CIDA Grant supports the development of Indigenous Commission for Communications Technologies in the Americas
Press Release ...
CIDA Grant to Support Use of Communications Technologies by Indigenous Peoples
OTTAWA, Dec. 29 - A grant of $100,000 has been awarded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to support the development of The Indigenous Commission for Communications Technologies in the Americas (ICCTA). The grant was made possible through a partnership arrangement between ICCTA and the Métis National Council (MNC).
MNC President Clement Chartier said: "The ICCTA was formed by Indigenous peoples of South, Central and North America as an added way to make a positive difference in the lives of Indigenous peoples. Through ICCTA we will share our experiences in the use communications technology to strengthen our communities. The Métis Nation is pleased to have played an important role in supporting this initiative."
Tony Belcourt, President of ICCTA, said: "To fight poverty and build stronger communities we need to find effective ways to address health issues, increase our levels of education and build our economies. Greater access to communications technologies such as high-speed Internet are obviously needed, but much needs to be done to learn how to use those technologies and develop the solutions that best fit the priorities and circumstances of the communities."
Jayariyu Farias Montiel, Founder of the WAYUUNAIKI Cultural Foundation of Venezuela and ICCTA Vice-President, said: "We need to prevent the further erosion of our cultures and to protect our environment, our lands and our rights. The development and use of appropriate information and communications technologies is critical if we are to successfully meet those challenges."
Erick Huerta, Co-Rapporteur of a working group of the Permanent Consultative Committee of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) said: "The use of communications technologies by Indigenous peoples not only makes a difference to their communities, it benefits all of society. The use of communications technologies allows Indigenous communities to connect with partners to better solve their needs. ICCTA will play a vital role as the catalyst to bring about those partnerships."
Pedro Victoriano Cruz, Director of the Mexican Indigenous Communications System: www.xiranhua.com.mx, and ICCTA Secretary Treasurer said: "Indigenous peoples need the tools to enable us to bridge the digital divide but we also need to build the resources to do this through a network of members and partners who bring together the expertise to match the needs. The funding provided by CIDA will help ICCTA strengthen its governance and administrative capacity to make this possible and we thank the Government of Canada for this support."
This project has received funding from the Indigenous Peoples' Partnership Program of the Canadian International Development Agency. The purpose of the Program is to provide opportunities to create durable partnerships and it supports initiatives conceived by both Indigenous organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean and their Canadian Aboriginal partners. These partnerships will contribute to the sustainable development of Indigenous Peoples through an exchange of knowledge experience, expertise, and existing models.
For further information: Tony Belcourt, (613) 656-5033, tonyb@iccta-citca.org;. Jayariyu Farias Montiel, 011+58 261 762 9828, jayariyufm@yahoo.com;. Pedro Victoriano Cruz, 011+52 452 523 6192, xiranhua@hotmail.com;. www.iccta-citca.org