-----Original Message----- From: Webb, John R LCS:EX Sent: Tue Sep 26 13:53:53 2006 Subject: First Nations Capacity Building Think Tank Thank you for agreeing to attend the two day workshop later this week hosted by the First Nations Technology Council. They have given me permission to send out a short note to help focus attention on what we think are some of the critical areas hopefully we will be able to look at. We have a plan to connect all 203 First Nations in BC to broadband networks over the next couple of years. We know that just making broadband available is only part of the job. The accompanying capacity building program will be intended to ensure that the communities have the resources in place to begin to use information and communications technology effectively. We have a draft plan for capacity building. If this is not the route to take tell us that at the workshop – but for our planning purposes – and to raise the funding we need - this is what we have been talking about. Each community taking part in the project will be provided with a Tele-centre consisting of a suite of PCs. (2 to 5 depending on size of community), a scanner and printer. The band will be asked to provide a building or room for the computers accessible by band members and provide heat, light and washrooms. A band member will be brought to Vancouver or other provincial centre for, an intense train-the-trainer program. They would then return to their community to become trainer/operator of the tele-centre and in the case of a community where we are establishing the broadband, a wireless network. Continuing education and support for both this individual and community member can be supplied using online applications and tools such as Apple iSight video conferencing technology. We would then pay the community member an annual honorarium to staff the centre on a part time basis for two years. At the workshop it would be great to hear if this plan is plausible, what the initial training should consist of, what the next level of training should be, what tools we need to continue to support the Tele-centre and the training needs of the community, and generally any other wisdom you can impart to this project. Many of us have been talking about the issue of First Nations ICTs for a number of years. I do not expect to be given a second chance at this and I appreciate greatly the support and council you folks will bring to this project. John Webb Executive Director, Communities and External Initiatives Office of the CIO Province of British Columbia tel: (250) 952-0671 fax: (250) 387-1940