The Increasing Aboriginal Social Capital research project consisted of a series of five roundtable sessions in different regions across Canada with First Nations, Métis and Inuit experts and stakeholders were organized to discuss the content and direction of Aboriginal community information and communication technology (ICT) networks in Canada. A one-day national symposium was held in January of 2008 with the participation of 25 key stakeholders, experts and practitioners from Aboriginal organizations and other relevant entities, to discuss the document. The symposium focused on the issues raised throughout the study and formulated policy and research priority issues.
Increasing developments in information and communication technology (ICT) are having major impacts worldwide. In Canada, the last several years have seen a significant growth in ICT opportunities, particularly in relation to online capabilities. A diverse number of Aboriginal communities have been part of this process. There are numerous experiences where the growth in ICT appears to be having an important impact on socioeconomic realities. Nonetheless, there is still much that is unknown about how ICT affects community life both positively and negatively. Simultaneously, what is known as the digital divide (Norris, 2001) is still far from being bridged. The notion of social capital, tentatively defined as the institutions, relationships and norms that shape the quality and quantity of society’s social interactions, can assist in assessing this impact. In recent years, social capital has become one of the relevant notions for measuring the impacts of ICT in communities (O’Neil, 2002). Further, it can assist in the understanding of the prerequisites and investments that may enable the successful implementation of ICT in Aboriginal communities.
The study sought to address four main questions: Why social capital can be a useful notion in assessing the impact of ICT? How can ICT impact community social capital? How can the implementation of ICT be impacted by social capital investments? Does the type of ICT development matter in terms of social capital? Building on prior work, the authors conducted an extensive review of the published and grey literature on social capital and on ICT implementation in Canada with a focus on Aboriginal communities. Together with the examination of existing literature, a series of phone interviews with 15 key informants from First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities and institutions in Canada were conducted to gather information on specific cases related to the development of ICT in Aboriginal.
Five roundtables were held in different regions of the country to gather further information, discuss real experiences and receive feedback of the draft paper. These roundtables were held in Sioux Lookout, Ontario (K-net); Cranbrook, British Columbia (Ktunaxa); Iqaluit, Nunavut (Qiniq); Edmonton, Alberta (Métis settlements); and Winnipeg, Manitoba (urban Aboriginal agencies). The roundtables counted between nine and 11 participants each, excluding the research team. Finally, in early 2008 a one-day national symposium was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with the participation of 23 key stakeholders, experts and practitioners from Aboriginal organizations and other relevant entities, to discuss the document and identify priority issues.