The First Nations Technology Council (FNTC) will be building on work done by the Nuu-chah-nulth (NTC) and the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) and Ecotrust Canada to expand development of an online Atlas and to implement an improved Atlas in a First Nation or First Nation organization. The FNTC will work with Ecotrust Canada to provide technical support and community assistance to implement the Atlas. NTC and ONA will also be offered improved versions of the Atlas software.

The long term goal of the FNTC is to support First Nations in the development, implementation and maintenance of tools such as this Online Atlas, Unification (a data base application to manage people based information such as social development, education, housing and membership that FNTC is currently marketing) and other tools such as a Land and Resource Management System that FNTC is planning to develop. These ‘governance tools’ will support information management, planning and decision making in First Nations. FNTC has been mandated by the Chiefs to develop tools that can be shared by First Nations at minimal costs. Having an open-source, visual, interactive atlas deployed in the selected First Nation together with documented implementation guidance available to other interested Nations will expand the service offerings of the FNTC in support of First Nations capacity building. Examples of existing versions of the NTC and ONA Atlases online are available at www.livingatlas.org and www.voicesontheland.org.

Benefit to the Partner

An Atlas is a tool to publicly share, showcase and display information about your First Nation to tell your story to the world. The information can be about your land, your culture, your people, your history, your dreams – whatever your Nation decides. Being proactive in telling your story enables culturally relevant information to better guide decision making by all levels of government and informs other interest groups about your territory and culture. Your First Nation’s web site and your version of the Atlas become the authoritative source for information about your territory and your people. During the project, FNTC will provide project management support, implementation advice (based on past experience), training and technical services necessary to complete the Living Atlas - at no cost to the selected Nation.

Outcomes

• A new Atlas will be available online
• The Nuu-chah-nulth and Okanagan Nation Alliance will have improved software
• Improved software will be available in an open source environment for other First Nations
• An Atlas Implementation Manual will be available as a support for any Nation wanting to implement an atlas
• Technical training during project implementation will be documented in a manual
• Networking opportunities for First Nations to build upon and learn about using web-based tools.

Criteria FNTC will use to determine our partner

• Demonstrated political support (through a BCR or letter from Chief or Administrator) and commitment to technological developments (e.g. investments in hardware, software, technicians, political resolutions supporting technological development for information and communication purposes)
• Ability to demonstrate technological capacity to manage the Web Atlas
• Stable technical environment with sufficient computing technical staff to work with FNTC on implementation, troubleshooting and ongoing maintenance
• A stable internet connection with a capacity equal to that available to urban customers (ADSL)
• Significant data available to upload to the Atlas (this can be GIS data, videos, reports, etc.)
• Long term commitment to the maintenance of the Atlas.

Shared Documents: 

Criteria Final.pdf