Grand Council Treaty #3 -- Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh and Grand Council Treaty #3 announced that community members in Naicatchewenin First Nation, Wauzhushk Onigum Nation, Couchiching First Nation and Wabauskang First Nation will soon have access to gold-standard fibre optic internet services.
“The release of high-speed fibre optic broadband to the first four First Nations in Treaty #3 reflects the shared commitment between the Anishinaabe Nation of Treaty #3 and funding partners to empowering the Anishinaabe people to thrive within a digital landscape,” said Ogichidaa Kavanaugh, Grand Chief, in a release.
According to the Treaty #3 council, the Dibaajimowin project began in July 2021 with a funding commitment of $12.3 million from the Ontario government’s Improving Connectivity for Ontario program and $36.9 million from the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada Universal Broadband Fund program.
The project is a collaborative effort between the chiefs and leadership of Treaty #3 First Nations, Grand Council Treaty #3, Bell Canada and the provincial and federal governments.
Grand Council Treaty #3 said 17 First Nations and 13 non-Indigenous communities will be connected to high-speed internet by the end of 2025.
Kinga Surma, Ontario’s minister of infrastructure, said the province is aiming to bring access to reliable high-speed internet to every community across Ontario by the end of 2025.
"Our government is proud to announce that Naicatchewenin First Nation, Wauzhushk Onigum Nation, Couchiching First Nation and Wabauskang First Nation will now have access to reliable high-speed internet to learn, work, access important health-care services, and stay connected with friends and loved ones.”
Gudie Hutchings, federal minister of rural economic development, said high-speed internet is no longer a luxury in today's world.
"It’s an essential tool to access education, health care, and grow a business. That’s why the government of Canada has made a historic commitment to connect 98 per cent of Canadians to high-speed internet by 2026.
"This investment will increase access to good quality Internet for over 3,800 households in Treaty #3 Territory, of which more than 2,300 are Indigenous.”
Access to high-speed internet will provide First Nation communities with an equal opportunity for distance education and economic development, including web-based businesses. It will also help community members access digital health and telemedicine services.
"The introduction of high-speed fibre optic is a transformative milestone for our community, unlocking new opportunities and fostering greater connectivity for our Nation," said Allan Skead, Chief of Wauzhushk Onigum Nation.
