Keewaytinook Okimakanak, which means Northern Chiefs in Oji-Cree, is a Chiefs Council serving Deer Lake , Fort Severn , Keewaywin, McDowell Lake , North Spirit Lake and Poplar Hill First Nations in Northern Ontario The organization is directed by the Chiefs of the member First Nations who form the Board of Directors.

Through its close awareness of community needs and its team approach, the Council advises and assists its member First Nations. The Council provides services in the areas of health, education, economic development, employment assistance, legal, public works, finance and administration, and computer communications (K-Net).

In 1994 the KO Chiefs identified the development of ICTs in their communities as a priority. They did so to support their young people to be as skilled in this area as possible and they committed their organization to offering a range of programs and services enhanced by the new technologies. Since then the Chiefs and communities have demonstrated their commitment in their continued investment of time, resources and facilities to create new programs, service and applications.

KO has become a not-for-profit service provider and support for community networks across Canada and in the world. It develops and tests applications to enhance economies and social opportunities in communities and then it moves these to interested communities wherever they may be. They identify strategic partners from the public, private and other community sectors that are interested in being involved in this type of development.

KO spearheaded the development of the NICSN over the past four years and is now the network administrator.

KO envisages people delivering public services such as telehealth and e-learning from their own communities and having a choice about where to live, work and learn.

“We look forward to maintaining our partnerships and building on them to ensure all our communities receive the benefit of the new technologies.”