Fort Severn Chief and Council (Deputy Chief Moses Kakekaspan) and K-Net Staff: why this workshop, what is new with the technology

Moses Kakekaspan introduced the various participants in the workshop. He spoke about his experience in Red Lake during the week of November 8, along with Cornelius Matthews. He introduced the purpose of the workshop and the workshop resource people he invited to Fort Severn. [Red Lake Conference Agenda/Programme]

Brian Beaton of K-Net discussed the satellite upgrade that is coming that will provide improved phone service and high speed connectivity, and the possibilities that this opens. Using the Keewaytinook Okimakanak web site () the presentation involved a look at what has happened and what can happen in Fort Severn using these communication technologies.

Brian also mentioned the fact that Keewaytinook Okimakanak's proposal to Industry Canada's SMART Communities programme was short-listed and that a proposal is being put together for a $15 million project (with $5 million from Industry Canada's SMART initiative). He talked about the different projects and telecommunication services that are now available in Fort Severn. A discussion followed about where Fort Severn and the other Keewaytinook Okimakanak First Nations are planning to go with these technologies. He talked about what people could expect and challenged everyone to get involved in developing the skills required to make effective use of these new means of communication.