Foundation tackles digital divide that limits Indigenous success

Indigenous digital specialist James Delorme realizes progress is being made, but he knows much more needs to be done to close the digital divide that exists between Indigenous peoples and the rest of Canada.

Delorme, the former chief of Klahoose First Nation in British Columbia, offered his thoughts on this issue during a webinar titled “Bridging the Digital Divide: Advancing Indigenous Digital Equity Through Partnership”,which was held on May 21.

The event was hosted by the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation (IPF) in collaboration with TELUS. Marissa Nobauer, director of reconciliation, community engagement and external relations at TELUS, also spoke. The webinar was moderated by Michelle Okere, IPF’s executive director.

Speakers talked about how connectivity can advance reconciliation when it is guided by Indigenous leadership, shared responsibility and relationship building.

The webinar followed the recent release of the foundation’s national report, also titled Bridging the Digital Divide. Among the four key findings identified was that digital access is essential but unevenly distributed, and a whopping 88 per cent of Indigenous entrepreneurs said affordability is a massive obstacle. Costs for hardware, software and limited Internet access impact potential success.

Another report finding was that infrastructure and digital resource gaps persist. Almost 20 per cent of Indigenous entrepreneurs reported having unreliable broadband access, especially in remote communities that lacked investment in infrastructure. Limited digital access directly affects business outcomes. Those Indigenous entrepreneurs who rely on outdated technology are missing out on expansion, furthering the gap between their businesses and those run by non-Indigenous people.

Indigenous women and youth face additional barriers. More than 90 per cent of Indigenous women said financial constraints are a huge obstacle to accessing digital tools, the report found.

And almost two-thirds of Indigenous youth said they were introduced to digital tools too late, impacting their ability to acquire essential skills early in their work careers.

“Those are really key pieces that need attention, not yesterday, not tomorrow, but today,” said Delorme, who is also a member of the TELUS Indigenous advisory council. “Yesterday has come and gone.”

Delorme is confident, however, that many are willing to take up the challenge of trying to close the digital gap that exists.

Okere said the report gave vital insight into what Indigenous entrepreneurs are experiencing.

“We tried to gather a lot of stories in our report and share those voices because, at the end of the day, it is important that Indigenous perspectives are heard, that they’re understood,” she said. “I think sometimes those of us who live in urban settings don't really understand the challenges, especially in some of these rural remote communities.”

Nobauer praised the IPF report.

“It clearly lays out very clear pathways to enable digital equity,” she said. “It demonstrates the different roles everybody can play in enabling digital equity in closing the gap. And I think that when organizations and companies ask ‘what do we do’ or ‘what do our team members do’ or ‘what is our role in this’, you’ve provided a great road map.”

The report included recommendations to tackle digital affordability for Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Recommendations included expanding culturally responsive digital literacy programs, improving accessibility of digital training programs and enhancing mentorship and support networks.

“At the end of the day, everybody recognizes that reliable high-speed Internet is key in 2025,” Nobauer said. “It’s key to participating fully in the digital economy. When you have connectivity, you can access credible services. You can access education. You can access healthcare and economic opportunities.”

Nobauer said reliable connectivity allows Indigenous people to either move back or stay in their own communities to work.

“We all know when Indigenous communities are connected to high-speed Internet everybody benefits,” Nobauer added.

Okere concluded the webinar with hope.

“As we move forward, I hope that we have better access and understand our shared responsibilities, and we leave here with a renewed commitment to digital equity and on Indigenous terms,” she said.

The full IPF report can be viewed and downloaded here https://uploads.strikinglycdn.com/files/581495bb-6809-410b-a004-877c05631681/Digital%20Access%20Summary%20Report%20Final.pdf?t=1741899450&id=4251213