Author Description

Aboriginal educators and economic development practitioners in Canada are developing and implementing initiatives to promote the achievement of "digital opportunities" so that Aboriginal communities can both develop and be in a position to take advantage of economic opportunities without falling deeper into the "digital divide." Asynchronous and synchronous technologies assist Aboriginal peoples in addressing these four objectives: (1) to create employment and economic development opportunities; (2) to promote the acquisition of knowledge and development of essential skills and attitudes in order for individuals to become self-sufficient, valued and contributing members of their knowledge community; (3) to preserve language and culture and to exchange with other cultures; and (4) to enable Aboriginal people to participate in the knowledge and information technology economy. Despite barriers such as limited financial resources, insufficient human and technological resources, insufficient technological infrastructures, geographic isolation, and limited control over education and training programming and delivery, common success factors among Aboriginal peoples are as follows: (1) healthy communities supported by creative, consistent, and visionary leadership; (2) solid technology strategies and enabling infrastructures; (3) strong human resources and technical capabilities; (4) technology skills as foundation skills; and (5) strategies that bridge traditions with training. (Includes 5 exhibits; 48 references; and an appendix with the results of several case studies.) (MO).