Research proves the connectivity barriers faced by Indigenous communities are very real, and very limiting

Original article by Cybera; republished with permission The ConnectIN project was a two-year pilot project evaluating the internet connectivity in First Nations communities in BC, Alberta and Manitoba. Led by three First Nations’ regional technology organizations, and facilitated by Cybera, the goal of this project was to better assess gaps in infrastructure and services. ConnectIN wrapped up[…]

44 remote & rural First Nations to get faster internet in B.C. – fund announcement

Rural and remote communities in coastal British Columbia will benefit from faster internet News Release, Vancouver Wednesday, January 17, 2018 Through a combined investment of $45.4 million, the Government of Canada, in partnership with the Government of British Columbia, is bringing new or improved high-speed internet to 154 rural and remote communities, enabling residents to get[…]

Reconciliation Through Indigenous Education – Free Online Course from UBC

Reconciliation Through Indigenous Education Advancing reconciliation in classrooms, organizations, and communities through the teaching and learning of Indigenous ways of knowing. Check it out at https://www.edx.org/course/reconciliation-through-indigenous-ubcx-indedu200x-1 About this course For educators, this means responding to educational reforms that prioritize improved educational outcomes for Indigenous learners. In addition, educators must support all learners to develop their knowledge[…]

Community-driven skills training programs making difference for First Nations

Government of B.C. Press Release Job training programs delivering strong results Community-driven skills training programs supported by the British Columbia government are making a real difference in the lives of a growing number of First Nations members. Launched in 2015, the Aboriginal Skills Training Development Fund provides $30 million in skills-training funding over three years[…]

Líl̓wat Nation receives federal funding to construct Tśzil Learning Centre

ISED Press Release Government of Canada invests in new Tśzil Learning Centre The Government of Canada values the role of post-secondary institutions as they help equip young Canadians with the education and training they need for future careers that will help them join a strong, healthy middle class. Today’s $7.21-million investment in the Tśzil Learning Centre[…]

On Haida Gwaii, Creative Locals Push Digital Innovation

By Jennifer Leask For some people living in Haida Gwaii, better internet connectivity and local economic development go hand-in-hand. The efforts of these tech-savvy islanders aren’t focused on catching up with urban residents – they are about taking the lead. Patrick Shannon is one of those people. The 26-year-old Haida man grew up in Skidegate,[…]

Bringing Healthcare Closer to First Nations Communities in B.C.

As of March 6, 2015, after months of planning, the Telehealth​ Expansion Project (FNTEP) is set to deploy new clinical telehealth equipment, beginning with Coastal and Interior communities in British Columbia. The telehealth equipment will offer rural communities (such as Anahim Lake, Klemtu, Three Corners, Bella Coola, Hartley Bay and many others) the opportunity to access healthcare[…]

Grunt Gallery, Beatnation and Online Aboriginal Hip Hop Youth Culture

‘The Witness’ by Bunky Echo Hawk Rapper and Writer Ostwelve Ron Harris Still shot from Leena Minifie’s ‘Geeka’ Beat Nation and grunt gallery : Hip Hop as Indigenous Culture, based in Vancouver B.C., is a virtual community featuring young Aboriginal artists from across Canada, the United States, and South America with one First Nations artist, Ron[…]

B.C. Communities prepare for National Satellite Initiative Transition

British Columbia – British Columbia Monday, 18 March 2013, 11:23 AM By Erin Currie and Genevieve Leis Remote communities that cannot access land-based networks receive connectivity services through satellite connections. Many currently receive subsidies for these services through a federal program called the National Satellite Initiative (NSI). In British Columbia, the First Nations Emergency Services[…]

Development Communication in the Canadian North: A University Course Project on First Nations’ Media

Development Communication in the Canadian North: A University Course Project on First Nations’ Media – -Canada Friday, 15 February 2013, 03:37 PM By: Arne Hintz In winter 2012, 12 students from McGill University in Montreal conducted research on communication projects by Canadian First Nations communities. As part of a combined undergraduate and graduate seminar on[…]