Schoolnet project

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For the Kitigan Zibi School located on the Algonquin First Nation of Maniwaki in Quebec, participation in the First Nations SchoolNet Project yielded immediate results as students used the initiative to chronicle and showcase information about their own heritage.

While the 200-student school already had a pretty active computer program, the new initiative created the spark for students to develop their own community website, which includes information about powwows, band council meetings, community updates and more.

Apart from the development of strong pride and participation in their community, students working on the web pages have also developed marketable skills they can use in today's workplace, according to school educators.

In fact some of the graduates from the school have already gone into other career fields requiring advanced computer skills such as accounting, drafting and design.

The site can be found at: http://www.kza.gc.ca

Included in the site is a tool designed to help students begin their own career search entitled: "How to Start a Business," with tips and guidance on how to get a business off the ground and the promotion of locally owned businesses. It also has links to international job boards.

Between the success of the community's own computer training courses and its First Nations SchoolNet activities, this First Nation has embraced new technology with fervor.

Computer training courses are now available right in the community run by System House Limited (SHL) and a local community college. The course provides advanced training in the areas of networking, Windows NT and other esoteric programs.

In fact the community may be a victim of its own success, according to its education director, Gilbert Whiteduck, who notes that getting introductory computer courses launched now is difficult because so many people in the community have already brought computers into their daily lives.

But there's no doubt that the First Nations SchoolNet site has played a major part in sparking community interest in computers and new technology.