The TeKnoWave Initiative
A Unique Collaboration to Build Information and Communications Technology Human Resource Capacity within the Canadian Aboriginal Community
TeKnoWave is Canada's first national program whose goal is to develop 1000 Aboriginal information technology (IT) professionals who are capable of applying information and communications technology in support of Aboriginal economic and social development goals. The program is supported by a concerned and growing coalition that includes Canada's Aboriginal leaders, a premier private IT college: Willis College of Business and Technology, community centres such as the Odawa Native Friendship Centre, Aboriginal leading IT companies such as Donna Cona and public education such as the University of Winnipeg.
Training and education is absolutely critical for the continued development and positioning of Canada's Aboriginal people to be at the forefront of the technology revolution. TeKnoWave is an innovative response, based on Willis College's highly successful training model, which will bridge the skills gap, create jobs, and promote entrepreneurship resulting in both economic growth and benefits to communities.
According to the latest census, 50% of Canada's Aboriginal population is under the age 25. These young people are increasingly frustrated by a perceived lack of opportunity. These young people are seeking the new opportunities and role models in the new economy.
Increasingly, Aboriginal and First Nations communities, both urban and rural, have access to telecommunications and computers as a consequence of federal information highway programs and the investments of the bands themselves. In addition, procurement policies are in place to promote Aboriginal company formation. Thus the opportunities are emerging, but the supply of skilled and experienced people, and the belief in opportunity, is inadequate.
TeKnoWave aims to change this through three key program pillars:
Superior Training
TeKnoWave will build IT capacity and sustainable training capability in communities across the country. It will deliver provincially accredited, industry certified and university approved programs that provide practical experience and transferable university credits towards an undergraduate degree. This is complemented by e-learning for independent study and life-long learning.
Community Benefits
As a key element of the program, TeKnoWave will include a community internship program component which will see over $10 million in information technology applications being developed for participating local Aboriginal communities and charitable organizations. TeKnoWave, which has been acknowledged as "Community Development at its Best", is completely unique and timely and has already gained international attention.
Employment
Aboriginal IT firms are constantly looking for talented and skilled professionals. TeKnoWave will work closely with these firms, communities and the industry at-large to help assure job placements for graduates.
More Details
TeKnoWave is in the process of putting together the partnerships, resources and financing to roll out a program across the country - a program which will develop 1,000 Aboriginal people by 2005 with the skills and experience in IT and communications technology to take advantage of the opportunities. Furthermore, TeKnoWave will help create new role models, leaders and IT Champions who can create new hope and opportunity for the youth to follow.
The initial programs within TeKnoWave will focus on IT skills approved by the Ontario and Quebec Ministries of Education and certified to international industry standards. The content has been developed by Willis College and is being adapted to the local context in consultation with Aboriginal IT firms. This will be augmented by management and communications curricula developed by the University of Winnipeg and essential workplace skills developed by Aboriginal partners. Seminars and courses will also be developed to provide overviews to band leaders and administrators.
To date, the following has been accomplished:
- The Joseph T. Norton Willis Scholarship with a value of $18,000 has been established to support Aboriginal youth studying IT at Willis College. An additional $12,000 in living expenses has been raised for the Joseph T. Norton Scholarship recipient,
- An exploratory collaboration has been struck with Aboriginal leaders, Aboriginal communities, leading Aboriginal IT companies, representatives from the private sector and university participants,
- An articulation agreement has been established between Willis College and the University of Winnipeg for the transfer of credits from TeKnoWave programs to the university;
- The Community Internship Program has been implemented whereby all Willis College and TeKnoWave students are required to work with local communities and charitable organizations to develop IT applications as a prerequisite for a Willis College Diploma. This element of TeKnoWave alone will contribute over $10 million in benefits to local communities;
- Implementation planning is underway with the Odawa Native Friendship Centre to launch pilot programs in the Ottawa region in 2002.
The full TeKnoWave Action Plan is currently being developed to govern the national roll-out, to secure resources, to create a comprehensive country-wide network of partners and to secure accreditation in all jurisdictions.
The driving force behind this project is a strong desire to ensure that Aboriginal youth are not only given the opportunity to be part of the New Economy but to position themselves as leaders to inspire indigenous peoples around the world. This will only be accomplished through the development of a highly qualified Aboriginal workforce.
Much work remains to be done.
For more information, please contact:
Rima Aristocrat: rima.aristocrat@williscollege.com
Cliff Summers: cliff.summers@teknowave.ca
Yves Bordeleau: yves.bordeleau@teknowave.ca