Digital Divides and the 'First Mile': Framing First Nations Broadband Development in Canada

• Published in: International Indigenous Policy Journal
• Main Authors: McMahon, Rob, Mr., O'Donnell, Susan, Dr., Smith, Richard, Dr., Walmark, Brian, Beaton, Brian, Simmonds, Jason, Dr.
• Format: Report
• Language: unknown
• Published: Scholarship@Western 2011
• Subjects: Broadband policy; Broadband networks; Community networks; First Nations issues; Digital Divide; Policy Frameworks; rural and remote broadband; Civic and Community Engagement; Communication Technology and New Media; Policy Design; Analysis; and Evaluation; Science and Technology Policy; Canada; First Nations
• Online Access: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/iipj/vol2/iss2/2; https://doi.org/10.18584/iipj.2011.2.2.2

Across Canada, rural and remote First Nations face a significant 'digital divide'. As self-determining autonomous nations in Canada, these communities are building broadband systems to deliver public services to their members and residents. To address this challenge, First Nations are working towards a variety of innovative, locally driven broadband development initiatives. This paper contributes a theoretical discussion that frames our understanding of these initiatives by drawing on the paradigm of the 'First Mile' (Paisley & Richardson, 1998). We argue that broadband development policy in Canada must be re-framed to address the specific needs of First Nations. The First Mile position foregrounds community-based involvement, control, and ownership: a consideration we suggest has particular resonance for First Nations. This is because it holds potential to move beyond the historical context of paternalistic, colonial-derived development policies, in the context of broadband systems development. We argue First Nations broadband projects offer on-the-ground examples of a First Mile approach, and call for more research in this area.