CROSS LAKE, Man. — Kici Sipi Communications Partnership, a joint venture between Pimicikamak Okimawin and Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba, on Friday provided more details of a rural broadband project announced last week, which is receiving federal funding through the Connect to Innovate (CTI) program.
Formed in 2020, Kici Sipi Communications is receiving $16.6 million in federal funding for the construction of high-speed fibre-optic infrastructure throughout Pimicikamak Territory and into Cross Lake and Norway House.
“In Cree, ‘Kici Sipi’ means ‘great river’. Historically, the river was a means for our people to connect and communicate between villages throughout the territory,” explains a press release. “Pimicikamak has been working towards bringing high-speed internet to Pimicikamak Territory since 2016 in a rational, professional, and fact-based approach.”
Through the CTI program, Kici Sipi Communications has approval to install almost 200 kilometres of fibre-optic cable connecting Cross Lake and Norway House. The cable will be installed from a breakout point along Manitoba Hydro’s Bi-Pole III transmission line and routed to the respective communities, according to the release.
Detailed engineering is commencing immediately, with construction expected to be complete by December 2022.
“The technology being used in this project is a game changer for our people and will improve how we govern and do business throughout our nation and throughout the world,” said project lead Lee Thomas, Pimicikamak executive council member responsible for communications, technology and justice, in the release.
“In parallel with this initiative, Pimicikamak and Norway House are working with the federal government’s Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) initiative to distribute high-speed broadband internet to organizations and homes. This will finally give our people reliable access to the internet, with speeds that are 100 times faster than what is currently available,” the release says.
Information regarding UBF funding for the project was not disclosed in the press release.
