Getting the NWT online
Program helps connect Northerners

Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 01/99) - Though people in all 33 NWT communities are getting increasingly Internet-literate, only seven communities have Internet service providers.

However, there are Department of Municipal and Community Affairs regional co-ordinators who work with Wire North in each region of the NWT who are providing support in order to get more people in small communities comfortable using the Net.

In Hay River, MACA's community development co-ordinator, Sabrina Broadhead, said she is working with the Deh Cho's community development co-ordinator, Ron Hardisty, in co-ordinating Wire North throughout both regions.

"Currently we have contractors Cascade Computers and Dome Productions out of Fort Smith," she said.

"We've been working with them to co-ordinate travel to communities in our region that don't currently have Internet service providers or computer services.

Bill Wade, who is the director of Dome Productions' educational technology centre said he has visited the Hay River Reserve, Fort Resolution, Wrigley, Jean Marie River, Nahanni Butte and Kakisa.

"This is community-needs driven. For each community we've done a community-needs assessment," he said.

"We've identified where we need to begin and often that's been entry level."

He said so far most of the training has provided an introduction to computer operating systems. Microsoft Office, Internet lessons and checking for Y2K compliancy are also on the curriculum.

MACA's Linda Hayden, who heads the entire Wire North project, said the project has four goals.

The first is to help communities connect to the Internet.

Second, she said the program aims to increase people's technical skills.

Third, MACA wants to co-ordinate efforts with other departments.

The final goal is to develop resources that communities can use.

Hayden said the program received $1 million in August 1998, which was to last until the end of March 2000.

That money was for the NWT and Nunavut and part of that initial $1 million went to the Nunavut government.

When the funding runs out, Hayden said MACA will find funds to continue the program.

"Our department believes that this work is important so we're still going to have a level of funding for next year," she said.

Hayden said the program helps give people opportunities in schooling, banking online, research, and access to various programs and services.

"The bottom line is we want everyone to have access to the technology and the skills to use it," she said.

"If you're living in Tsiigehtchic and you don't have a library then the Internet is a good place to go."

Hayden said there could be a conference in May to help people learn more about Wire North. People would come from around the North to discuss common problems in their communities.