High-speed fibre internet on the horizon for Chippewas of the Thames First Nation

By Colin Graf

DESHKAN ZIIBING (CHIPPEWAS OF THE THAMES FIRST NATION)— By the time next fall comes around, members of Chippewas of the Thames First Nation (COTTFN) should be able to use high-speed fibre-connected internet for the first time.

Not only that, but the cost of the service will be “substantially lower” than commercial companies would charge, as the nation plans to go-it-alone and become their own internet service provider (ISP), says Allan Farrell, COTTFN public works director, who is overseeing the fibre project.

When he first went looking to get the wiring installed for the community in 2018, Farrell says an outside company came back wanting a seven-year contract to provide internet service as well as the installation at  an “astronomical” price. Soon, he was thinking of whether COTTFN members could take charge of providing the service themselves.

After getting advice and support from a Hamilton internet company, the decision was made to “do it in a grassroots way” and keep the cost well below the $80 per household the outside company was expecting to charge.

COTTFN Chief Jacqueline French says it is exciting to be moving forward quickly on the project.

“We need this connectivity to support the business we are doing in the Nation. If we don’t have this connectivity it causes disruption, it causes delays and we can at least take down that one barrier that will allow us to do business effectively on a daily basis,” she says. “It’s going to improve a lot in our daily lives.”

High on the list of those needing better internet access are students and staff at Antler River School, the community’s elementary school, Chief French explains. The school has been closed to in-person classes since the COVID 19 pandemic began in Mar. 2020, creating difficulties for distance learning with slow internet connections.

“This (high-speed fibre) means there’s going to be that much more opportunity for our children, not to face so many challenges and barriers that we face currently,” she says. “Students of all ages, including post-secondary, are going to feel confident that the connectivity in the community is going to allow them to do that [schoolwork].”

Work is starting this spring on creating the hookups for the community complex, including the school, health centre, community centre, and daycare, with the longer runs into residential areas following in the summer, with a projected finish date of next Halloween, says Farrell.

The administration building has been hooked up since Jan. 2020, making a huge difference to staff there, says Farrell.

Reliable internet connections will also enable health care appointments by video link, allow community members to reach out to each other more easily, and make e-commerce purchases easier for COTTFN members, he adds. The fibre infrastructure is a huge plus in trying to attract new business to the area, according to Farrell. Chief French says the new project will be a bonus for future growth as well as for existing businesses.

In today’s world, internet access is “as important as electricity,” says COTTFN Communications Coordinator Shadia Ali.

“We are using the internet every single day, for everything,” she says. “From ordering groceries to being able to do curbside pickup, you need the internet for that.”

First Nations across the country are “severely underserviced” and solid connectivity is essential for “everyone who is in rural communities, especially during these times,” Ali adds.

Just to be able to use handheld card scanners will be immensely appreciated by local businesses, Farrell predicts. The fibre infrastructure is “huge” in trying to attract new businesses, he says. Workers in COTTFN’s administration building have already experienced the difference high-speed can make as they have had the connection since Jan. 2020, making a major improvement in their workplace.

“Often it (internet) would go down, but now we can send e-mails, we can upload, we can download, we can send large files with no issues,” Farrell relates.

“This is really going to open up opportunities, in many different areas for many different members, says Ali. “Something as simple as having access to entertainment – Netflix or YouTube – it really brings up the quality of life.”

Becoming their own ISP will allow for job creation and has the support of Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), Farrell said, allowing the Nation to regulate the cost. Going it on their own will allow the hiring of one or two community members to help run the service, with the potential to hire others from the neighbouring Oneida of the Thames and Munsee Delaware Nation if the service is extended there.

Chief French hopes the service will end up stretching there, saying Oneida and Munsee Delaware have been “working with us to move the project alongside of us,” and have sent letters of support to ISC.   The two nations have been lobbying ISC together to bring awareness of the connectivity issues they face “being in a rural setting,” she says.

When she first heard of the opportunity to bring high-speed to her community, Chief French says her first thought was, “What am amazing opportunity for the community, but on the other hand in the back of my mind was, ‘How are we going connect with those around us, to reach out to them?’”

“If they are thinking of going with outside entities that are not First Nations, then we need to get in there and start having these discussions,” she says.

If the plan goes through, extending to Munsee Delaware Nation is likely to come before Oneida, since there are no physical barriers between that location and COTTFN, while crossing the Thames (Antler) River to Oneida “is not just a dream”, says public works director Farrell.

He says it isn’t clear whether the service will be offered to off-territory members of COTTFN.  It may be possible “down the road” in a few years, but for now, the focus is on the territory of the three First Nations to the south-west of London.

Farrell hopes COTTFN may be paving the way for other First Nations who may also be able to provide internet to their own members.

“If there are others out there having that dream of being their own ISP; well, stay tuned.”