New Digital Literacy Resource: Eetsii tthak t’agwahii getr’ootanahchàh: Digital Content and Connectivity with Dinjii Zhuh Contexts

Posted on August 21, 2019August 21, 2019 by robmcmahon

Aug. 21, 2019 The University of Alberta (Faculty of Extension and School of Library and Information Science) and Gwich’in Tribal Council are proud to share two new digital literacy resources. These free open educational resources (OERs) focus on digital content and connectivity with Dinjii Zhuh (Gwich’in) contexts. They include a student workbook and a facilitator[…]

FMCC Researchers receive Internet Society grant to co-develop digital literacy program with Piikani First Nation

Posted on February 27, 2018February 27, 2018 by robmcmahon

A collaboration between Piikani Youth Empowerment Strategies (Piikani Nation Secondary School and Peigan Board of Education) and the Faculty of Extension at the University of Alberta has received funding from the Internet Society’s Beyond the Net program. The project, titled Exploring digital literacy through the Piikani Cultural and Digital Literacy Camp Program, builds on a[…]

Piikani First Nation and First Mile Researchers Host 3-day Cultural and Digital Literacy Camp

Posted on August 2, 2017September 27, 2017 by robmcmahon

On July 17-20, 2017, Piikani community members and First Mile researchers held a 3-day Piikani Cultural and Digital Literacy Camp focused on the community’s Past, Present and Future. Grade 9 students learned Blackfoot culture while camping on the land. They documented camp activities using digital video cameras, which was an entry point to learn about[…]

First Mile Researchers Host Digital Literacy Workshop with Gwich’in Tribal Council

Posted on June 18, 2017June 22, 2017 by robmcmahon

Last week the Gwich’in Tribal Council’s Department of Cultural Heritage (GTC) hosted a day-long workshop on Digital Content and Connectivity in Gwich’in communities. This pilot was designed by GTC staff and partners from the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Extension and the First Mile Connectivity Consortium. The team included Dr. Rob McMahon and Master of Arts[…]

Interviews of professors about their research and work with Indigenous communities

Posted on December 14, 2016January 5, 2017 by brianbeaton

Two professor were recently interviewed about their research and work with Indigenous communities .. Marie-Odile Junker, a linguistics professor at Carleton University and lead of the Algonquian Linguistic Atlas http://www.universityaffairs.ca/magazine/sponsored-content/smart-ideas-qa-marie-odile-junker-alsatian-loves-algonquian-languages Jo-ann Archibald on Indigenous “storywork” Associate dean for Indigenous Education and Director of the Indigenous Teacher Education Program (NITEP) at the University dans quel pays[…]

MWC-FNI Report: Supporting Indigenous Language and Cultural Resurgence with Digital Technologies

Posted on November 2, 2016June 2, 2017 by brianbeaton

The Mi’kmaq-Wolastoqey Centre (MWC) and the First Nations Innovation (FNI) research project at the University of New Brunswick teamed up to produce a SSHRC-funded Knowledge Synthesis report entitled: Supporting Indigenous Language and Cultural Resurgence with Digital Technologies David Perley, Director of MWC and Susan O’Donnell, lead investigator of the FNI led the production of this report.[…]

FMCC members present at Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation conference

Posted on October 21, 2016December 27, 2016 by brianbeaton

Susan O’Donnell and Brian Beaton delivered presentations at this year’s Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (http://crrf.ca) conference in Guelph, ON on October 12 to 15. The session, entitled “Technology in Rural, Northern & Aboriginal Communities” included a discussion about the ISED report completed by the FMCC team in January 2016 and a description of the First[…]

FMCC Team Presents at World Forum on Free Media Conference

Posted on September 15, 2016December 27, 2016 by brianbeaton

The First Mile team is busy spreading the news about First Nations digital innovation across Canada! This summer, three delegates from the First Mile Connectivity Consortium (FMCC) traveled to Montreal to present their work at an international conference. Denise Williams from the First Nations Technology Council (B.C.) joined Bill Murdoch from the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat[…]

First Nations in Northern Ontario Innovate with Social Media Tools

Posted on July 6, 2016December 4, 2017 by brianbeaton

By Jennifer Leask A modern digital tool like social media likely isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when people consider how to preserve First Nations cultures in Northern Ontario, but sites like Facebook and MyKnet.Org are doing just that – and more – for some communities. When Howard Moose wants to get the[…]

Rebooting Canada’s Communication Legislation Conference in Ottawa – May 22-23, 2015

Posted on April 13, 2015June 2, 2017 by brianbeaton

The University of Ottawa’s Centre on Governance and the Forum for Research on Policy in Communications (FRPC) are co-sponsoring a policy and law conference on May 22nd and 23rd, 2015, focussing on Canada’s broadcasting and telecommunications legislation. It will examine issues related to communications sovereignty and the use of new content distribution services, the socio-cultural[…]