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This past week, Frank Odasz, owner of Lone Eagle Consulting, contacted K-Net to discuss the work that is being done in the First Nations across the region. Frank travels the world supporting First Nations in their work to develop economic and social opportunities with their community members. He expressed an interest in working with communities and individuals to further expand some of the potential opportunities that exist with the broadband connections that are being established in the communities across the region.

After the meeting, Frank drafted the following message documenting some of the valuable resources he has freely made available on-line for everyone to use. He invites everyone to share their stories with him so he can work with others to show what is possible. His message is being shared in the same spirit of inviting everyone to become engaged in furthering the developments and opportunities that exist with these broadband connections. It is through working together that a stronger community and nation will grow! As Frank writes on his web site:

"The greatest freedom one can give to another is how to become a self-sufficient learner and earner, via the Internet.  This site is dedicated to those who lend their wings to others."

Brian,

You were very generous in enlightening me this morning. Generally, I'm the one who intimidates others with my technical knowledge, but I felt like a kindergartner this morning.

My presentation on People-Centered Knowledge Networks - described in my last message to you,  focuses on rural workforce training as the key application for a CMS system, but inherently grows social capacity through a structured mentoring program that generates social recognition for those who share new knowledge with others. The other resources generally are intended to enlighten rural individuals and leaders regarding what's possible - and what their first small action steps should be. Once we have just one real success story, the Me-Too dynamic will kick in and ideally we'll emulate your snowballing success disseminating innovations. Please feel invited to offer your candid reactions to all of my too many writings. (Grin)

For those who might be interested in your communities regarding supplemental income or full-time self-employment, my online class is available and is presented as a train-the-trainers model. I've generated many articles on indigenous Internet empowerment http://lone-eagles.com/alaskan-resources.htm  All of which is geared to instilling the vision as to what's possible...as validated at a high level by the fine work I've only glimpsed this morning. My ecommerce success stories are at http://lone-eagles.com/connect-idaho.htm and I'd love to see a similar listing develop from your communities.

The more I learn about the successes and new tools at your end, the better armed I'll be to spread the word, engage many local champions in many rural communities, and as is my calling - create free self-directed online curriculum. Future funding is very viable as I've already generated many grant proposals for indigenous communities as listed at the end of http://lone-eagles.com/village-sustainabilty.htm  

My most recent community grant template does not require outside funding but serves as a way to engage the greater community in learning from their own first digital generation about the innovations of other communities in a way that it becomes inevitable that they will begin to adopt these innovations and the ongoing process of looking through the Internet Window to learn on a regular basis. This implementation model focuses on an intergenerational approach http://lone-eagles.com/seeds.htm  

My many presentation descriptions are at http://lone-eagles.com/presentations.htm  I generally give attendees their first introduction to demonstration of digital art tablets, digital music home studio applications, multimedia slideshows created with my Sony Mavica CDROM camera, community promotion CDROMs, Ebay as an easy way to be introduced to ecommerce, and my online course as a fast-track overview on what's working for others like them - on a dramatic scale!

Unless I win a big grant (my last one in 1994 was $880,000) I can only offer to trade my presentations, resources, and online training time, for your training and site development/maintenance services. I have 256k wireless at home but it is sometimes inconsistent.

It is very likely I could bring your team several communities in the next month, potentially dozens or hundreds depending on your capacity and entrepreneurial ambitions.

I could see a few days in person as being very productive. Are your key knet innovators in one place or spread out all over? I'd think industry Canada would be throwing funding at you and that your team would have invitations to be presenting on the road on a continuous basis?

I'll stop here. My best and worst trait is I'm prolific as a writer and resource gatherer.  January 18-20 I'm presenting in Browning, Montana - on the Blackfeet reservation. We have many excited champions there and intend to create a video success story from the very beginning.

FYI, I'd submitted my presentation to Gareth Shearman for the Vancouver conference but don't know if I'm going or not. I, too, try to minimize my air travel, but enjoy driving all around Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.

On the table is what story you'd like to tell about empowering us, and how I can help develop a scalable solution for all rural communities who desire a way out of their dramatic economic and social decline.

What next steps best suit your interests?

Thanks again,

Frank