Settler Colonialism and First Nations e-Communities in Northwestern Ontario

Remote and rural First Nation (Indigenous) communities are in a constant struggle to maintain their autonomy in a settler colonial political and economic structure attempting to force community members’ migration off their traditional lands to urban centres. This paper describes how First Nations in Northwestern Ontario are using social media along with locally owned and managed information and communication technologies (ICT) to support the creation of e-Communities. The e-Community refers to community members actively using digital networks and online tools and applications everything from the internet and social media, to videoconferencing, telehealth, distance education, cell phones and many other digital processes to sustain and support the local economy, social services and the many communication processes required in every community (Whiteduck, Tenasco, O’Donnell, Whiteduck & Lockhart, 2012; Whiteduck, J., 2010; Whiteduck, Beaton, Burton & O’Donnell 2012). We will argue that local ownership of the digital infrastructure as well as the online tools, social media and e-services that use it, is an important element of First Nations’ resilience.