Prince George, B.C. – The Lheidli T’enneh First Nation are celebrating an important first.

All 116 band members finally have high-speed internet, the latest community to be upgraded as part of the Pathways to Technology project, an initiative managed by the All Nations Trust Company to bring affordable and reliable high-speed internet to all 203 First Nations in B.C.

Funding for the project came from the Pathways project and was supported by the provincial and federal governments through Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.

Band Chief Dominic Frederick called the upgrade “long overdue.”

“It’s a positive step for our community to be engaged and informed,” he said. “It’s a small step for our community members to be a part of the global society.”

The service upgrade has also afforded the Lheidli T’enneh a unique business opportunity as it will allow them to act as its own Internet Service Provider and generate new revenue as community members sign up.

“We’re working to ensure First Nations people can connect with the world no matter where they live,” said Ruth Williams, Pathways to Technology Project Manager. “By working in partnership with communities and governments we can make sure First Nations have modern technology in place to create more education and training opportunities for residents, improve health care and power up local economies.”