It's all about connectivity.
Connecting citizens with new technologies provides opportunities
that impact every aspect of the community, according to Carolyn
Purcell, director, Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group.
Purcell addressed press and industry experts in New Mexico on
April 17th, during the Cisco Connected Communities media tour.
Over a Cisco network the Navajo Nation in the southwestern
United States will be delivering Internet connectivity, voice
communications, telemedicine and distance learning, with one of the
major goals being to connect the Nation's 110 Chapter Houses.
"What this provides is an opportunity to actually improve public
safety, create a world-class learning environment, and stimulate
and maintain economic development," said Purcell.
Navajo Nation, which includes parts of New Mexico, Arizona, and
Utah, covers 27, 000 square miles with a total population of
250,000.
Leonard Tsosie, New Mexico State Senator and one of six Native
American legislators, said having the Navajo Nation connected is
crucial to their sustainability.
"Navajo people are nomadic, and have placed themselves out there
because there's where they want to live," said Tsosie. "Unlike the
services providers, we accept them for who they are."
He said it's important the technology be conformed to their
living style, not the other way around.
"A lot of these areas (within the Nation) are considered sacred
areas, and enlightening the corporations that don't give a hoot
about that is important," he said. "We're not a corporation, and
we've told them we're not going to build on sacred land."
However, Tsosie said the corporations and service providers are
"coming around" to that way of thinking.
"It's in our interest to work together with them and
governmental agencies," he said.
The project is something that will allow the community to be
sustained, as young adults are now moving back to the area because
this technology provides them a more modern lifestyle with access
to distance education, which means employment prospects they
previously didn't have.
Tsosie did not give a specific amount in terms of costs, but
said a project like this will be "millions of dollars," and the
State has provided some funding to keep the project moving
forward.
Harold Skow, director of information technology, Navajo Nation,
said his main role is to ensure a holistic technology vision for
the nation.
"Anytime we want to implement technology we have to figure out a
way to put in fiber, microwave and wireless technology," said Skow.
"You have to get it right away, and that's been very difficult for
us, that's one of the major roadblocks that stops us from
proceeding."
Skow said technology is new to the Nation, so it's an adjustment
period for all involved.
"With the influx of technology, we've having an influx of
vendors coming in, and they're trying to put in their own
solutions, but we want to have a holistic vision and plan to
implement technology," said Skow.
"There's some resistance from vendors but as we educate our
politicians and all the people involved in implementing the right
technology, they're starting to understand and we're overcoming
those barriers," he said.
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