FNTC releases Indigenous Leadership in Technology

The First Nations Technology Council (Technology Council) published its report “Indigenous Leadership in Technology: Understanding Access and Opportunities in British Columbia” in December of 2022. The report offers a summary of some of the current barriers and enablers Indigenous peoples experience in building technological capacity as well as their vision for the future of technology[…]

FMCC members in the News Media

FMCC member organizations have had quite a bit of media attention recently. At the end of 2022, Jessica Mundie published a story in the National Post on First Nations communities across Canada who are building their own networks. Her story featured interviews with a number of FMCC members including Alfred Loon, president of Eeyou Communications Network (ECN) and Jesse[…]

ECN Hosts FMCC 2022 General Meeting

After more than two years of pandemic restrictions, members of FMCC met for their first in-person meeting in Montréal on June 14th and 15th, 2022. Eeyou Communications Network (ECN) hosted the FMCC general meeting at the Cree Regional Government office. Present were Alfred Loon of ECN; Tim Whiteduck and Philippe Lalancette from Conseil en education[…]

FMCC submits comments to CRTC on barriers to the deployment of broadband-capable networks in underserved areas

The FMCC has submitted our comments to Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2019-406: Call for comments regarding potential barriers to the deployment of broadband-capable networks in underserved areas in Canada. Our submission details the barriers that FMCC member organizations face with respect to the deployment of broadband in the communities they serve. These barriers include[…]

Ottawa Citizen: COVID-19 shows need to support Indigenous and non-profit telcos connecting remote communities

The following article was published on April 15, 2020. Read published article here. by FMCC members Tim Whiteduck, David Paul Achneepineskum, Sally Braun, Bill Murdoch, Ken Sanderson, and Rob McMahon In 2016, Canada’s telecommunications regulator ruled that broadband is an “essential service” that should be available to everyone across the country, no matter where they[…]

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[…]

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

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[…]

Internet access key to protecting threatened Indigenous languages: Toronto Star

By Crystal Gail Fraser and Mark Buell “An Act Respecting Indigenous Languages has good intentions, but we can’t ignore a critical piece of the puzzle missing from its fine print. Bill C-91’s goal to protect, promote and revitalize the nearly 90 Indigenous languages left in Canada can’t be fully realized until rural, remote and northern[…]

Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review

ONE WEEK LEFT before submissions are due .. From their web site at https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/110.nsf/eng/home .. The Panel is committed to providing relevant, practical and implementable recommendations to government and invites written submissions in response to its review of the Canadian Communications Legislative Framework. In response to comments from several parties, the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review[…]

FMCC presentation to Review Panel of the Canadian Communications Legislative Framework

First Mile Connectivity Consortium executive board members, Susan O’Donnell (Vice-President) and Brian Beaton (Treasurer), met with two members of the Review of the Canadian Communications Legislative Framework Panel. The meeting took place in Halifax on Wednesday, Oct 3 and included two secretariat members from the two federal departments responsible for these communication legislative acts, ISED and[…]