Kuh-ke-nah Network (K-Net) - Canada

In brief, K-Net is a regional broadband network linking First Nations and their service organisations using video conferencing, IP telephony, online forums, e-mail, and other web-based communication tools. K-Net provides computer maintenance and support; help with operating and managing small computer businesses; a regional hardware and software helpdesk service; and online and face-to-face computer training programmes. The network supports the development of online applications that combine video, voice, and data services requiring broadband and high-speed connectivity solutions; the K-Net site details these and other efforts.

Central to this programme is the idea that K-Net is a tool: it only provides options that the people must decide how to use. The technologies challenge individuals, communities, leaders, regional organisations, and partners to find positive applications and opportunities. Organisers explain that the question of balance is important for aboriginal people, whose lives are shaped by local and cultural traditions and practices.

Centrally, this communication tool is meant to strengthen links among people, and between First Nation communities and the outside world. To this end, community members who have left the community because of sickness, schooling, or work can keep in touch with their community through videoconferencing, homepages with local news, and photos. The hope is that those who have left might find it easier to return, thanks to the access to information and connection to the "outside world" enabled by this technology. A key focus, naturally, is on members within the community who want to keep in touch with family members or to access other kinds of information and services. K-Net is set up to provide opportunities for community members to see what's going on in other areas and to stimulate ideas for new things they would like to pursue in own lives and communities.

K-Net services enable communication that is designed to meet particular development needs. To cite only a few

• Health: the services that provide telehealth and telepsychiatry are designed to give people in KO communities a broader range of health options. The idea is to use technology to make it easier for people, especially elders, to acquire quality medical care without the discomfort and expense of flying out of remote communities. Telediagnostics facilities are designed to ease the work of health care providers: according to organisers, local health workers have access to information sources, nurses can get specialised advice, and doctors find the technology a useful support rather than a replacement for their services.
• Education: until recently, in order to continue their education after Grade 8, KO children were forced to leave their families and communities to attend secondary school. For many young people, claim organisers, this process involved culture shock and a loss of social support, and often resulted in students quitting school. Now, youth have the option of attending Grades 9 and 10 online using the Keewaytinook Internet High school (KiHS). Programmes like SchoolNet are designed to help children and young people to acquire a computer literacy level; it is hoped that they will share these skills with their elders. K-Net's technologies allow people of all ages to participate in government programmes and online education.
• Economic development: new skills and jobs have been created at public access e-Centres in each community to support and maintain the network, and to provide services to different customers in the community. K-Net is also designed to allow a global audience to access the communities: These local handicrafts and eco-tourism initiatives celebrate traditional cultural expressions, but use modern means.

At the core of K-Net is a commitment to community-based planning/implementation and stakeholder engagement in ongoing management of services that are directed to community social and economic goals. Public-private partnerships have been an important ingredient. K-Net has been described as a "mediating organization" that works with, and on behalf of, communities to ensure that the services they receive are appropriate, technologically sound, and sustainable. Government services are a key customer for this aboriginally owned network - organisers say that the government benefits by being able to provide improved services to very remote populations at reasonable cost. A key private sector partnership is with Telesat Canada, which assists in delivering affordable broadband access and services to other remote First Nations communities across the country via C-band satellite.

K-Net and its partner organisations have also dedicated efforts to political lobbying, not only on behalf of KO communities, but also throughout many Nishnawbe Aski Nations (NAN) communities across northern Ontario. K-Net has played a role in shaping regulatory decisions of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission that determine the services that are made available to rural and remote communities.

Technology, Education, Health, Economic Development.

The KO communities are part of NAN, located in northern Ontario across an area roughly the size of France. NAN includes a total population of approximately 25,000 people, the majority of whom are aboriginal and live in remote communities with 300-900 inhabitants. Approximately 50% of the total population is under the age of 19 years; fewer than 4% is age 60 or older. Approximately 36% of the adult population are unemployed or are receiving some form of social assistance. High school completion rates are low, particularly for those 45 years of age or older. Forestry and mining activities are rapidly expanding intotraditional territories and tourism is a seasonal mainstay for the area, despite that fact that, for many communities, the only year-round access into or out of their area is by small airplane.

Organisers say that, thanks to K-Net, several of these communities have gone from having 1 phone for 400 people 4 years ago to accessing broadband services from individual homes today. Some of the northern communities have received access to the Internet via satellite without first having access to telephones.

In December 2003, K-Net Case Studies [PDF] were presented at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva. Based on firsthand accounts and using a sustainable livelihoods framework, the case studies attempt to capture some of the impacts that the introduction of K-Net's technical infrastructure and services have had on people's everyday lives. A multi-media version of the case studies, including several videoclip interviews and impact statement testimonials is available by clicking here. Spanish and French versions are forthcoming.