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First Nations across northern Ontario have been connecting all their buildings to broadband services over the past several years using wireless or cable infrastructure. Now that Toronto has finally caught onto this work, it is making the news in a big way.

From the Toronto Star ... http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1141643034143&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home

T.O. to become wireless hotspot
Mar. 6, 2006.
TYLER HAMILTON -TECHNOLOGY REPORTER

Toronto Hydro Corp. will announce Tuesday that it plans to turn Canada's largest city into one giant wireless hotspot, directly challenging the country's major mobile phone carriers for a chunk of the $8 billion a year wireless market.

With the deployment, which sources say could be available in the downtown core as early as this fall, Toronto joins a growing list of North American cities, including Philadelphia, New Orleans and San Francisco, that have announced plans to bring low-cost, broadband wireless access to their citizens and businesses.

"I wouldn't be surprised if you see it in September or October of this year," said a source close to the project.

Mayor David Miller will join Toronto Hydro executives on Tuesday to officially announce the initiative, which will be the largest of its kind ever undertaken in Canada and could undermine commercial product offerings from Rogers Wireless, Telus Mobility and Bell Mobility.

"I've heard that Ted Rogers is not very happy," said the source, referring to the founder of Toronto-based Rogers Communications Inc., parent company of Rogers Wireless, the country's largest mobile phone provider.

So-called municipal Wi-Fi, which blankets entire cities with the same wireless network technology found in many homes and small businesses, makes broadband access virtually ubiquitous and gives municipalities a way of generating revenue while offering affordable high-speed Internet access to low-income persons and neighbourhoods.

It also gives cities a way to attract tourists and business professionals, provides local police with better access to law enforcement databases while on the road, and helps city officials remotely monitor parking meters and other automated services. Toronto Hydro might also choose to sell a wholesale version of the service to other service providers.

In Ontario, where smart meters have been mandated, electrical utilities are looking at various telecommunications technologies for retrieving data from people's homes and businesses for time-of-day billing purposes.

Sources say Toronto Hydro has decided to support its smart meter plan using Wi-Fi technology, which can be accessed by any properly equipped laptop or handheld computing device.

Brian Sharwood, a telecom analyst with the Seaboard Group in Toronto, said it makes sense for a utility to recoup the cost of supporting smart meters by also selling wireless broadband services. "In a way that's the excuse to do all of this," he said. "You're going to run it past a lot of people anyway."

He said Canada's largest municipal electrical utility, which last year purchased Toronto's street light system for $60 million, will likely install the necessary wireless transmitters and receivers atop every fourth or fifth lamp post as a way to blanket the city with coverage -- what the industry describes as "wireless mesh networking."

Several companies offer the technology, including Kanata, Ont.-based BelAir Networks and Brampton-based Nortel Networks. Utilities in Hamilton and Sault Ste. Marie are pursuing similar Wi-Fi strategies for their respective smart meter programs.

Municipal Wi-Fi projects aren't without controversy. In the United States, major wireless carriers say municipalities have no experience selling consumer services and are abusing their monopoly over taxpayers' funds. They also fear that their own Wi-Fi services, increasingly offered in airports, restaurants, coffee shops and hotels, will be undercut when it comes to price.

But municipalities argue that competition is healthy and that blanketing communities with low-cost broadband access helps bridge the digital divide.

The announcement Tuesday by Toronto Hydro will follow VIA Rail Canada's decision to begin offering Wi-Fi service on all its trains between Windsor and Quebec City over the course of the year.

From the Acknowledgement and Introductions sections of the Manifesto (available at the Chiefs of Ontario web site at http://www.chiefs-of-ontario.org/education/manifesto.html)

The Manifesto was envisioned by the Ontario First Nations Chiefs-in-Assembly as a means of providing a foundation for change in First Nations education. The Chiefs expressed a vision of future negotiations based on a broad agenda, one that draws from a readily accessible and complete menu, including the history of relations, sovereignty and jurisdiction, Treaties, Aboriginal rights, unique philosophies and world views, Crown obligations, western and First Nations techniques and standards of education and the access and control of a fair share of First Nations’ own resources.

The Manifesto project is unique in ensuring that the primary writers and researchers are all First Nations peoples, and comprise the finest leaders, visionaries and practitioners in First Nations education.

The Manifesto was developed according to a well developed and logical methodology. Parent and educator focus groups were held in four regions of Ontario. Twenty-four writers produced distinct papers according to research framework designed to give Chiefs and their negotiators easy access to an orderly and complete picture of every aspect of education. The chapters of the Manifesto range from philosophy and history, to early childhood education and funding formulas, and every other aspect of education. There is an attempt to be as positive and forward-looking as possible. However, it also condemns the Federal Government for its failure on a grand scale to provide the minimum education to First Nations that others in Ontario have enjoyed for generations. It calls upon the Crown, once again, to live up to its obligations.

The Manifesto is a major milestone for First Nations in Ontario. It expresses the fundamental importance - and indeed the urgency – of First Nations to truly control and to have exclusive jurisdiction over the education of each child. Every aspect of First Nations well being and the full enjoyment of basic human rights is linked to a culturally appropriate and complete education. The uniqueness and beauty of the values of First Nations ancestors must not be lost. The future existence of First Nations as distinct peoples on Turtle Island depends upon it.

The New Agenda: A Manifesto For First Nations Education in Ontario

1. Manifesto Cover Page PDF

2. Manifesto Table of Contents  WORD DOC

3. Manifesto Acknowledgements  WORD DOC

4. Manifesto Introduction WORD DOC

5. A History of First Nations Education WORD DOC

6. First Nations Education Philosophy WORD DOC

7. Key Elements of Quality First Nations Education Systems WORD DOC

8. First Nations Affective-Effective Education WORD DOC

9. Manifesto Overview – A Principled Examination of FN Education Renewal WORD DOC

10. Education Governance WORD DOC

11. Review of INAC Funding for FN Schools WORD DOC

12. First Nations Languages Education WORD DOC

13. First Nations Post Secondary Education WORD DOC

14. First Nations Curriculum WORD DOC

15. First Nations Teacher Education WORD DOC

16. First Nations Second Level Services WORD DOC

17. First Nations Alternative Education WORD DOC

18. First Nations Literacy in Ontario WORD DOC

19. First Nations Early Childhood Education WORD DOC

20. Engaging First Nations Parents in Education WORD DOC

21. Parental Engagement Appendix 1 WORD DOC

22. Manifesto Annotated Bibliography WORD DOC

The First Nations SchoolNet program's Quebec Regional Management Organization recently posted its third publication of First Nation schools ICT success stories. Coordinated by the First Nations Education Council out of Wendake First Nation, the Quebec RMO is working with the K-Net team to develop and support innovative ICT applications in First Nation schools across the province. The series of success stories highlight the investments being made by the schools, the communities, regional organizations and Industry Canada in supporting these developments.

Schoolnet Success Stories Volume #3 The FNEC is pleased to present the third publication in a series titled “SchoolNet Success Stories”. The FNEC continues to receive great reviews from First Nations organizations, federal ministries, and other agencies recognizing the efforts of both the communities and the FNEC in producing these publications.   Click here to download the file     Schoolnet Success Stories Volume #2 The FNEC is pleased to present our second publication in a series titled “SchoolNet Success Stories”. The purpose of this publication is to provide a summary from the educational perspective of what First Nations communities are doing with ICT and the support they receive from the First Nations SchoolNet program. We hope readers enjoy learning about the levels of ICT innovation and integration that are occurring in band-managed schools not only in the Quebec region, but across Canada as well.   Click here to download the file

Schoolnet Success Stories Volume #1 The FNEC is delighted to present the first volume of success stories reflecting community accomplishments in Information Communications Technologies (ICT).   Click here to download the file

On Tuesday March 7th at 3pm EST / 2pm CST, Dr. Pirjo Vaittinen from the University of Tampere, Finland will conduct an on-line seminar with teaching professionals across Ontario's far north.

She will provide a thirty minute overview of her research on teaching and learning language and literacy in the Finnish school system.  Following her presentation and responses will be made by Darrin Potter, principal of the Keewaytinook Internet High School in Balmertown. Joining Darrin will be Roy Morris and Sherry Mamakwa of the Kwayaciiwin Educational Resource Centre in Sioux Lookout.

A question and answer period will follow with directors of education, principals andteachers working in First Nations schools in remote and isolated communities in Ontarios's far north.

Workshop participants will discuss whether best practices and lessons learned in Finland have an application in Ontario's far north. The session will be streamed and archived for those unable to participate "live."

The on-line workshop is hosted by the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Research Institute (KORI - http://research.knet.ca), the research arm of Keewaytinook Okimakanak, one of NAN's six tribal councils serving First Nations in Ontario's far north.

Confirmed videoconferencing sites include Thunder Bay, Sioux Lookout, Balmertown, Keewaywin and Weagamow First Nation. KO is the leader of First Nations connectivity and telecommications in Canada. K-NET Services, the telecommunications department of KO facilitates IP videoconferencing in over 80 communities in Ontario and across Canada.

For more information or to find out how to participate on-line, email wesleymckay@knet.ca at KORI.

NAN will host a three day conference focused on the importance of maintaining a healthy family structure March 7th through 9th at Redwood Park Church, Thunder Bay, ON. 

Keynote and guest speakers at the forum will include Rev. Shianne Eaglehart, a world renowned healing professional with over 20 years experience and the Honourable James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

This three-day conference will include workshops and entertainment featuring: Waneek Miller, Olympic medalist; Fresh I.E., Grammy nominee; and, the Jody Brown Indian Family, International Recording Artists.

For More Info see the NAN website:

to see the poster click here:

Tories to create aboriginal school boards: 'There's no school system': Native-run boards to be 'accountable,' Prentice says

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OTTAWA - The Conservative government is set to overhaul aboriginal education in Canada by introducing native-run school boards that would be accountable for the $1.2-billion in federal money spent on the country's 140,000 on-reserve children.

The Liberal government was heavily criticized by the Auditor-General and the Conservatives when they were in opposition for simply handing over the cash to First Nation band councils without any measure of accountability or educational performance standards.

Auditor-General Sheila Fraser said high school completion rates of around 41% would take 28 years to reach national Canadian rates of nearly 70%.

Ms. Fraser said the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs had no idea whether it was spending too much or too little and was equally in the dark about results achieved by children on reserves.

Jim Prentice, the new Indian Affairs Minister, said in an interview yesterday part of the problem has been that his department has acted as a funding agent without setting educational standards.

"What's happened is we've evolved from the old residential school system to a funding arrangement where there is no school system. It's every school for itself, operating according to its own rules and standards," he said. "[But] I don't accept that we simply flow the money through to 615 First Nations with no system, either as to their financial accountability or education outcome accountability."

Mr. Prentice said he intends to bring forward a First Nations Education Act that would prescribe the same rights for aboriginal children as those that are enshrined for other Canadian children in provincial school acts -- the right of a child to get a defined quality of education; curriculum requirements; classroom sizes; teaching certificate requirements, and so on.

He said he has already held discussions with First Nation chiefs in Alberta and has had a good response. In Alberta, aboriginal school boards would be set up along treaty boundary lines, which would result in three boards.

British Columbia would have a different system of aggregation. He said both provincial governments have shown a "high level of interest."

"I hope other provinces see the merit of this and begin to evolve in this direction."

Mr. Prentice said he believed First Nations leaders would be excited about the opportunity to exercise authority over a system that could match provincial standards, while protecting their own cultural and linguistic sensibilities.

Phil Fontaine, the Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, gave the government's plan a cautious welcome.

"Aggregating communities under one school authority is a good option, provided the school authority or board has the resources and capacity to deliver good education programs to kids. If the money isn't there, all these good ideas will fail, and I don't think anyone wants to see that."

The Conservatives, in their election platform, committed to the goals of the Kelowna conference on aboriginal affairs last November, which aimed to close the high school graduation gap by 2016.

"Obviously what this requires is a willingness on the part of aboriginal Canadians to breathe life into the educational commitments from Kelowna," said Mr. Prentice.

"How important is this? After issues of basic things like water service and so on, I think the whole subject of First Nation education is the most important task at hand. Everything else flows from having well-educated children."

Mr. Fontaine said major reforms will be needed if Canada is to hit its Kelowna targets.

"There is no question that there needs to be major changes. But one of those major changes has to be greater control by First Nations."

He said he was "quite encouraged" by his conversations with Mr. Prentice, who, he said, "has not turned his back on Kelowna."

The British Columbia Connectivity Co-Operative is hosting a petition in favour of the CRTC's recent decision to use deferral account funds to enhance broadband infrastructure in remote and rural communities and access to telecommunications for persons with disabilities.

This is a good thing, and people in these remote and rural communities need help, badly.

Please sign the petition at www.petitiononline.com/BC3/

(Please forward this on to friends, colleagues and other lists as you see fit to get as many people as possible involved).

On February 16, 2006 the CRTC announced their decision to provide up to $650 million for broadband development in rural and remote communities, and for persons with disabilities.

The CRTC backgrounder can be found at http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/NEWS/RELEASES/2006/r060216.htm

The decision itself is available at http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2006/dt2006-9.htm

Since then a number of consumer advocacy groups lead by urban media "sources" have expressed dissent to the decision, stating that the "over-charges" should be "refunded" to consumers instead of used to support infrastructure development in remote and rural communities. Please consider completing their online survey that can be found at:
http://www.piac.ca/survey/crtc_deferral_account_what_consumers_want

The British Columbia Connectivity Co-Operative has started a petition supporting the CRTC's decision.

If you support this decision, please sign the petition to voice your support at http://www.petitiononline.com/BC3

"The availability of broadband services is critical to the social and economic development of rural and remote communities. Targeted action is required to ensure that these communities will have reliable and affordable access to these services. Broadband services have taken on increased importance in health, education, business, government, and communications to the point where these services are now as important as basic telecommunications, and arguably more important to those in rural and remote areas. Furthermore, the provision of broadband access is critically important to lower barriers that rural and remote communities have to accessing the new networked economy. If we do not assist these communities now, they will fall further behind the urban areas and only create a larger problem later. 26% of the Canadian workforce lives outside the major areas and 40% of the natural resource exports are generated in these areas as well. This economic engine must not be allowed to fail."

Broadband is essential to our economy as a whole, and for rural and remote social and economic development.

Matthew Asham
British Columbia Wireless Network Society
www.bcwireless.net
+1 604 484 5289 x1006

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Topic Link: https://www.bcwireless.net/users/view.post.php?id=429&tid=429

To adjust your notification/subscription settings, login to: https://www.bcwireless.net/users/groups.prefs.php?grpid=62  

The URL for this group is: https://www.bcwireless.net/users/groups.php?id=62

Brian Walmark (KORI Coordinator - http://research.knet.ca) and Brian Beaton (K-Net Coordinator) participated in the fourth CRACIN (http://cracin.ca) gathering that is being held at the University of Toronto, March 3-5, 2006. The workshop entitled, "Integrating Research for Sustaining Community Networking Initiatives" is being hosted by the Faculty of Information Studies at the University of Toronto. A video conferencing connection between K-Net and UofT provided the opportunity for the K-Net participation.

Workshop Rationale and Objectives:

The objective of the CRACIN project is systematically to document and assess the benefits of community-based information and communication technology (ICT) initiatives in Canada in terms of their contributions to local learning, socio-economic development, and civic participation. With the progress made by its various case study and thematic study teams, CRACIN is well along the way of achieving this goal. However, as our research goes forward, the need to move beyond descriptions of local circumstances and understandings of developments within specific contexts towards more general observations, insights and conclusions drawn from the case studies becomes both possible and necessary. CRACIN is now at the stage of beginning to synthesize and integrate findings across our case studies, including lessons learned.

The central purpose of the 4th CRACIN Workshop is to report on the research of the various CRACIN studies (case studies and thematic studies) within an emerging integrative framework. The Workshop will bring together academic, community and government members, along with graduate student researchers and a handful of invited experts, to present and discuss the results of CRACIN’s on-going research in the context of a series of integrative research themes and questions designed to generate broader findings and conclusions regarding the benefits of community networking.

Workshop Agenda

Friday, March 3

9:00–9:30 Welcome and Introductions (Andrew Clement)

9:30–10:30 Roundtable on Analytical Frameworks for Community Informatics Research (Chair: Michael Gurstein)

In the context of on-rushing globalization and economic rationalization the role of the “local” and of primary ties such as those of family and community are being put increasingly into question. The significance of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) both as generators of and as possible means to respond to these challenges is of increasing interest. Community Informatics (CI) has emerged as both a field of academic research and as the basis for an ICT-enabled practice within this larger context of both interpreting and responding to the dilemmas of effective action and effective use in an Information Society. This Roundtable will explore the issues presented by these challenges and whether and how Community Informatics provides a conceptual framework for these responses and including whether, how and from what sources CI might develop or synthesize theory or theories for deepening interpretation and framing effective use in this domain.

Panelists:

• Ann Bishop, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Bill McIver, Institute for Information Technology, National Research Council

Respondents:

• Andrew Clement, Faculty of Information Studies, University of Toronto
• Leslie Regan Shade, Communication Studies, Concordia University

Background paper:

• Gurstein, Michael (2005) “Some Notes Towards an Integrative Research Agenda and Community Informatics Theory,” CRACIN Working Paper No. 13, February 2006. http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1123007

Supplementary materials:

• McIver, Bill (2003) “Community Informatics for the Information Society,” in Bruce Girard and Sean O’Siochru, eds., Communicating in the Information Society, Geneva: United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), 33-63. http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1124937
• O’Neil, Dara (2002) “Assessing community informatics: a review of methodological approaches for evaluating community networks and community technology centers,” Internet Research: Electronic Networking Applications and Policy, Volume 12, Number 1, 76-102.
  http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/d787010/O%27Neil.pdf
• CRACIN Executive (2006) CRACIN Integrative Framework Document, Draft, February 2006.

10:45–11:45 Rural & Remote Broadband (Chair: Michael Gurstein)

A primary framework for understanding the dynamic of Canadian political economy and economic geography is that of the relationships between centre and periphery, north and south, rural and urban. These relationships are often understood as ones of economic advantage, political power, development / under-development and so on. Based on the experiences with the CRACIN “rural” and “remote” case studies, this panel will explore how and whether ICTs in general and broadband in particular impact on these dynamics and whether technology may in fact displace the significance of these dynamics, replacing them for example with parallel statics of an ongoing and deepening ‘digital divide’. The panel will also explore the possible use of an ‘effective use’ approach to enabling those in remote and rural areas taking advantage of a broadband infrastructure.

Panelists:

• Marco Adria, Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta
• Adam Fiser, Information Studies, University of Toronto “Everyone Together: K-Net as an Enabler of ICT Infrastructure in the Sioux Lookout District”
• Frank Winter, Information Studies, University of Toronto, "Reverse English: KCDC's Strategy for Rural and Remote Broadband"
• Katrina Peddle, Communication Studies, Concordia University, “Rural Community-owned Infrastructure; the Role of Governance”

Respondents:

• Brian Beaton, K-Net

Supplementary materials:

• Dutton, William H. Sharon E. Gillett, Lee W. McKinght, Malcolm Peltu (2003) “Broadband Internet: The Power to Reconfigure Access.” Forum Discussion Paper No. 1, Oxford Internet Institute, August 2003. http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/d785536/Dutton,%20Gillett,%20McKnight,%20%26%20Peltu.pdf
• Fiser, Adam, Andrew Clement and Brian Walmark (2006) "The K-Net Development Process: A Model for First Nations Broadband Community Networks." CRACIN Working Paper No. 14, Feb. 2006. Based on a paper presented to the Telecommunications Policy Research Conference (TPRC) September 23 to 25, 2005, held at George Mason University School of Law in Arlington, Va. http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1124914
• Papacharissi, Zizi and Anna Zaks (2006) “Is broadband the future? An analysis of Broadband technology potential and diffusion,” Telecommunications Policy (30)1 February:64-75, http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/d1117309/papacharissi_zaks.pdf

11:45–12:45 Gender and Youth Perspectives on Community Networking (Chair: Leslie Regan Shade)

This panel will focus on gender and youth issues. Bell will present preliminary research on information about youth participation in various CRACIN case study sites, and highlight some potential areas for further research. Peddle and Bell will present recent work that applies feminist perspectives on technology studies to the concepts of community and publics with the goal of illuminating the central role of space in this relationship. Shade will provide an overview of how gender has been integrated into Canadian ICT policy and suggest some areas for future research with respect to gender analysis of CRACIN case site studies.

Panelists:

• Brandi Bell, Communication Studies, Concordia University, “Integrative Theme Report on Youth and Community Networking”
• Katrina Peddle, Communication Studies, Concordia University, “Gender and Community Informatics: Rethinking the Feminization of Community”
• Leslie Regan Shade, Communication Studies, Concordia University, “Stirring Up the Pot? Integrating Gender into Policy, Practice and Evaluation”

Respondent:

• Ann Bishop, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Backgrounder:

• Bell, Brandi (2006) “Integrative Theme Report: Youth and Community Networking,” Prepared by Brandi Bell for the CRACIN Workshop #4, Toronto, March 3-5, 2006, http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1123007
• Shade, Leslie Regan (2006) “Stirring Up the Pot? Integrating Gender into ICT Policy, Practice and Evaluation,” CRACIN Working Paper No. 12, Feb. 2006, http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1123007

Supplementary materials:

• Bishop, Ann Peterson, Imani Bazzell, Bharat Mehra, and Cynthia Smith (2001) “Afya: Social and Digital Technologies that Reach across the Digital Divide,” First Monday, Volume 6, Number 4, April 2, http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue6_4/bishop/index.html
• Oudshoorn, Nelly, Els Rommes, and Marcelle Stienstra. (Winter 2004). Configuring the User as Everybody: Gender and Design Cultures in Information and Communication Technologies. Science, Technology and Human Values 29(1): 30-63. http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1124856
• Page, Margaret and Anne Scott (2001) “Change agency and women's learning: new practices in community informatics”, Information, Communication and Society, 4(4): 528-559. http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1124856
• Webb, Sue and Kate Jones (2004) “Women Connect: Lessons from Practice” The Journal of Community Informatics, 1(1): 89-117. http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1124856

2:15–3:15 Community Learning (Chair: Andrew Clement)

‘Learning’ has been a perennial feature of Knowledge-based Economy / Society discussions for decades. Most usually under the term ‘life long learning,’ it has figured prominently in government policies promoting the widespread adoption of ICTs. But the meanings given to learning vary widely among the various parties involved, most notably community based organizations attempting to draw upon the available funding programs to address the complex, dynamic and situated learning needs of their diverse constituencies. This session explores the linkages (and tensions) between the policy language around ‘community learning’ and the practices in developing community learning networks. It is based most directly on the ongoing CRACIN research in three leading exemplars – Keewatin Career Development Corporation (KCDC), K-Net Services, and St. Christopher House.

Panelists:

• Adam Fiser, Information Studies, University of Toronto, “Lifelong Learning in the Little North: K-Net as an Enabler of Human Resources Development in the Sioux Lookout District”
• Susan MacDonald, Project Administrator, CRACIN, “Learning to Ride a Bicycle While Building It: St. Christopher House and its CLN Project”
• Frank Winter, Information Studies, University of Toronto, “Learning, Lifelong Learning, Community Learning and Community Learning Networks in Canada”

Respondents:

• Ann Bishop, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Rob Mastin, Office of Learning Technologies, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
• Judi Snively, St. Christopher House

Backgrounder:

• Adam Fiser (2006) “Lifelong Learning in the Little North: K-Net as an Enabler of Human Resources Development in the Sioux Lookout District,” http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1123007
• Susan MacDonald, (2006) “Learning to Ride a Bicycle While Building It: St. Christopher House and its CLN Project,” http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1123007
• Frank Winter, (2006) “Learning, Lifelong Learning, Community Learning and Community Learning Networks in Canada,” http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1123007

Supplementary materials:

• Fiser, Adam, Andrew Clement and Brian Walmark (2006) "The K-Net Development Process: A Model for First Nations Broadband Community Networks." CRACIN Working Paper No. 14, Feb. 2006. Based on a paper presented to the Telecommunications Policy Research Conference (TPRC) September 23 to 25, 2005, held at George Mason University School of Law in Arlington, Va. http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1124907
• Luke, Robert, Andrew Clement, Randall Terada, et al (2004) “The promise and perils of a participatory approach to developing an open source community learning network,” Proceedings of the Participatory Design Conference 2004: Artful integration: Interweaving Media, Materials, and Practices, Toronto, 11­19, 2004. http://delivery.acm.org/10.1145/1020000/1011873/p11-luke.pdf?key1=1011873&key2=9277601411&coll=GUIDE&dl=GUIDE&CFID=69953055&CFTOKEN=527719

3:30–4:30 Breakout Discussions

• Rural & Remote Broadband (Gurstein)
• Youth and Gender (Shade)
• Community Learning (Clement)

4:30–5:00 Breakout Reports & Wrap-up (Chair: Longford)

Saturday, March 4

9:00–10:30 Community Innovation and Emerging Technologies: Open Source Software & Community WiFi (Chairs: Andrew Clement & Serge Proulx)

Open Source Panel:

• Stéphane Couture, LabCMO / Université du Québec à Montréal “Free Software and Community Groups in Quebec”

Respondents:

• Randall Terada, Operation Springboard

Community WiFi Panel:

• Alison Powell, Communication Studies, Concordia University
• Matt Wong, Information Studies, University of Toronto, “Marking, Locating, and Designing for Public and Private Wireless Internet Spaces”

Respondents:

• Michael Lenczner, Ile Sans Fil
• Steve Wilton, Wireless Nomad
• Prabir Neogi, E-Commerce Branch, Industry Canada
• Bill McIver, Institute for Information Technology, National Research Council

Background Paper on Open Source Software:

• Couture, Stéphane and Serge Proulx (2006) “Free Software and Community Groups in Quebec” http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1123007

Supplementary materials on Open Source software:

• Coleman, Biella, “The (copylefted) Source Code for the Ethical Production of Information, http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1124888
• Luke, Robert, Andrew Clement, Randall Terada, et al (2004) “The promise and perils of a participatory approach to developing an open source community learning network,” Proceedings of the Participatory Design Conference 2004: Artful integration: Interweaving Media, Materials, and Practices, Toronto, 11­19, 2004. http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1124888

Backgrounder on community WiFi:

• Powell, Alison and Matt Wong (2006) “Marking, Locating, and Designing for Public and Private Wireless Internet Spaces,” http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1123007

Supplementary materials on community WiFi:

• Powell, Alison and Leslie Regan Shade (2006) "Going Wi-Fi in Canada: Municipal and Community Initiatives,” Government Information Quarterly, 23 (2006) forthcoming. http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1124881
• Sandvig, C., (2004). “An initial assessment of cooperative action in Wi-Fi networking,” Telecommunications Policy, 28 (2004) 579-602. http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1124881
• Wong, Matt (2005) “Community Wireless: Policy and Regulation Perspectives,” http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1124881
• Wong, Matt (2005) “Deploying Wireless Broadband in the Annex: Feasability Study,”
  http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1124881

10:45-12:15 Civic Participation (Chairs: Moll)

Panelists:

• Diane Dechief, Communication Studies, Concordia University, “Recent Immigrants as an “Alternate Civic Core”: Providing Internet Services, Gaining “Canadian Experiences”
• Ken Werbin, Communication Studies, Concordia University, “Where is the 'Community' in 'Community-Networking Initiatives'? Stories from the 'Third-spaces' of 'Connecting Canadians'
• Alison Powell, Communication Studies, Concordia University, “Wireless Community Networks and Open-Source software development as emerging forms of civic engagement”
• Nicolas Lecomte, LabCMO / LICEF & Université du Québec à Montréal, “Communautique's e-government consultations: specific issues for civic participation with ICTs?”

Respondents:

• Bill McIver, National Research Council
• Ariane Pelletier, Communautique

Backgrounder:

• Dechief, Diane (2005) “Recent Immigrants as an "Alternate Civic Core": How VCN provides Internet services and Canadian experiences,” CRACIN Working Paper No. 2005-8.
  http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/research/iprp/cracin/publications/pdfs/WorkingPapers/CRACIN%20Working%20Paper%20No%208.pdf
• Powell, Alison (2006) “Wireless Community Networks and Open-Source software development as emerging forms of civic engagement,” http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/1123007
• Ken Werbin (2006) Where is the 'Community' in Community Networking?: Stories from the 'Third Spaces' of 'Connecting Canadians',” CRACIN Working Paper No. 11, http://www.fis.utoronto.ca/bscw/bscw.cgi/0/991614

Supplementary materials:

• Longford, Graham (2005) “Community Networking and Civic Participation: A Canadian Perspective,” in Geoff Erwin, Wallace Taylor, Andy Bytheway, and Corrie Strumpfer, eds., CIRN 2005: 2nd Annual Conference of the Community Informatics Research Network – Proceedings, Cape Town: CIRN 2005 Conference Committee, 355-376.
• Kavanaugh, Andrea and Scott Patterson (2002) “The Impact of Community Networks on Social Capital and Community Involvement in Blacksburg,” in Barry Wellman and Caroline Haythornthwaite, eds., The Internet in Everyday Life, London: Blackwell Publishing, 325-344.
• Pigg, Kenneth and Laura Duffy Crank (2004). “Building Community Social Capital: The Potential and Promise of Information and Communication Technologies,” The Journal of Community Informatics, Vol. 1, Issue 1, 58-73. http://www.ci-journal.net/viewarticle.php?id=15&layout=abstract

Working Lunch for CRACIN Executive & Government Partners – to discusses possible processes whereby CRACIN research findings/recommendations can feed into federal policy development and program design related to community-based ICT initiatives – Rm 212

2:00-3:15 Roundtable on Sustainability & Policy (Chair: Longford)

The purpose of the roundtable discussion on sustainability is to focus CRACIN members’ attention on the issue of sustainability and to facilitate group dialogue and reflection on the ingredients of sustainable community networking, with a view to identifying the various approaches to sustainability represented across the case studies and to formulating a set of policy recommendations. The roundtable will begin with presentations by community partners in response to the following questions:

1. What are the key ingredients of your organization’s ability to sustain itself? (For example: funding/revenue; governance; people; skill sets, etc.)
2. What sustainability challenges does your organization currently face? How can these be overcome?
3. What role does public policy play in sustaining your organization and its activities? What policy changes would assist your organization in sustaining itself and its activities?

Panelists:

• Steve Chan (Vancouver Community Network)
• Brian Beaton (K-Net)
• Judi Snively (St. Christopher House)
• Michael Lenczner (Ile Sans Fil)
• Nicolas Lecomte & Ariane Pelletier (Communautique)
• Katrina Peddle (Concordia University)

Resources & Background Material:

• Journal of Community Informatics, Special Issue on Sustainability and Community ICTs, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2005, http://www.ci-journal.net/viewissue.php?id=4

3:30-4:30 Breakout Discussions

• Community Innovation (Clement & Proulx)
• Civic Participation (Longford)
• Sustainability (Moll)

4:30-5:00 Breakout Reports and Wrap-up (Chair: Leslie Regan Shade)

Sunday, March 5

9:00-10:30 Wrap-up and Next Steps (Chairs: Clement, Gurstein, Moll & Shade)

10:45-12:00 CRACIN Core Research Team Business Meeting

From http://www.cbc.ca/north/story/handley-afn-03032006.html

Handley grilled by N.W.T. native leaders
Last Updated: Mar 3 2006

Northwest Territories Premier Joe Handley received a rough reception at the regional Assembly of First Nations meeting in N'Dilo, N.W.T., on Thursday, with a number of chiefs taking shots at the territorial government and its priorities in dealing with aboriginal people.  

Handley updated the regional AFN chiefs on the status of agreements, such as resource revenue sharing and devolution.

But a number of chiefs wanted to talk about other issues.

"Your government talks about resources and revenue and devolution and so forth, but I think sometimes your government forgets whose land this really is," said Liidlii Kue Chief Keyna Norwegian.

"Who are the people that lived here before the territorial government was even set up?"

Norwegian also accused the premier of undermining Dehcho efforts to cut a deal with Imperial Oil over pipeline benefits and access. She asked Handley why there was no mention of the need for agreements with aboriginal people in a "letter of comfort" he sent to the Mackenzie Gas Project last fall.

The letter assured Imperial that royalty rates and taxes are not likely to increase should a devolution agreement be reached with Ottawa.

"Your letter didn't help us at all, it just supported them and it kind of gave them a feeling that there was no need for or urgency to really sign or negotiate proper access and benefits," she said.

But Handley says the letter only dealt with issues controlled by the territorial government, and access agreements are privately signed between aboriginal organizations and the pipeline proponent.

The Dehcho people have been unable to reach an agreement with Imperial Oil on an access and benefits agreement for the pipeline project (see exchange below - Imperial boss feels the heat).

Settle land claims, chief urges

Dettah Chief Peter Liske of the Yellowknives Dene says Handley's government should focus on settling unresolved land claims.

"If we resolve the Akaitcho process, I think devolution and resource revenue will happen," he says. "And if he concentrated on Dehcho, he wouldn't be having any problems with Mackenzie Valley pipeline."

Handley says his government is elected by all people in the territory, not just aboriginals.

"We are very much a public government and try to represent everyone and try to achieve that balance," said Handley in response to the criticism. "Sometimes it's very difficult to achieve it but it is a balance that we have to continue to deal with every day."

Handley says he will sit down with leaders to further discuss their concerns sometime Friday.

Imperial boss feels the heat

The head of Imperial's Mackenzie Valley Gas Project, Randy Ottenbrite, told N.W.T. chiefs the proposed $7-billion pipeline is well on its way to become a reality.

But Chief Keyna Norwegian demanded to know how he could say that when the company has yet make an acceptable offer for access to Dehcho lands.

"My concern is you are moving forward and not respecting us as the Dene people of the land," she said.

"Those are the things that should have been priorities – making sure you have access to people's lands before you spend millions of dollars on joint review panels and environmental assessments."

Ottenbrite refused to discuss the issue, suggesting Norwegian raise her concerns at the Joint Review Panel public hearings.

"My sense is that that discussion is best left not at this particular forum, but thank you for your comments," he said.

Grand Chief of the Dene Nation Noeline Villebrun says the Dene have good reason to distrust promises of fair treatment.

"There was an agreement 106 years ago that we would share the land and resources and Dene people have lived up to that agreement but the government and industry has not," she said.

Ottenbrite told the chiefs that several access agreements have been successfully reached in other regions and negotiations with the Dehcho are on-going.

From http://www.cbc.ca/ottawa/story/ot-cards20060303.html 

Aboriginal centre hands out legal advice
Last Updated: March 3, 2006 

An aboriginal health centre is trying to educate its clients on the racism they say is plaguing the Ottawa police by handing out business cards outlining their rights if stopped by police.

To combat what they call a longtime problem of racial profiling, the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health, located in Vanier, requested a legal aid organization make up the cards, which are the size of two busines cards folded over.

Two weeks ago, counsellors began handing them out to clients.

SERIES: Beyond the Badge: Investigating the Ottawa Police Service

Excerpt from card:

• Officer, if I am under arrest or being detained please tell me so.
• If I am free to go please tell me so.
• If I am not free to go please tell me why.
• I wish to exercise all my legal rights including my right to silence and my right to speak to a lawyer before I say anything to you.
• I do not consent to being searched.
• I wish to be released without delay.
• Please do not ask me questions because I will not willingly talk to you until I speak to a lawyer.
• Thank you for respecting my rights.  

"We want our people to know that they do have rights, that no matter what level they may presently occupy in society they are to be treated with respect, dignity and they are not there for someone to push and intimidate," said Dan Printup, manager of the centre's homelessness program.

The idea was a response to complaints from young people saying they'd been detained on the streets and pulled over in their cars for no apparent reason.

"It's hard to beat our stereotype for natives. Our stereotype growing up was drunk, lazy, welfare, violent, uneducated," said Printup. "How do you beat 10 generations of that way of thinking? It's hard for them to see us as equals."

While Deputy Chief Larry Hill would neither deny nor confirm racial profiling, he acknowledged a growing discontent in the First Nations community. But he stressed that officers still have a job to perform.

"It's a very fine line between what people perceive as 'My rights are being violated,' versus our very real attempts to quell crime in certain areas," said Hill.

He says the police force is searching for ways to bridge the gap between First Nations people and the police, but Hill said the two sides have been at odds for so long it may be hard to close the gap.