b'SUCCESS STORYBell, Shaw and TELUS, he stresses,developing his own 100-foot tower de- while Klause has received offers to We are still managing to keep up andsign that is manufactured in Winnipeg.combine multiple times, the way he deliver state-of-the-art technology. ImOne of the things about our servicessees it, Voyageur is experimental and passionate about it. Were local, wereis we judge ourselves, how well weresomething he will always be working Canadian, were Indigenous and wedoing, based on how few phone callson. One of his shareholders is now have meaningful relationships with ourwe get for support, Klause notes. Sothe Manitoba Mtis Federation, and customers who trust us. my goal, when I look at the company,Klause plans to continue expanding Klauses dream for the future is to ob- Im always working on developing newinto Mtis communities, getting up tain federal funding for his plans of ahardware or solutions for the networkinto the Lake Winnipeg and Lake Man-northern Manitoba remote network ofthat will eliminate service calls.itoba areas. I foresee over the next 455 towers. He believes this networkthree, four years, Ill be continuing to of towers can be built in 36 monthsVoyageur Internet is now the onlybuild towers, continue to bring internet and solve the gap for all 15,000remaining independent internetto underserved communities and mak-homes spread across remote northernservice provider in the region, anding an impact, he concludes.communities. The internet is a road into a community, and theres lot of communities that dont have roads, he explains. Klause notes how natural technologyHelping our clientsis for his son. He carries a phone around with him, hes in a group chat with a dozen of his friends, Klause says. Theyre connected, theyre all talking and sharing. This is a normal part of life with young people. For Klause, internet connection in the North is not only social: It is staying a part of what the world is becoming.Voyageur Internet has been using their own profits to build out their network to around 20 rural municipalities in the Winnipeg and surrounding areas. But as Klause points out: Thats not remotethats rural. And bringing the technology that hes been developing his whole life into these remote north-ern communities requires investment. Klauses design was complete in 2017, but the federal government decided to fund larger groups. Klause says none of those networks have been com- Live the Good Lifepleted or even started in many cases. I look at it and say, now its 2023, six years later, which means that at theWe believe economic wellbeing is key to Mino Pimatisiwintime I wanted to build those networks, all those kids that were in kindergarten are now entering middle school, andGroup Pension & Benefits[for] the last five or six years theyveProperty & Casualty Insurancegrown up without access to the inter- Human Resources Consulting Servicesnet in the way that I envisioned it. Learning & Development ServicesTalent Acquisition ServicesLooking back on his accomplish- Group Benefit Administrationments, Klause is not one to rest on hisTruth and Reconciliation for Businesslaurels. I actually look and go, oh my god, more time has passed. I havent expanded out into those areas. ImTIPI-IMI Insurance Partnersbehind on my plans. But Voyageur Internet has remained a viable techNational Head Office: Suite 100 - 1075 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB R4G 0R8company for over 20 yearsa testa- Saskatoon Office: 160 - 217 Joseph Okemasis Dr., Saksatoon, SK S7N 3A8ment to their ability to stay relevant. InThe Pas Office: 314 Edwards Avenue, The Pas, MB, R9A 1K6that time, Klause expanded his originalTF: 1 (855) 266-TIPI (8474)network of 12 tower sites to now 65,Issue #1, 2024INDIGENOUS PROSPERITY 11'