Communities
The remote and rural First Nation communities that work with our partners in Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic region are using broadband networks extensively. Remote and rural First Nations use broadband infrastructure and applications to support and foster many community, social and economic services and initiatives, including health and wellness, education and learning, culture and language, economic development, justice services and many others. Community members use the technologies to access services and activities and to share information and stories with each other, with other First Nation communities, and with the wider outside world.
Our research project began community-based research in collaboration with First Nations in 2010. Since then, we have completed studies in four communities in our three regions.
Ontario e-community.knet.ca
In Ontario, so far we have collaborated on research with two First Nation communities. In addition to the papers listed below, a number of other publications are available based on an online survey with participation from many First Nation communities in Northwestern Ontario. To access these additional publications, visit the publications section of our website.
Fort Severn First Nation is a small, remote northern Cree community on the Severn River near Hudson Bay in Ontario. It is accessible by a daily flight from Sioux Lookout year round and by winter roads for a few weeks in the winter. To date we have completed two conference papers in collaboration with the community and community co-authors. To access these publications, click on the links below:
We also worked with Fort Severn First Nation to develop a Community Technology Showcase available on the community website:
http://fortsevern.firstnation.ca/tech_showcase
Mishkeegogamang First Nation is a rural Ojibway community in Northwestern Ontario accessible by road about three hours northeast of Sioux Lookout and five hours northwest of Thunder Bay. To date we have completed one publication in collaboration with the community and community co-authors. We have also completed one publication about community member perspectives on tele-mental health based on research with both Mishkeegogamang First Nation and Fort Severn First Nation. To access these publications, click on the links below:
2. Conversations on telemental health: listening to remote and rural First Nations communities
Quebec cepn-fnec.com
To date we have collaborated with one First Nation in Quebec on community-based research.
Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation is the largest Algonquin community in Canada. Kitigan Zibi is unceded territory situated in a rural region of Quebec beside the town of Maniwaki and two hours by road north of the national capital of Ottawa. To date we have completed two conference papers in collaboration with the community and community co-authors: To access these publications, click on the links below:
Atlantic firstnationhelp.com
To date we have collaborated with one First Nation in the Atlantic region on community-based research.
Elsipogtog First Nation, formerly called the Big Cove Band, is a Mi’kmaq First Nation in New Brunswick. The Elsipogtog First Nation territory is nine kilometres west of the village of Rexton and about 170 kilometres (a two to three-hour drive) northeast of the provincial capital of Fredericton. To date we have completed one conference paper in collaboration with the community and community co-authors: To access this publication, click on the link below:
1. Post-Secondary Distance Education: Experiences of Elsipogtog First Nation Community Members