THE PROJECT
Indigenous communities are often left behind in Canada’s digital divide, as many First Nations can only access to slow, unreliable, and expensive connectivity – or they don’t have access to the internet at all. Mamawapowin Technology Society, a non-profit ISP in Alberta, worked to address this digital divide by installing the infrastructure required to provide stable and reliable internet to Kanawemahwasowin-Kamik, the Ermineskin Child services group in Ermineskin, which services up to 200 children in care and lacked reliable connectivity.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Now operated by Smoke Signal Communications, the new service is at 100 mbps with a redundant radio connection, reconnecting vital community services such as a daycare, Headstart program, food bank and emergency services.
RELATED LINKS
- Check out CIRA’s blog, How CIRA supports First Nations-led Internet upgrades in Maskwacis, Alberta
- Smoke Signal Communications website
- Wind Speaker article about the project
PHOTOS
Courtesy of Mamawapowin Technology Society
