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. The UN continues this work — for example, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU; a UN agency) has a page dedicated to digital inclusion of Indigenous peoples, which includes several training resources. The website includes a video describing the ITU’s work in this area since 2002/03.
ITU: Leaving no one behind and no one offline
(published on Mar 18, 2021)
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 (we will learn more about SCTDV in Topic 8).
Another example from the Southwestern United States is the Navajo Nation and Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, which acquired a majority stake in a service provider that enabled the tribe to offer 3G and 4G connectivity to residents of the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation also set up its own Telecommunications Regulatory Authority to govern the deployment and operations of communications in their territories. Most recently, the Navajo Nation has been working with the regional fibre optic provider Arcadian Infracom to access fibre optic links running through their lands.
In Aotearoa (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. Maori are also leaders in mobile spectrum sovereignty, and successfully argued their claim that spectrum is a natural resource subject to treaty.
Australia’s Aboriginal communities have also undertaken First Mile connectivity projects. During the 1990s, Aboriginal communities set up a satellite-based network called Tanami that connected the communities of Yuendumu, Kintore, Lajamanu, and Willowra. This Tanami Network (named after the desert where it is located) was funded by a combination of government, community, and civil society groups. Aboriginal communities operated the network, which connected the four communities 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.
These efforts continue today. The video below from the ITU/Permanent Mission of Australia to the UN and UN DESA presents a panel discussion on Indigenous Peoples and Connectivity: Bridging the Digital Divide. It features Indigenous connectivity projects from around the world, including Mexico, the U.S., and Australia.
WSIS/ITU Panel: Indigenous Peoples and Connectivity — Bridging the Digital Divide
(Published on April 28, 2021)