First Nation corporation rolling out fibre optic cable connecting KI and Wapekeka First Nations
First Nation workers in Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninnuwug began rolling out the Bell Aliant fibre optic cable earlier this week. The fibre cable will replace the existing microwave link connecting the two remote First Nations of KI and Wapekeka in Ontario's far north.
Luke Sainnawap who works with KI Telecom is capturing the story of the work being done through a series of photographs that he is posting online at http://www.flickr.com/photos/kitelecomtech/
Luke reported that it took this crew about two hours to cross the lake with this roll of cable.
The fibre cable is also being rolled out along the highway north of Ignace by other crews. Workers from Saugeen and Mishkeegogamang First Nation are busy clearing the route along Highway 599 for the fibre to reach Pickle Lake this fall.
Plans include beginning to do construction work into Slate Falls, Cat Lake, Pikangikum, Poplar Hill and up to Kingfisher Lake over this fall and winter season.
Keewaytinook Okimakanak worked with Bell Aliant to begin planning the development and the application for funding of this fibre network back in the summer of 2009. Nishnawbe Aski Nation was invited to support this development as it involved many of their member First Nations across the Treaty 9 region. The entire fibre network construction project was estimated to cost $82 million, with Bell Aliant committing to contribute $26M towards the successful construction of this fibre network that will see 27 remote and rural communities taken off of legacy microwave and satellite infrastructure. The Federal and Ontario governments are contributing the remainder of the dollars for this $82M construction project.
For more information about this project visit http://nanbroadband.ca