FNEC), a regional support organization for communities in Quebec. The contact is Tim Whiteduck, Director of Technology: twhiteduck@cepn-fnec.com
The university lead partner is the University of New Brunswick (UNB). Partner universities are Université Laval and the University of Alberta.
Research staff on the First Nations Innovation project are:
- Dr. Susan O’Donnell, Primary Investigator, Researcher and Adjunct Professor, UNB Department of Sociology. Contact: susanodo@unb.ca
- David Perley, Co-Investigator, Director of the UNB Mi’kmaq-Wolastoqey Centre. Contact: david.perley@unb.ca
- Dr. Rob McMahon, Co-Investigator, University of Alberta, Faculty of Extension. Contact: rdmcmaho@ualberta.ca
- Dr. Renée Fountain, Co-Investigator, Université Laval, Faculty of Education. Contact: renee.fountain@fse.ulaval.ca
- Brian Beaton, UNB Doctoral Candidate, Faculty of Education, and Associate of the KO Research Institute. Contact: brian.beaton@unb.ca (Brian’s successful proposal to SSHRC for a Doctoral Fellowship Award: Beaton-SSHRC-Research-Proposal)
- Chris George, UNB M.Phil. (Policy Studies) student. Contact: chris.george@unb.ca
- Martin Bertrand, Laval M.Ed. student, Faculty of Education
Past graduate student Research Assistants include:
- Ashley Julian, UNB M.Ed. (Critical Studies) student, Faculty of Education. Contact: ashley.julian@unb.ca (Ashley successfully defended her thesis in the spring of 2016)