First Nations schools go international

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Students at Canada's 400 First Nations schools are gearing up for a

wild ride on the information superhighway next school year.

When September rolls around, they'll have 24-hour access to a whole new

world of learning. They'll be able to consult the world's leading

experts on everything from aerospace engineering to zoology, or ask an

American astronaut what it's like to float around in zero-gravity. They

can share their experiences as First Nations students with other

Indigenous youth in countries like Mexico, Brazil or Australia, all by

way of the world-wide network of cyberspace.

It's all part of SchoolNet, a program launched by Industry Canada last

year to link publicly-funded schools in Canada to the Internet.

Although the program is already a year old, a new partnership between

the federal government and Canada's phone industry giants is providing

more money and resources to speed up the plan.

A total of $16 million in new funding is being provided jointly by

Industry Canada and Stentor, the Canadian alliance of telephone

companies that includes AGT, Bell Canada and 10 other phone companies.

Due to the extra funding, all 16,500 public schools in Canada will have

Internet access by 1998 and all 400 First Nations schools under federal

jurisdiction will be on-line by this September.

The program gives Aboriginal classrooms an on-ramp to the information

highway, ensuring they don't get left behind in the push to harness the

educational possibilities of cyberspace.

According to Alfred Linklater, director of education for the Assembly

of First Nations in Ottawa, the new deal is a welcome change from the

past, when Aboriginal communities were often overlooked by the high-tech

industry.

"This is a first for First Nations," Linklater said. "Usually we have

to wait for new technologies to reach our communities well after the

excitement has subsided."

Assembly of First Nations Chief Ovide Mercredi says the program will

provide Native schools with a wider variety of learning resources.

Mercredi hopes the Internet can be used as a tool to educate others

about Native culture.

"It will increase the awareness of First Nations culture and provide an

exchange of information (to) enhance First Nations curricula

development," Mercredi said.

To keep the program affordable for cash-strapped school boards, schools

will get free Internet software, special low-cost Internet access fees,

and two years of tree Telesat satellite services. Money will also go

toward providing computers and Internet training for classrooms.

Since it was launched last year, SchoolNet has linked over 6,000

schools to the Internet, including more than 100 First Nations schools.

When SchoolNet is completed, Canada will be the first country in the

world to have all of its public schools connected to the information

highway.