TELUS today released its 2020 Indigenous Connectivity Report, which
highlights the transformative benefits of connectivity that have
resulted from partnerships between TELUS and Indigenous communities
throughout British Columbia. In partnership with Indigenous
governments, TELUS has brought High Speed Internet to approximately
18,500 homes, businesses, and community hubs.
The report shares stories about Indigenous communities
throughout the province and the projects and benefits that have
been made possible by reliable connectivity -- everything from
language revitalization and enhanced healthcare outcomes to
economic development and job creation are being enabled by
expanding the communities’ access to High Speed Internet.The report
also highlights TELUS’ collaborations with communities and
Indigenous organizations, including support during COVID-19;
increased wireless coverage along Highway 16; community programs
for connecting youth to culture; and holistic social services.
“Meaningful engagement
and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples can only happen within
the framework of inclusive dialogue, collaboration, and
partnership,” said Tony Geheran, Executive Vice President and Chief
Customer Officer for TELUS. “We are proud of the strong,
meaningful, and collaborative relationships we have built with
Indigenous Peoples and governments to bring world-leading
connectivity to more Indigenous communities, while supporting their
long term goals and demonstrating TELUS’ commitment to the Truth
and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.”
By the numbers:
- 178 Indigenous communities serviced by
TELUS
- Approximately 18,500 homes, businesses, and community hubs have
access to High Speed Internet
- 56 Indigenous communities connected to TELUS PureFibre
- 87 Indigenous lands (Reserves, Treaty lands, and self-governed
lands) connected to TELUS PureFibre
- 128 Indigenous communities, 430
Indigenous lands connected to our wireless high speed internet
(wHSIA) networks
More than $25 million has
been invested to date to connect Indigenous communities in BC to
our PureFibre network, including enhanced wireline and wireless
connectivity. TELUS partners with Indigenous, federal, provincial,
and municipal governments, as well as partners like the All Nations
Trust Company (ANTCO), the Pathways to Technology project, and the
First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) to extend
life-changing technology into Indigenous communities. With the
arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, these partnerships have been even
more critically important.
In 2019, with funding from Pathways to Technology, TELUS brought
TELUS PureFibre to the Esk’etemc and Xatśūll First Nation’s in
central BC. For the Esk’etemc First Nation, their recently expanded
network will allow for cultural preservation and expanded commerce
for local businesses. Connectivity has also vastly improved how the
Nation’s government communicates with membership.
"Purefibre has allowed us
to download and pass information much faster in the community,”
said Patricia Chelsea, Managing Director of Esk’etemc. “Video calls
on zoom and other video platforms are totally new for us, something
that wasn't possible before. It is a valuable asset for us."
For Xatśūll First Nation,
TELUS’ PureFibre connectivity has dramatically changed how its
government operates, allowing the office to save money and
resources and, more importantly, focus on achieving the Nation’s
strategic goals.
"We’ve changed our
community from a bit of a digital desert to a growing connected
community. We’ve been able to launch our own Information Technology
business and have had the capacity to continue to do business
during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Xatśūll Chief Sherri Sellars.
“It has also greatly enhanced our ability to connect with members
and them with us. Furthermore, we’re currently working to improve
the online visibility of our businesses which would have been
challenging without high-speed internet.”
Haislakala, the language
of the Haisla people, provides an essential connection between the
people and their land. The addition of TELUS PureFibre means that
community members living within and outside their home territory
can access online resources, such as videos and online language
lessons, which provide the membership with the opportunity to not
only learn Haislakala, but also to reconnect with their culture.
Teresa Windsor, a member of the Haisla Nation, says that the
revitalization of Haislakala has brought significant benefits to
her community.
“Haislakala is more than
a means of communication, it is a tangible symbol of culture and
nation identity that expresses Haisla values, providing a window
into the unique worldviews of our people,” said Windsor. “In
learning my language, I have found immense confidence and strength,
the positivity of which then ripples through my family and to my
extended family and community. I am filled with hope when I hear
Haislakala being spoken and shared by all generations.”
T’exelc, also known as
the Williams Lake First Nation (WLFN), has a population of almost
800 members, with over 200 of those members living in their main
community southeast of the City of Williams Lake. In 2018, WLFN
approached TELUS to determine how they could collaborate to bring
TELUS’ next-generation fibre-optic connectivity to the community.
In partnership with WLFN and the government of BC’s Connecting BC
Funding, TELUS PureFibre was turned on in the summer.
“High-speed internet has
been a goal of our government for multiple years,” said Chief
Willie Sellars. “As community leaders, we are committed to
improving the quality of life for our people. Services, such as
reliable internet, are a necessary part of existence in the modern
world.”
About TELUSAbout TELUS TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU)
is a dynamic, world-leading communications and information
technology company with $15.3 billion in annual revenue and 15.7
million customer connections spanning wireless, data, IP, voice,
television, entertainment, video and security. We leverage our
global-leading technology to enable remarkable human outcomes. Our
longstanding commitment to putting our customers first fuels every
aspect of our business, making us a distinct leader in customer
service excellence and loyalty. TELUS Health is Canada's largest
healthcare IT provider, and TELUS International delivers the most
innovative business process solutions to some of the world’s most
established brands. Driven by our passionate social purpose to
connect all Canadians for good, our deeply meaningful and enduring
philosophy to give where we live has inspired our team members and
retirees to contribute more than $700 million and 1.3 million days
of service since 2000. This unprecedented generosity and
unparalleled volunteerism have made TELUS the most giving company
in the world.
For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com, or
follow us @TELUSNews on Twitter. For media inquiries, please
contact:
Richard Gilhooleyrichard.gilhooley@telus.com(778) 868-0235
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