Entrepreneur brings Aboriginal people online

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Abby Duncan, a member of Soda Creek First Nation, is passionate about bringing computer technology to Aboriginal people nationwide.

More than that, having a businesswoman's sense of a unique idea, she is pursuing the notion that simply offering people computer training isn't always enough. As the owner of CFN Learning, which provides all levels of on-site computer training to Aboriginal people, she wants to leave them with the computer they learn on too.

Duncan maintains that if learners live in a remote area, or otherwise are in a situation where they won't have the chance to use their new skills in employment right away, they find it's the old story of 'if you don't use it, you lose it.' She finds that counter-productive to her goal of empowering Aboriginal people to create success for themselves in the modern world.

"Computer and Internet technology are today's most important learning and employment tools and source of information," said Duncan. "It is critical that the barriers to computer and Internet literacy are removed for anyone who wants to find and keep employment and conduct business."

With the backing of Aboriginal Business Canada and her family, 40-year-old Duncan has 20 years of entrepreneurial experience behind her to make CFN Learning successful. She has been offering basic computer training to advanced Web design exclusively to Aboriginal communities for two years. Along with each course come refurbished personal computers-currently Pentium IIs-that are distributed through the host band or friendship centre to participants, students, community centres and private homes at the end of the course, set up ready to use.

Her band was the pilot project in March 2002, when 100 computers were distributed following the course. Then Westbank First Nation and the friendship centre in Kelowna bought a course that came with 25 computers each. In October 2003, Duncan offered Web site design and computer basics to Bonaparte First Nation, a community she described as "risk-takers, pro-active," and where Elders Roger and Mary Porter were among the computer learners.

Before starting CFN Learning, Duncan and her husband and children lived in South Africa from 1994 to 1999, where she owned and operated a car rental business at the airport and her husband had his own businesses. Back in British Columbia, Duncan returned to school and obtained her Grade 12 in 2001. She then enrolled in Okanagan University College's business administration program, but has temporarily put that on hold, as raising two children aged 7 and 17 and starting a new business in British Columbia's difficult business climate currently occupy all her time.

Duncan's computer courses up to now have been three weeks' duration, but Duncan has increased them to four weeks. All she requires is 12 students and a classroom with Internet connectivity to bring in her programs and equipment. She subcontracts the trainer; currently her main instructor is Robert Van Alphen. As the business grows, Duncan hopes to bring on the best of her former students as assistants.

Coreen Jenner, an employment counsellor at the 30-year-old Ki-low-na Friendship Society, said last month that the society and Westbank Indian Band collaborated to buy into one of Duncan's computer training programs.

"Westbank Indian Band and the friendship centre each got, I think it was, 19 computers . . . and the students that all took the training also went home with a refurbished computer, which they were really happy for, because some of them didn't have computers, and it gave them a start."

Jenner said the course they bought from CFN Learning was made available to adults with little or no computer experience, who were "all really happy with the computer training." She followed up with the students a month after the course ended to find out how they were doing.

"These were all students that were not in the workforce, probably long-time social assistance, an probably half of them are all out working now. And they've carried on with their computer training."

She explained some of the students had already been involved in crafts and were quite artistic, so they have been adding to the basic Web page they learned how to design in the course.

"Some of them, when they got a taste of (computers), went into more graphic arts. And one comment we got from one of the gentlemen in the class was up to that point he was not really that motivated about finding employment, but a week after, he was working. He went to work in a sawmill or something.

"It just seemed to motivate them. It got them out there, they learned a lot of things, and they decided that they were changing their ways."

Jenner said the computers the society received as part of the package were put into a computer lab and networked together. "So now we're on the process of trying to find money to get that computer lab up and running."

Jenner said that for now the society's computers are available for people wanting computer practise, "but basically to have them come in and learn about the Internet, set up e-mail accounts, do job search."

Another benefit that Jenner sees of allowing students to own their computers is that their children at home also are exposed to the technology.

She admits that as computers and computer programs become dated so rapidly, the refurbished computers won't serve students' needs for a long time in the future.

"But it was a good way to introduce them to computers and get them started, and then from there they can expand, move on, trade this one off, get another one."

Currently, Duncan is exploring financing options inside and outside of British Columbia, so she can expand CFN Learning and market it more. She's looking for funding that will allow her to attend trade shows and create and distribute product literature.

Dave Scott, a loans co-ordinator with Community Futures Development Corp., said April 29 that Ducan is "a great person with a good personality and a strong will to succeed."

Jenner said what distinguishes Duncan's courses in the competitive computer training market is that "they are targeting the Aboriginal community. I think that's the difference, because the Aboriginal communities aren't going to the training that's being offered in the private sector (and) if it's done on reserve, it's easier for them to access."

Duncan's business is starting to generate interest beyond British Columbia, and this month she takes computer instruction to Hall Beach, Nunavut. This time, participants will receive brand new laptop computers that they get to keep following their training.

Duncan also has been talking to the Microsoft Corporation, which has indicated that when she has a four-year business plan together, they will examine it with a view to participating in her business venture.

For more information contact Abby Duncan by phone at 250-929-0096; by fax at 250-979-0145; or by e-mail: info@cfnlearning.com.