Meet the Blackfoot Tech Council, Siksika Nation’s internet networking, computer and mobile device wrangling, software troubleshooting, password reset gurus who represent the far reaches of Siksika’s IT (information technologies) sector. Their ever-present (yet often behind-the-scenes) work has perhaps been more important than ever over the past yearand-a-half as the COVID-19 pandemic moved
programs and services online for safety, and to accommodate public health orders.
With more than 122 years of combined IT education and experience between them, these guys and gals have joined forces to connect Siksika Nation during a pandemic of isolation, using low tech solutions to provide high impact connectivity…and they’re only just getting started.
The group’s next order of business? Bringing high-speed broadband internet to every single home, business, facility (and square-inch!) on Siksika Nation, and become one of Canada’s first, First Nation-owned and operated fiber-tothe-premises networks.
The need to pursue high-speed broadband internet nowadays should be a thing of the past,
but it’s not. Despite being Canada’s second largest First Nation in both land base and population, Siksika Nation has some of the most inequitable internet access and speeds in the country. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) target for internet speeds for all homes and businesses in Canada is 50 Mbps for downloads and 10 Mbps for uploads. This basic service has been deemed a human right by the United Nations. In effect, it should be no problem to stream HD video or play multiplayer online games on multiple devices at the same time, download large files at
reasonably high speeds, or video call by Skype or FaceTime, like 90% of all Canadian homes
and businesses can.
However, this is not the case on Siksika. In 2019, reported median download speed on Siksika Nation was 6.13 Mbps and upload speed was 1.81 Mbps. A recent community survey was completed to update these statistics; as of February 2021, residences across Siksika reported 14.38 Mbps average download speed and 6.79 Mbps average upload speed – nowhere near Canada’s targets or the UN human right standards.
High-speed internet access is technically very complex, especially in rural communities, and depends on a number of factors. Unless a community is getting internet from space (i.e. via satellite), it needs to have direct access to fiberoptic cable to supply its internet from a nearby Internet Exchange. For Siksika Nation, the nearest Exchange is located in Calgary, almost 100km away. Internet access can then be transported from a community’s core router to individual homes and businesses, either by wired connections like fiberoptic or DSL, or by wireless connections such as microwave radio
links.
This kind of infrastructure is costly, and competitive. And while there are a number of internet options available on Siksika, most are not meaningfully invested in the current and future development of Siksika. A coordinated effort by Siksika for Siksika, reflective of deep community understanding, is essential for the creation of a healthy digital ecosystem that will allow Siksika to thrive. And that’s exactly what the Blackfoot Tech Council is doing.
With upgraded infrastructure, Siksika Nation’s own SiksikaTel, a Nation-owned internet service provider (ISP) and member of the Blackfoot Tech Council, will be equipped to offer coverage, speeds, rates, and service that rival and surpass the options available.
The Blackfoot Tech Council worked with telecommunications engineers and logical network planners to develop a blueprint for major internet upgrades for Siksika Nation:
• SiksikaTel infrastructure upgrades will include a mix of wireless and wired/fiber solutions, for comprehensive coverage of Siksika Nation.
• Competitive subscription packages for more equitable residential access, including free basic internet (5Mbps) for eligible on-reserve residents, and free VoIP phone service for Elders 65+ who live on-reserve.
• Wifi hotspots established at public facilities and throughout the community for ease of access and enhanced public safety.
• A Technology Centre, staffed by trained Siksika members, to provide technical and troubleshooting support, provide resources, and offer programs to enhance digital literacy.
Once the project is complete, every single home, business, facility on Siksika Nation and in the surrounding area will have access to high-speed internet that is twice as fast as the CRTC’s target, and almost 7x faster than Siksika’s current average. Not to mention: the social and economic benefits are massive.
Next up, the Blackfoot Tech Council is growing Siksika’s local IT sector through training and mentorship. In partnership with Computing Technology Industry Association (“CompTIA”), a global leader for advancing the tech industry and its workforce, the Blackfoot Tech Council is currently training 10 community members in advanced level Core Technology, Network, and Security skills, and 14 community members in IT Fundamentals. Eligible trainees will be offered paid practicum placements with Siksika Nation departments, to mentor alongside in-house IT experts and put their newfound skills to practice.
With leadership support from Siksika Nation Chief and Council, the Blackfoot Tech Council is moving forward to raise capital for the planned infrastructure upgrades, and continue growing Siksika’s local IT sector. Currently awaiting approval of its application to the Government of Canada’s Universal Broadband Fund, part of Canada’s “High-Speed Access for All: Canada’s Connectivity Strategy”, which proposes to focus on remote and rural, and Indigenous communities, the Blackfoot Tech Council is confident that investors will throw their support behind this promising initiative. And stay tuned: they’re only just getting started.
