Fort McPherson (Oct 27/03) - Computers will soon be accessible to everyone in Fort McPherson.

The community was recently awarded $50,000 by the federal governments' Office of Learning Technologies fund to help start the Tetlit Zheh Community Learning Network.

The network is a new project being pursued by the Tetlit Gwich'in Council.

Hazel Nerysoo, a council member, is one of many people who has been working on the project over the past 18 months.

"(The Community Learning Network) will be a place where people can go online, take courses and do online learning," said Nerysoo.

The funding will be used to bring a consultant to host workshops and survey the needs and wishes of the community.

Nerysoo hopes to have a consultant hired by the beginning of November.

Nerysoo wants to see a dedicated space filled with computers and operated by a permanent specialist who can provide assistance to residents and service the computers.

Earlier this month Nerysoo was in Regina to attend the 2003 Prairie and Northern Regional Launch of Community Networks.

"There's so many success stories," she said, adding Nunavut has 17 community learning networks.

"They really gave me hope."

The council has until March 2004 to develop a proposal to send to the federal government for more funding.