WHITEHORSE – Northwestel announced today at the Arctic Indigenous Investment Conference in Whitehorse it is selling its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) assets in Yukon to a group of 13 Yukon First Nations development corporations.
“For the first time in Canada, the vast majority of a province or territory’s in-community fibre assets are now Indigenous-owned,” according to a Northwestel press release.
As part of a new partnership called the Shared Pathways network, Northwestel will make “regular payments for the fibre network’s full use for 20 years, guaranteeing direct economic benefits to participating Yukon First Nation communities for decades. Northwestel will operate and maintain the network at its own cost for that period,” the release explains.
The fibre assets making up the Shared Pathways network are being built as part of Northwestel’s Every Community Project, which is funded by the CRTC Broadband Fund and Northwestel’s own investments.
“We’re showing that by working cooperatively, First Nations can make these types of major investments and create more opportunities for investment and ownership in infrastructure and communications projects that impact the lives of our citizens,” said Fred Koe, Da Daghay Development Corporation chair and designated spokesperson for the newly formed Yukon First Nations Telco LP.
“We thank the First Nations Development Corporations that formed this partnership. We look forward to working with Northwestel’s dedicated northern employees to make our community connections even better.”
“We believe stronger connections build stronger communities. This partnership gives Northwestel the ability to invest more upfront in northern network improvements, but more importantly it strengthens our ties over the long run to the communities we exist to serve,” said Northwestel president Curtis Shaw. “Yukon’s Shared Pathways network is a testament to our joint commitment to walking the path of reconciliation together, for many years to come.”
The participating First Nations development corporations, according to a list supplied by a Northwestel spokesperson, include:
- Carcross/Tagish Management Corporation (C/TMC) – (Carcross Tagish First Nation)
- Carmacks Development Corporation – (Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation)
- Chief Isaac Group of Companies – (Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation)
- Chu Niikwan Development Corporation/Chu Níikwän Limited Partnership – (Kwanlin Dün First Nation)
- Copper Nïïsüü Limited Partnership – (White River First Nation)
- Da Daghay Development Corporation (DDDC) – (Ta’an Kwach’an Council)
- Dakwakada Capital Investments – (Champagne and Aishihik First Nations)
- Dena Nezziddi Development Corporation – (Ross River Dena Council)
- First Kaska LP – (Liard First Nation)
- Kluane Dana Shaw Corporation (KDSC) – (Kluane First Nation)
- Selkirk Development Corporation – (Selkirk First Nation)
- Vuntut Gwitchin Limited Partnership – (Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation)
- Na-Cho Nyak Dun Development Corporation – (First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun)
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