Items

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  2020-05-28

  Covid-19 highlights lack of connectivity in first nations communities

  This article speak about the ‘digital divide’ in Canada; a reality in Canada where rural and First Nations communities don’t have access to the sufficient technology or infrastructure to use online platforms, or just the internet in general. This particular article tackles how the pandemic has exacerbated this divide, and has shown the need to give these communities access to high-speed internet. These communities often are left to ask private enterprises to provide these services, and these corporations which are profit oriented as all telecommunications giants often ignores these calls, as they would not see a financial return. Essentially, profits are being placed over people, which in turn breaks apart the social solidarity of these communities and complicates communication between First Nations communities and the Canadian state, as well as community organization at large. However, this article states that the government will be actively attempting to incentivize these private corporations to build telecommunications infrastructure as a means to abide by the UN’s declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples. While progress is being made, this article nevertheless identifies the material and logistical disparities between First Nations communities throughout the nation; which have been highlighted by the pandemic.
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  2020-08-14

  Rural Arizonans gain more access to mental health resources, but only if they have an internet connection

  Sarandon Raboin/Luce Foundation: Southwest Stories Fellowship
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  2020-05-06

  New Bill in Congress Aims to Expand Broadband Access for Tribes During Pandemic

  “A new bill announced today by the co-chairs of the Congressional Native American Caucus would give tribes emergency authority of broadband spectrum over their lands, in an effort to greatly increase internet access for tribal nations grappling with COVID-19 pandemic response. ‘Broadband has been an issue…in Indian Country, for a very long time,’ Haaland said in an interview with The NM Political Report. ‘The pandemic has pulled back the blanket and the sun is illuminating these disparities.’ She added that internet access should be viewed as a basic necessity, like home electricity.” #IndigenousStories