In the U.S. and Canada, rural and remote areas are the hardest to reach and most under-connected. Native communities face unique barriers for connecting to the Internet, which is a powerful tool to preserve cultures and languages; devices and apps can offer local languages, and community members can create their own cultural content.
The panel explored how Internet access can protect native cultures and how community engagement can foster connectivity. We also discussed the opportunities and challenges that native people face across different terrains; how are native communities’ problems in the Arctic Circle and Hawaii similar? How can communities learn from each other? The panelists shared their stories and ideas on creating a connected future for native and Indigenous peoples.
Moderator: Mark Buell, Regional Vice President, North America, Internet Society
Panelists:
- Matthew Rantanen, Director of Technology, Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association
- Darrah Blackwater, Law Student, University of Arizona
- Madeleine Redfern, President, Nuvujaq
Image: Brandon Kanehele of Pu’uhonua O Waimanalo in Oahu, Hawaii. Credit: Elyse Butler
