Network to connect communities
A new form of totem could soon be rising on First Nations lands throughout BC.
The wireless communication towers would provide long-distance telephone, internet and television services for First Nation communities and organizations. That is the dream of Fawn Jack who is coordinator of the First Nations Community Network (FNCN) at Tseycum First Nation.
One of Tseycum’s neighbours on West Saanich Road is the Institute of Ocean Sciences. The OS is also home to the Pacific Geoscience Centre that monitors earthquakes. Also at IOS are the Canadian Coast Guard Pacific Fleet and a state-of-the-art marine communications and traffic services centre.
“They needed to build a bigger, broader network, but they didn’t have room to build a tower on their land,” said Jack. “So they came and talked to Tseycum about hosting a tower. We agreed and as part of the deal we got fiber bundle access to telephone, internet and television.”
Jack said the huge capacity of optical fibers for the transfer of information was far more than Tseycum needed for itself. So the idea of a not-for-profit wireless network was born.
“We want to involve as many First Nation communities as we can,” Jack said. “The cost is averaging out to about $40 per household and that includes free phone calls to Canada and the USA.”
She said interested First Nations, businesses and other organizations would send people to Tseycum for orientation and taking their new knowledge back to their communities. Each participant will have one member that will be part of the governance board of FNCN. That means each band will be an equal partner, regardless of their size.
“It is still all in the works,” Jack said about these early days at FNCN. “The more the merrier. This is all not-for-profit and any money we make will be put back for employment and reinvested back into the communities. It is all keeping people employed and building First Nation friendships.”
$1,500 logo contest prize
Artists have until January 4 to create a logo for the newly formed First Nations Community Network. There is $2,250 in prize money with $1,500 going to the first-place prize.
“What we are looking for is art that will represent past, present and future connections and communications as well as development and transformations within First Nations Peoples,” said FNCN coordinator Fawn Jack. Any logo needs to ideally encompass the cooperative spirit of the partnership of all the language and cultural groups comprising the BC First Nations.”
More information from:
4fawn@tseycum.ca
250-656-0858
Logo entries should be sent to:
Tseycum First Nation
1210 Totem Lane,
Sidney, BC V8L SS4
