CIDA Grant to Support Use of Communications Technologies by Indigenous Peoples

    OTTAWA, Dec. 29 /CNW Telbec/ - A grant of $100,000 has been awarded by
the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to support the
development of The Indigenous Commission for Communications Technologies in
the Americas (ICCTA). The grant was made possible through a partnership
arrangement between ICCTA and the Métis National Council (MNC).
    MNC President Clement Chartier said: "The ICCTA was formed by Indigenous
peoples of South, Central and North America as an added way to make a positive
difference in the lives of Indigenous peoples. Through ICCTA we will share our
experiences in the use communications technology to strengthen our
communities. The Métis Nation is pleased to have played an important role in
supporting this initiative."
    Tony Belcourt, President of ICCTA, said: "To fight poverty and build
stronger communities we need to find effective ways to address health issues,
increase our levels of education and build our economies. Greater access to
communications technologies such as high-speed Internet are obviously needed,
but much needs to be done to learn how to use those technologies and develop
the solutions that best fit the priorities and circumstances of the
communities."
    Jayariyu Farias Montiel, Founder of the WAYUUNAIKI Cultural Foundation of
Venezuela and ICCTA Vice-President, said: "We need to prevent the further
erosion of our cultures and to protect our environment, our lands and our
rights. The development and use of appropriate information and communications
technologies is critical if we are to successfully meet those challenges."
    Erick Huerta, Co-Rapporteur of a working group of the Permanent
Consultative Committee of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission
(CITEL) said: "The use of communications technologies by Indigenous peoples
not only makes a difference to their communities, it benefits all of society.
The use of communications technologies allows Indigenous communities to
connect with partners to better solve their needs. ICCTA will play a vital
role as the catalyst to bring about those partnerships."
    Pedro Victoriano Cruz, Director of the Mexican Indigenous Communications
System: www.xiranhua.com.mx, and ICCTA Secretary Treasurer said: "Indigenous
peoples need the tools to enable us to bridge the digital divide but we also
need to build the resources to do this through a network of members and
partners who bring together the expertise to match the needs. The funding
provided by CIDA will help ICCTA strengthen its governance and administrative
capacity to make this possible and we thank the Government of Canada for this
support."
    This project has received funding from the Indigenous Peoples'
Partnership Program of the Canadian International Development Agency. The
purpose of the Program is to provide opportunities to create durable
partnerships and it supports initiatives conceived by both Indigenous
organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean and their Canadian Aboriginal
partners. These partnerships will contribute to the sustainable development of
Indigenous Peoples through an exchange of knowledge experience, expertise, and
existing models.

For further information: Tony Belcourt, [phone],
[e-mail]; Jayariyu Farias Montiel, 011+58 261 762 9828,
[e-mail]; Pedro Victoriano Cruz, 011+52 452 523 6192,
[e-mail]; www.iccta-citca.org