b'TECHNOLOGYIndigenous and working in this capacity, INFORMATION DISCONNECT being in the communities, talking to the There is a misguided assumption that all members of Canadian society havepeople, meeting with leadership and access toand technical literacy aroundbroadband internet, and this onlydepartmentsI think thats the basic serves to exacerbate the connectivity gap further.groundwork for any relationship. We like face-to-face [communication] because The COVID-19 pandemic only served to accelerate and highlight this gapwe believe its important. in graphic detail. Slow, unreliable and unstable internet connectivity ended up segregating thousands of people, many Indigenous, during lockdowns.The Arrow fiber project will have a It created a second class of people unable to participate in an online world:profound impact on 18 Indigenous students unable to attend school, patients without access to medical care andcommunities in Alberta while simulta-workers unable to do their jobs, among other challenges. neously highlighting to observers the overall need to partner with Indigenous Download speeds in isolated communities range from 10 Mbps to 45 Mbps.communities on such projectsnot as To put this into perspective, download speeds in urban Alberta centres likea checkbox exercise, but in a real, Calgary or Edmonton from Shaw Communications are between 300 Mbpstangible way. Indigenous communities to 1.5 Gbps (gigabits per second)over 300 per cent higher than speeds incannot remain on the periphery of the isolated communities.countrys economy, and without reliable The Truth and Reconciliation Commission requires increased participation ofhigh-speed internet, they will not be able Indigenous peoples across the country in commerce and society, but withoutto make viable inroads. That should be the infrastructure to accomplish this, it remains an unachievable goal.a concern for all Canadians.A critical component to Canadas adherence to the United Nations DeclarationThere is infrastructure that cuts across our on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is access to high-quality broadbandcountry, and there isnt much of it that connectivity. Broadband connectivity can provide many critical benefitsdoesnt go through Indigenous and tradi-to Indigenous communities, including supporting self-determination andtional territories, Cory says. We have economic reconciliation by enabling Indigenous people to fully participate into be asking the question: What is the Canadas economy.role and the appropriate seat at the table Connectivity also allows Indigenous communities and governments to determinefor impacted communities? And how do their priorities and provide essential services, health care, commerce andthey have a say in that infrastructure? education to their members. Internet connectivity is also vital for IndigenousFor the Indigenous communities in people to share, preserve, develop and celebrate their culture, stay in touchAlberta who will soon be connected to with their communities and innovate in the digital economy. Poor connectivity inhigh-speed broadband internet, the part-Indigenous communities in Canada limits the ability of Indigenous governmentsnership between Arrow and CIB answers to provide necessary local services to their communities and engage in businessthat question.opportunities across sectors, including telecommunications. Given the harms created by a lack of connectivity, ensuring access to equitable and high-quality broadband connectivity in Indigenous communities throughout Canada is necessary to advance economic reconciliation and respond to several of the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Calls to Action.42A CCAB PUBLICATION2022'