ICCTA

Indigenous Commission for Communications Technologies in the Americas

THE PLAN

Indigenous Peoples
empowering themselves
through technology

What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences,

their attractions and repulsions.
Life is plurality,
death is uniformity.

ICCTAS MISSION

To promote the appropriate use and development of

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
to strengthen the recovery of the roots of the Indigenous
Peoples of the Americas and their legal, political, social,
educational, cultural, spiritual and economic well-being.

By suppressing differences and peculiarities,

by eliminating different civilizations and cultures,
progress weakens life and favors death.
The ideal of a single civilization for everyone,
implicit in the cult of progress and technique,
impoverishes and mutilates us.
Every view of the world that becomes extinct,
every culture that disappears,
diminishes a possibility of life.

Octavio Paz

TABLE
OF CONTENTS

VOLUME I - THE STORY

ICCTAS MISSION 3
NOTE TO THE READER 5
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6
ABOUT ICCTA 8
SHOWCASING ICT AT WORK 18
ICCTA 5 YEARS FROM TODAY 26
PLANS IN BRIEF 38
CORPORATE DETAIL 48
END NOTE 49

readerto the
NOTE

VOLUME II - THE PLANS

DETAILED PLANS
ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN (MODUS OPERANDI)
SALES & MARKETING (FUNDING PLAN)
FINANCIAL PLAN
ANNUAL PLAN SUMMARIES (NEW)
LEGAL PROSPECTUS

VOLUME III - APPENDICES

This document which

describes ICCTAs Plan is divided
into 2 volumes. The first provides
background material and essentially
tells the story of ICCTA; its reason for
being; its history; where it expects to
be in 5 years time; elements of the
mission it sees; and a brief description
of its plans.
The second volume contains the
details of its plan to reach its 5
year objective. As with all plans it
is expected that the details and
schedules will alter over time as
the execution of the plan unfolds
and unanticipated situations occur.
Consequently the detailed plans must
be flexible and open to immediate
amendment as circumstances change.
To be kept current the format must
allow for timely updating.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ICCTA: the Indigenous Commission for Communications
Technologies in the Americas is an incorporated,
Indigenous organization, whose members are Native
Americans, Aboriginal Canadians and the Indigenous
Peoples of the Americas and Caribbean.
The objective of this Plan is to create an effective, efficient, low overhead organization which
can work with others to channel energy, expertise and funds to bring the significant benefit
of ICT to the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas.
At the end of the first five years ICCTA will have Indigenous membership of 15,000 people;
2,000 Indigenous organizations and 2,000 non-Indigenous friends. Income will come from
membership (17%), with support from governments (21%), agencies/foundations (14%),
and 70 corporations (39%). ICCTA is the incarnation of an ambitious idea: it is the idea that
Indigenous Peoples, given the right tools and training, can further their own prosperity.
The tools are in the Information and Communications Technology kit bag. ICT is the
technology that uses computers to analyze data; aggregate fact into information; and archive
knowledge, culture and tradition. ICT enables the processing and communication of all kinds
of information. It is a great deal more than just computers and the Internet. Information
may be wisdom, ideas, opinion, tradition, culture, history, help, instruction, references,
data, and importantly, sources and contacts. Communication may be by radio, television,
telephones, public address systems and newspapers or by the Internet. Deprived of access to
this technology the Indigenous Peoples will be impeded from sharing in global prosperity,
blocked by a digital divide.
ICCTA, being an organization of Indigenous Peoples, is uniquely qualified to identify and
enumerate their needs. These have been listed, split into strategic goals and tactical
objectives and are set out in the Project Agenda.

Across the globe, there are many examples where Indigenous Peoples either on their own
or assisted by generous support from the public or private sectors, have addressed some of
these needs in whole or in part. ICCTAs plan is to find these examples, and where possible,
form partnerships, and adapt them for replication in different circumstances. In other cases,
Indigenous entrepreneurs, who are frequently imagining new and innovative applications,
can turn to ICCTA for assistance in defining projects, finding funding, and managing them to
a successful completion. In turn these new applications will be publicized and shared with
other Indigenous communities.

Five years from today ICCTA, making maximum use of the technology itself, intends to have
a central web presence which is the major meeting place and the virtual marketplace, for
the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas and Caribbean: the place containing comprehensive
reference data on peoples, communities, languages, and ICT applications: the place where
individuals can connect with each other: the place where they can gain access to effective
and appropriate applications for telemedicine, e-health care and distance learning: the place
where wisdom, culture and tradition are kept alive.
Five years from today ICCTA will have NGO status and be a registered charity. It will be an
important partner with governments, agencies, foundations, universities and corporations
in defining and undertaking ICT projects aimed at improving the well-being of Indigenous
Peoples of the Americas.
Five years from today ICCTA will be operating a web based marketing and sales agency,
an Indigenous Web Mall, enabling the Indigenous Peoples to easily sell their goods and
services to the world. ICCTA will be known for the importance of the research it conducts
and the quality of its databases on whos who; its sources of funding in the private sector; its
companies with CSR Statements; its government programs and services; its agency programs
and support services.
To accomplish its mission and realize its vision, ICCTA has created detailed plans to build
the necessary infrastructure capacity to support this initiative across two continents and
the Caribbean. Commissioners representing 16 countries are already fulfilling what in a
corporation would be the role of the Board of Directors, setting objectives, reviewing plans,
exercising fiscal control, and measuring performance. Plans are being laid to establish
regional offices to bring ICCTA closer to its membership. Image development is underway to
produce a strong brand and logo. Recruiting plans to enlarge membership attract corporate
sponsorship, and gain government support, only need funding to begin execution.
Give me but a place to stand and I will move the earth said Archimedes to emphasize a
tools power of leverage. With ICT as the lever, Indigenous Peoples will change their world in
the Americas!

Commissioner
President
CANADA

To n y B e l c o u r t
tonyb@iccta-citca.org

Biography
Tony Belcourt has 40 years
of experience and significant
achievement in the corporate,
government and not-for-profit
sectors. Mr. Belcourt was instrumental
in creating a national voice for
Canadas Mtis and Non-Status
Indians, and his efforts were an
important contributing factor in
the Mtis being recognized in the
Constitution Act, 1982, as one of the
Aboriginal Peoples of Canada.
Tony has served with distinction
in numerous positions including
President of the Native Council of
Canada, Member of the Board of
Governors of the Mtis National
Council, President of the Mtis Nation
of Ontario, Chair of the Mtis Nation
of Ontario Cultural Commission and
President of the Mtis Nation of
Ontario Development Corporation
and Mtis Nation Ambassador on
International Issues.

ABOUT ICCTA
Introduction

ICCTA is a recently created and

unique Indigenous organization
positioned to enhance the quality of life for Indigenous Peoples of the Americas through the
appropriate use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs). ICCTAs domain
includes Native Americans, Aboriginal Canadians and all the Indigenous Peoples of South
America, Central America and the Caribbean.
There are estimates of some 40 million Indigenous Peoples living in the Americas who are
constrained from improving their social, economic and environmental well-being. ICCTA
encourages and facilitates the use of ICTs to smooth the progress of positive development
among all Indigenous Peoples in the Americas. There are among the communities of Native
Americans, Aboriginal Canadians and Indigenous Peoples some who have had immense
success in harnessing the potential of ICT. These positive examples need to be publicized and
shared within Canada, the United States, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.
Sustainable development of ICTs that can provide Indigenous Peoples with access to
information and capital and markets while preserving their cultural and sociopolitical roots is
the challenge.
ICCTAs Mission is to bring Information and Communication Technology (ICT) (computers,
software and the Internet and communication; radio, cellular phones, wireless networks and
broadband) to Indigenous Peoples of the Americas no matter where they are located. With
this technology they can connect with each other, and the world. With ICT they can benefit
from trading knowledge, ideas, skills, goods and services with each other and the developed
world.
ICCTA is seeking the financial resources to pursue its Mission for the development of ICTs that
will benefit its Indigenous constituents and their partners.
(www.iccta-citca.org)
INCORPORATION
ICCTA is incorporated as a not-for-profit Corporation under the laws of Canada. Its Head
Office is located in Ottawa, Canada.

10

HISTORY
In November 2005, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and Comisin
Nacional para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indgenas (CDI) jointly organized the 1st Regional
Workshop on Indigenous Peoples and ICTs in Mexico. This event, held for the first time in the
history of the Indigenous communities, attracted almost one hundred fifty (150) Indigenous
representatives from all over the Americas Region. At the Workshop many of the Indigenous
representatives realized that there was a need for their own organization and their own
Indigenous Peoples voice. The idea of ICCTA was conceived and ICCTA was created through a
resolution of the Indigenous Peoples Delegates who attended.

With financial support from the Government of Canada, the First Board of Commissioners,
which was appointed at the Mexico Workshop, gathered in Antigua, Guatemala on March 6
- 8, 2007. There, they formally created ICCTA and began the work of planning for the future.
From the beginning, ICCTA has undertaken work building the foundation for a solid
organization. It held a Marketing Workshop in Ottawa in March of 2008; it has undertaken to
create a formal plan to identify the tasks and resources necessary to accomplish its Mission,
realize its vision and, not least, to enable it to generate revenues and to secure support
funding from governments, agencies, foundations and corporations.
In August 2009, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) transferred ownership
of its Indigenous Americas Portal to the Indigenous Peoples themselves. The exchange
took place in Brasilia, Brazil on August 9, 2009, which is declared by the United Nations
as the International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples. The transfer took place at the
conclusion of the ITUs Second Regional Workshop of Indigenous Peoples and ICTs, which
was attended by over 120 Indigenous representatives from 21 countries of the Americas
region. The ITU Portal, which was formally transferred to the International Indigenous
Task Force (IITF), will, by agreement between the two parties, be developed and managed
by ICCTA. The agreement between the IITF and ICCTA for the future management of the
Americas Regional Portal also marks a milestone in their quest to develop and provide
mechanisms where Indigenous Peoples can connect with each other and the public and
private sector at large and share their websites, blogs and other media.
Following the ITU Workshop in Brasilia, ICCTAs Commissioners met for two days to review
progress, consider its plans and direction, elect new Commissioners and attend to the
business of ICCTA.

Commissioner
Vice-President
PERU

Marisol Llantoy Barboza

marisoll@iccta-citca.org

Biography
Marisol is from Quechua speaking
families from both the hills and the
jungle in her region in Peru. As a child
she studied hard while she worked
sheparding cattle and sheep together
with her parents. She has a Bachelors
Degree in Social Communications
from the San Cristobal National
University of Huamanga, Peru.
Marisol has worked at the regional
newspaper La Voz de Sucre writing
cultural articles while also producing
radio programs in Quechua for
Quispillaccta Radio, Takiyninchik,
Radio Huanta 2000 and Estacin Wari,
Radio Vilcashuamn.
Marisol is a co-founder of the
Saywa Network Indigenous
Communications for Sustainable
Development. Its productions include
Waylischa Willakamun (electronic
bulletin) and Kuskanchakuy (radio
program). Saywa Network provides
support to Quechua communicators
and social activities for the upper
Andes communities in the
Province of Ayacucho.

11

ICCTA proposes to act as a Champion for Indigenous Peoples, a Connector to

supporters and a Guide leading partners to positive returns...

LEADERSHIP & COMMITMENT

Differentiating between good intentions and positive results requires leadership. ICCTA
is emerging as a leader for the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. But leadership alone
will not be sufficient to bring about a positive shift in the circumstances of the Indigenous
Peoples. A strong commitment of support from all potential financial backers is also
necessary. A critical aspect of ICCTAs leadership role will be to secure that commitment on
behalf of the Indigenous Peoples.
CONSTITUENCY & MANDATE
ICCTA is unique! It is an international Indigenous organization whose voting members are
Indigenous Peoples, their organizations and their businesses. This inclusive Indigenous
constituency is broadened by the addition of non-Indigenous individuals who are nonvoting members, together with corporate sponsoring partners. ICCTAs mandate stems
directly from its voting members expressing their views through their General Assembly and
their elected Commissioners who govern ICCTA.

Leadership Circle
Notable individuals from all of the countries of the Americas and Caribbean can be
of enormous help to ICCTA and the Indigenous Peoples simply by being aware of
the aims of ICCTA, speaking favourably of its activities, and introducing ICCTA to key
players in governments, agencies, foundations and corporations. The Leadership Circle
composed of such notable leaders would receive regular reports on ICCTAs plans and
progress and use their connections and influence to help realize the ICCTA Vision. Their
names would be shown on the masthead of ICCTAs website and publicity material.

Executive Committee
The Executive Committee of ICCTA consists of a President, four Vice-Presidents and
a Secretary-Treasurer. The Committee implements decisions made by the General
Assembly or Commissioners; recommends projects and budgets to Commissioners;
takes authority over the general decision-making process; approves administrative
policies and procedures; assists in the selection of senior managers; appoints the
Executive Director upon recommendation of the President; recommends the
appointment of operating personnel.

GOVERNANCE

General Assembly of the Membership

The General Assembly is composed of all voting members of ICCTA. It is the highest
authority of the organization and provides a voice and vote for all voting members.
The General Assembly meets every year. It reviews, approves, or modifies, bylaws and
regulations. The General Assembly analyzes projects, defines policies and guidelines.
Members may participate by electronic means. The members of ICCTA, its General
Assembly, will be Indigenous entrepreneurs, community leaders, professionals,
program administrators and leaders who are aware of the potential of communications
and ICT.

Commissioners (Directors)
The Indigenous Commissioners of ICCTA fulfill the role of Directors. A Commissioner
is elected or appointed for every nation-state in the Americas and the Caribbean.
Commissioners hold office for a two year term or until the next General Assembly. The
Commissioners meet at least twice a year.
The present Board of Commissioners is composed of seventeen Commissioners from
the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas: Qom (Argentina), Arawak (Caricom), Aymara
(Bolivia), Terena (Brazil), Mtis (Canada), Totorez (Colombia), Bri Bri (Costa Rica), Kichua
Kanaris (Ecuador), Maya Kiche (Guatemala), Purhpecha (Mexico), Mestizo & Creole
(Nicaragua), Kuna (Panama), Quechua (Peru), Muscogee (Creek) Nation (United States),
Charra (Uruguay) and Wayuu (Venezuela), who constitute the Governing Body of
ICCTA. An early priority of ICCTA is to broaden the number of Commissioners until
there is representation from every country of the Americas and Caribbean.
12

Commissioner
Vice-President
VENEZUELA

ROLES

The Challenge
Everyone recognizes that there are Indigenous Peoples who are living in poverty,
poor health, and suffering from malnutrition. Governments, academia, foundations,
corporations and NGOs typically have programs aimed at improving these
circumstances. All wish to help and undertake aid programs. The difficulty is that, up
to now, there has not been a straightforward way for them to connect directly with
Indigenous Peoples. On the reverse, it has not been easy for Indigenous Peoples to
connect with the public and private sector either. There has been no easy way for the
intended recipients of well-intentioned help to be able to communicate, in their own
languages, their most important needs, priorities and objectives.
This is why ICCTA has been created: this is the role it seeks to fulfill; to amplify and
transmit the voice of the Indigenous Peoples, but with a specific orientation to the
potential offered by ICT. To fulfill its role, ICCTA proposes to act as a Champion for
Indigenous Peoples, a Connector to supporters, be they governments, NGOs or
corporations and as Guide, leading partners to positive returns for their investment
and effort.

Jayar iyu Far ias M ontiel

jayariyum@iccta-citca.org

Biography
Jayariyu has been the Director of
the WAYUUNAIKI newspaper for
nine years. She also directs the
WAYUUNAIKI radio station and
conducts the program Faith and
Happiness in Guajira 100.1 FM. She
has received a scholarship from the
United National Indigenous Program.
Jayariyu also conducts workshops
on journalism at schools in the
municipalities of Mara and Paez
while also promoting alternate
cultural spaces. She has participated
in national and international events
representing her native community
of Guajira, Venezuela.

13

ICCTAs vision of a world where Indigenous Peoples are rooted, recognized,

respected, connected, educated and prosperous is understandably ambitious

As Champion
ICCTA is a Champion of the Indigenous Peoples explaining background, publicizing
challenges, promoting answers, securing support and loosening any bureaucratic log
jams blocking ICT solutions.
In many Indigenous communities, solutions have already been found for various
needs through applicable use of ICTs. ICCTAs first role is to identify the uses of ICTs by
Indigenous Peoples in the Americas and maintain a catalogue of those solutions. The
catalogue will be extended to include ICT solutions that exist outside of the experience
of Indigenous Peoples. As a Champion, ICCTA will trumpet and publicize these success
stories.
As a Champion, ICCTA will also, in direct consultation with the different communities
of Indigenous Peoples, first record the needs as expressed by the communities
leaders. ICCTA will then define and refine the needs as enumerated at the Workshop
in Mexico (see Appendix I) and where necessary restate them in terms best understood
by those seeking to help. Once challenges have been identified, ICCTA will seek out
and promote ICT solutions.

As Connector
ICCTA is a Connector, linking local Indigenous Peoples community leaders and
organizations with each other and the private sector, governments, academia,
industries and NGOs for the purpose of exchanging news of imaginative ICT
applications; helping replicate these solutions or identifying new Information and
Communications Technologies (ICT) opportunities.
As a Connector, ICCTA will be the means by which catalogued ICT solutions can be
shared among the Indigenous communities. As a Connector ICCTA will seek out the
right benefactors and partners (governments, academia, corporations and NGOs) and
forge a link between all parties and the project.

Partnerships

14

ICCTAs vision of a world where Indigenous Peoples are rooted, recognized, respected,
connected, educated, and prosperous, is understandably ambitious. It cannot be
realized by ICCTA alone, nor is that the intention. But by joining with others, great
things can be accomplished. ICCTA aims to be a partner in its endeavors with:
Governments and their domestic and international agencies with whom ICCTA can
suggest projects and activities that complement governmental foreign policy goals
intended to benefit Indigenous Peoples and their communities; NGOs who have
projects that could benefit by having more direct input from Indigenous Peoples or
who have capabilities which would support an Indigenous community or the ICCTA
Initiative; Companies who wish to undertake projects that will fulfill their Corporate
Social Responsibilities (CSR) objectives and positively promote the Global Reporting

Initiative or where their corporate activities in territories impinging on Indigenous

Peoples can benefit from mutual understanding and accommodation; Universities
and colleges that wish to reach out to potential Indigenous students, extend distance
learning opportunities to Indigenous communities and that wish to enhance their
knowledge of the history of Indigenous Peoples, their culture, their traditional
knowledge and who are seeking to find answers to the best aid and investment
mechanisms.

Commissioner
Vice-President
GUATEMALA

Connectivity
ICCTA intends to use all media to connect Indigenous Peoples and their partners, the
foremost means being via the Internet but also employing and expanding existing
radio, television and print media as well as emerging uses of technology including cell
phones, MP3s, CDs and video. It will create connection channels with VOIP (Skype),
webinars, collaborative software tools, email, and appropriate social networking tools
as well as its own web portal. Secondary routes to connectivity will be face-to-face
conferences and workshops where opportunities can be thoroughly explored and
plans developed.

As Guide
ICCTA is a Guide, pinpointing mutually beneficial market opportunities for businesses
among Indigenous Peoples where both sides can benefit.
As a Guide, ICCTA will seek those projects that will build capacity, be sustainable over
the long term, provide a positive return on investment and at the same time will help
its partners achieve their goals.

M a r l e ny Tz i c a p
marlenyt@iccta-citca.org

Biography
Marleny Tzicap, a Kiche Maya
communicator from Totonicapan,
Guatemala, has a title of Expert in
Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights,
Governance and International
Cooperation from the Carlos III
University in Madrid, Spain. She has a
Bachelors Degree in Intercultural
Bilingual Education from Rafael
Landivar University in Guatemala.
Marleny is a member of the Linguistic
Advisory Commission of the Kiche
Community in the Mayan Languages
Academy of Guatemala. Marlenys
work experience has been in research
and training in Mayan languages, as a
Kiche translator, as a trainer in active
and participatory methodologies
in the educational field, and in
designing and producing interactive
materials within the cultural context.

15

Every ICCTA Initiative will have a clearly stated objective with measurable
performance criteria

Referential Databases
ICCTA will conduct research, either by itself or with partners, of current use of
ICT by Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. The General Objective is to improve
understanding of how ICTs are used by Indigenous communities in the Americas to
respond to development priorities, in order to promote knowledge sharing and inform
relevant stakeholders. Specific Objectives are to:

Commissioner
S e c re t a r y -Tre a s u re r
MEXICO

.

Pedro Victoriano Cruz

pedroc@iccta-citca.org

.

Biography
.
Pedro is the founder and current
director of the Mexican Indigenous
Communications System:
www.xiranhua.com.mx
which was given the World Summit
Award WSAMX 2005 in the
e-inclusion category granted by
Media Innovations-CIE, ICNM, UN,
Monterreys Technical University, and
WSA The Best in
e-Content & Creativity.
Pedro is also the founder of an FM
radio station that is heard in the
Indigenous communities, and he is
also the creator of the first digital
radio station on the Internet
XHKR: Root songs,
www.purepechas.org
which transmits 24 hours a day,
365 days a year, linking the Indian
Peoples, as well as being an
instrument to fight for Indigenous
traditions and customs. Pedro has
received regional, provincial and
national recognition for his work in
Indigenous communications and the
New Information Technologies
for Communications.

16

Conduct research to identify the projects, initiatives and applications of ICTs by

Indigenous Peoples; how these approaches/solutions are responding to the
developmental priorities of the relevant Indigenous groups, peoples and communities
and lessons learned which may be valuable to ICCTA, other Indigenous organizations
and stakeholders.
Develop an on-going electronic database of ICT activities by Indigenous Peoples in the
Americas that all Indigenous Peoples and stakeholders can share and use to further
their ICT related objectives.
Contribute to strengthening the understanding of ICT issues and needs by the
Indigenous community through the broad dissemination of the research findings,
including a final written and electronic report, a video and web conferencing.

RESPONSIBILITY & CONTROL

ICCTA is accountable to its members, sponsors, subscribers and patrons. Every ICCTA
Initiative will have a clearly stated objective with measurable performance criteria. ICCTA
produces a Bi Annual Report for its members, sponsors and supporters. The Annual Report is
accompanied by audited Financial Statements.

Commissioner
U.S.A.

Geoffrey C. Blackwell

Biography
Mr. Blackwell is Director, Strategic
Relations and Minority Business
Development for Chickasaw
Nation Industries, a family of
companies providing ICT services
and infrastructure, medical,
manufacturing, and related
professional services.
Mr. Blackwell chairs the National
Congress of American Indians
Telecommunications Subcommittee.
He serves on the Boards of Native
Public Media, National Federation of
Community Broadcasters, National
Small Business Association, and
Acoma Business Enterprises. For six
years, he was Senior Attorney and
Liaison to Tribal Governments for
the U.S. Federal Communications
Commission. He serves on the FCCs
Federal Advisory Committee on
Diversity for Communications
in the Digital Age.
Mr. Blackwell graduated from
Dartmouth College and the
University of Virginia School of Law.
He is an enrolled member of the
Muscogee (Creek) Nation and also
of Omaha, Choctaw, and
Chickasaw heritage.
17

SHOWCASING ICT
AT WORK

18

19

ICCTA believes that progress for Indigenous Peoples will come from the
inspiration of others success, coupled with building on their experience
and learning from their example. To capitalize on this philosophy ICCTA will search out success

stories where one implementation can be replicated in other locales, perhaps many times over to the benefit of a
great number of people. What follows are such inspirational examples

These examples simply illustrate the intention. While they may be developed into

projects that ICCTA could attempt to replicate at some point in the future, it should be understood before that
occurs it would be necessary to have in hand a thorough case study which would contain information on costs,
benefits, funding sources, issues of sustainability, staffing and organization, contact people and so on. Case study
requirements are crucial to every project

FROM BRAZIL
Arco Digital (Digital Bow)
www.indiosonline.org.br

ndios Online is a website in which seven Indigenous nations,: Kiriri, Tupinamb, PataxHhhe, Tumbalal in Bahia, Xucuru-Kariri, Kariri-Xoc in Alagoas and Pankararu in
Pernambuco, exchange information and experience. The Indigenous get connected on the
Internet from their own villages, organizing themselves through studies and initiatives to
benefit their communities and society at large.
Its main goals are: facilitate access to information and communication to different
Indigenous nations; stimulate intercultural dialog; preserve, update, appraise and publish
Indigenous culture; promote respect for their differences; reflect about the native of today;
catalogue archives about natives from the Northeast of Brazil and the world; improve the
process of continuing education for Indigenous Peoples; and improve the educational level
of different ethnic groups to guarantee their rights.
ndios Online is a network made up of volunteer natives that are looking for human, cultural,
social and economic development by taking advantage of a series of tools made available by
the Internet.
Historically for the people of these Indigenous nations, life has depended on the bow and
arrow (arco e flescha), the instrument of protection and the hunt. The web presence of
ndios Online is styled as the new bow and arrow, as the new instrument of protection and
nourishment.

FROM BOLIVIA
Red De Comunicaciones Indigenas Apachita

The Apachita Indigenous Communications Network is incorporated by Public Deed

No. 597/02 and it is made up of 42 FM radio stations and community telecenters
(Communication Centers) whose mission is to disseminate technical information for
agricultural production and transparent information on the situation in Bolivia; all messages
are transmitted in the Aymara language.
At the same time the network gives support to empower womens human rights and
citizenship, community health and reproductive sexual health, infectious-contagious
diseases, HIV/AIDS, training leaders who are women, and political training.
Children and young students (and) adults access the communication centers to use the
virtual libraries, to communicate with their relatives over the phone and electronic mail
within the framework of the democratization of communications and access to ICTs.
All activities are oriented towards providing training and technical assistance through
volunteer technicians and people knowledgeable about the topic.

The website contains maps, archives (texts, pictures and videos), and a chat room. It offers
information about education, agriculture, heath, citizenship and cyber activism. Individual
blogs bring varied stories told in the unique voice of the Indigenous nations unfiltered by
outside views. According to the Thydw NPO,1 the non-profit organization behind ndios
Online, around 25,000 Indigenous People are using the site.2
Thydws goal is to recover, preserve and defend the value of Indigenous culture, promote
intercultural dialog and respect for differences through educational activities.

20

1 Thydw
Rua Pau Brasil 7A Itapoan. Salvador. Bahia. Cep 41410-190.
dosindios@terra.com.br
www.visaodosindios.com.br
(71) 375-1441 / (71) 9123-6699
2 Translation from Portuguese and abstraction by Edilia de Toledo Figueiredo

21

As part of their work strategy they hold constant training courses on

using Information Technologies and how to master the art of communication. They have
received several acknowledgements at the state, national and international level for their work

FROM MEXICO
COMUNICACIN INDGENA
Xiranhua Comunicaciones
www.xiranhua.com.mx

Is a group of communicators of the Indigenous Purhpecha nationality of Mexico whose

objective is to investigate the historical background of their people and communicate their
cultural values to the current and future generations. To carry out this task they support
themselves with Information Communication Technologies (ICT) and other instruments of
traditional communications.
As a group it has founded a FM radio station, a printed newspaper, an Internet radio
station and several websites with which it is carrying out its communications within the
communities and outside with the migrant Purhepecha Indians in different parts of the
world, mainly within Mexico and the United States of America.
As part of their work strategy they hold constant training courses on using Information
Technologies and how to master the art of communication. They have received several
acknowledgements at the state, national and international level for their work.

FROM CANADA
K-Net

The Kuhkenah Network (K-Net) provides Information and Communication Technologies

(ICTs), telecommunication infrastructure and application support in First Nation communities
across a vast, remote region of northwestern Ontario as well as in other remote regions in
Canada. This private telecommunications network supports the development of online
applications that combine video, voice and data services requiring broadband and highspeed connectivity solutions. K-Net is a program of Keewaytinook Okimakanak (KO), to
provide a variety of second level support services for their communities. Kuhkenah is an OjiCree term for everyone, everywhere.
SERVICES
Among its various services, K-Net operates a HelpDesk for First Nations schools who are
getting Internet access through School-Net; advocates for full broad band capacity in
member communities and in other NAN First Nations; develops and maintains computer
networking support in member First Nations in and between the Sioux Lookout and Red
Lake offices; and develops and delivers a wide range of training and capacity building
programs aimed at strengthening computer and telecommunications expertise at the
community level.
LANGUAGE & CULTURE
K-Net strengthens culture and language with online resources including an
Oji-Cree Translation Dictionary, stories of native legends in text and audio in both Oji-Cree
and English.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPEMENT
Keewaytinook Okimakanaks Economic Development Advisor works closely with First
Nations to develop initiatives which are appropriate to the socio-economic, cultural, and
geographical environment of each First Nation. The priority is to increase business skills and
knowledge in member communities.
TELEMEDICINE
KO Telemedicine (KOTM) delivers clinical, educational and administrative services via
videoconferencing and advanced Information and Communication Technologies to First
Nation communities in Ontario.

Keewaytinook Okimakanak,3 which means Northern Chiefs in Oji-Cree, is a non-political

Chiefs Council serving Deer Lake, Fort Severn, Keewaywin, McDowell Lake, North Spirit Lake
and Poplar Hill First Nations in Ontario. The Council provides health, education, economic
development, employment assistance, legal, public works, finance, research, clean water,
cellular, administration and computer communication services. The organization is directed
by the Chiefs of the member First Nations who form the Board of Directors.

22

3 Paraphrased from K-Net website http://knet.ca/

23

The Tribal Digital Village (TDV), a project of the Southern California Tribal Chairmens Association
(http://www.sctca.net), is based in Southern Californias San Diego County

FROM UNITED STATES

The Tribal Digital Village

busy doing it here at the moment, said Jack Ward. Staunching the brain drain from these
deprived communities was another objective of the project.
Having connectivity has made it easier for most Tribes to provide local services such as
courts, fire and security departments as well as apply for the many grants they use to
run their nations. A handful of reservations in the coverage area have no water, power or
phone lines. They therefore rely on the Tribal Digital Village resource centres of their better
connected neighbours.

The Tribal Digital Village4 (TDV), a project of the Southern California Tribal Chairmens
Association (http://www.sctca.net), is based in Southern Californias San Diego County. The
project set out to connect the Reservations in San Diego County to a high-speed Internet
backbone; to use Internet connections recently installed at Pala, La Jolla, and Rincon
Educational Centers as a model; to work with each Tribe to design and deploy a working
solution within 9 months; to build a network within each Reservation for Internet access and
provide the local knowledge to use it and to use the Internet to build communities of interest
among Tribal members in ways that resemble family and community networks.
This mountainous and remote land is home to 18 Native American Reservations each one
a sovereign nation with an aggregate population of 15,000. As with other rural areas of the
U.S., wiring Native American Reservations for telephony and Internet access has never been
an attractive proposition for established phone companies.
Tribal governments have taken matters into their own hands. Three years ago, the Southern
California Tribal Chairmens Association applied for a $5m grant from Hewlett-Packard. The
technology giant had decided to set up three so-called digital villages.
Now a wireless Internet connection spans an area 150 miles long by 75 miles wide. Bubbles
of wi-fi networks cover local government offices, libraries, schools and museums. More than
900 computers are connected to the network. More than 1,500 people use e-mail and access
online Tribal calendars. Educational software is available to supplement high school courses.
There are 25 learning labs equipped with video, audio and digital photography equipment.
The TDV offers a range of computing courses. One Tribal chairman is doing a Cisco Academy
certification course in order to be able to support his Tribe of eight people. But people
have not gone on to get jobs with outside companies as yet. Everybody weve trained is

24

4 Paraphrased from BBC News Elizabeth Biddlecombe

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3489932.stm

25

ICCTA 5 YEARS FROM

TODAY

26

27

OVERVIEW

Five years from today, ICCTA aims to be the place where Indigenous Peoples, Native
Americans, and Aboriginal Canadians go when they need to know who among them is
doing what, how to join forces with the like minded, what ICT capability can they use, how to
initiate, implement and manage an ICT project, where to get project funding, how to have a
dialog with and get support from governments, how to encourage entrepreneurs, and how
to form successful partnerships with business and industry.
In five years, ICCTA sees itself as a vibrant, rapidly growing, cohesive organization connecting
some 15,0005 Indigenous members from North America, Central America, South America and
the Caribbean connecting with each other. An organization buttressed with 30006
non-Indigenous members and with corporations, foundations agencies and governments.
Where a substantial part of its core operation will be sustained by income earned from
membership dues, subscriptions, advertising sales, project development and management
fees, conference sponsorship and trade shows. Necessary government support will be
warranted by the cooperative contribution ICCTA makes to their intended programs and
initiatives. The projects it undertakes will be separately funded. It will be bridging the
Indigenous digital divide with ICT applications.
NGO STATUS
ICCTA will have obtained NGO status to better enable it to represent the interests of its
members in international forums such as the UN Permanent Forum on the Indigenous Issues,
the International Telecommunications Union, the OAS and CITEL and at specific international
conferences hosted by their agencies. ICCTAs purpose will be to promote and encourage
access to and development of communications and information technologies which serve to
meet the needs of Indigenous communities.
REGISTERED CHARITY
ICCTA will be a registered charitable organization which can raise funds from philanthropic
individuals to aid Indigenous Peoples in instances of disaster and to finance specific projects.
WEB MEETING PLACE
At ICCTAs core will be its Internet web presence. This website, with facets in English, Spanish,
Portuguese or French will be the meeting place, a virtual village square where Indigenous
Peoples connect and share experience, expose obstacles, and exchange ICT answers;
where fading cultural tradition is reignited through ICT; where successful ICT applications
by Indigenous Peoples are showcased and adopted; where matchmaking produces team

28

5 See plan for selling Indigenous Memberships

6 See plan for selling non-Indigenous Memberships

partnerships between complementary Indigenous organizations, business, industry,

NGOs, agencies and government; where Indigenous products are bought and sold; where
communities find the nourishment to blossom and flourish.

News of the Day

Commissioner
ECUADOR

In the Web 2.0 idiom, a network of Indigenous reporters in their communities

throughout the Americas and Caribbean will feed news stories, written or audio, to
ICCTAs wiki page. Multilingual ICCTA Members in the wiki will translate the stories
from their mother tongue to other languages. Editors will collaborate to select the
most relevant news to be featured daily on the ICCTA home page. A RSS news feed
from ICCTA to broadcast partners will provide broad coverage to the most noteworthy
stories. An ICCTA Twitter page will highlight the headline stories. A program of rewards
will compensate and encourage involvement with the wikis.

Daily Features
More elaborate stories of cultural experience and tradition will be featured on the
website. Stories will originate from members or will be republished (with permission)
from other sources. The rewards program which encourages participation will be
promoted and refined.

Showcase
ICCTAs research activity on ICT usage and applications by Aboriginal First Nations,
American Indians and Indigenous Peoples can be expected to uncover imaginative
and ingenious examples of ICT use in the fields of health care, distance education,
communication, commerce, environment, human rights, culture, governance and
more. The inspirational cases will be highlighted and showcased as part of the website.

Partners
The Partners Page will describe the many organizations that collaborate with ICCTA to
improve the well-being of Indigenous Peoples. Links will be provided.

Manuel Castro
manuelc@iccta-citca.org

Biography
Manuels experience includes
appointments as Communications
Leader of the Confederation of
Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador
(CONAIE), Leader of Organization
and Training for CONAIE and the
Mayor for the Suscal Municipality in
the Province of Caar in Ecuador. He
is currently Leader of the local and
regional community organizations of
UNOICS and UPCCC in Caar.
Manuel Maria has participated in
different international conferences
and he has publications such as a
political project for the UNPOICS, in
local government magazines and
CONAIE magazines, among others.

29

In addition to the Internet, Community Radio can be a vital means of disseminating information
and strengthening cultures

Web Mall
Finished goods and products, art, crafts and tourism that Indigenous communities or
Indigenous entrepreneurs and companies wish to sell will be bought and sold on an
active trading page of the website.

Reference
Reference material on Indigenous Peoples languages, communities, and organizations;
funding sources and ICT usage and applications, the product of ICCTAs research effort,
will be available to ICCTA members, and for a fee, to subscribers or casual users online
from the website.

Links to Indigenous Sites

Links to Indigenous websites will guide users to related web pages.

Collaborative Internet Communication

The members of ICCTA, its Commissioners and partners are spread throughout the
Americas, thousands of kilometres apart. Of necessity, meetings must be done with
ICT and in particular the Internet. ICCTA will be a very advanced user of collaborative
Internet communication. Working with its partners, ICCTA with its demanding agenda
will be a major force pushing the advance of this technology.

Simultaneous Interpretation
Given the multilingual nature of ICCTA, an important feature that it will be promoting
is multiple VOIP channels to accompany PC based collaborative software tools. This
feature will enable ICCTA to provide simultaneous interpretation in many languages
where participants could select a channel and receive a simultaneous feed in their
own language. Interpreters would in many cases be bilingual members who would
be compensated through the rewards program. Such a feature does not appear to be
currently available in any of the popular PC based software but ICCTAs need could be
used as the impetus to create it.
COMMUNITY RADIO
In addition to the Internet, Community Radio can be a vital means of disseminating
information and strengthening cultures. ICCTA will have formed partnerships and established
collaborative Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with numerous organizations interested
in the dynamic growth of Community Radio throughout the Americas.

30

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, TRADE SHOWS

While major emphasis is placed collaborating and meeting over the Internet, there is still a
place for conferences, workshops, and trade shows. Human nature still favors face-to-face
dialog and friendships formed in person enhance later Internet collaboration.

Commissioner
COLOMBIA

Five years from now, ICCTA will be organizing and holding biennial conferences on ehealth, e-education, drawing participants from Indigenous Peoples, governments, agencies,
NGOs, and industry. The conferences will be accompanied by a trade show where industry
can promote their goods and services; venture investors can connect with Indigenous
entrepreneurs; governments and agencies can unveil and explain their Indigenous programs;
and Indigenous professionals can meet community elders.
It is anticipated that attendance at these conferences would be 1000-2000.
Two to three Workshops would be conducted each year with the purpose of addressing
specific issues and would have a strong training component. Conference exhibit
management for Indigenous groups would be a service that ICCTA will offer. Sponsorship
fees will be a significant source of income for ICCTA.
RESEARCH

Comprehensive Reference Databases

Indigenous Peoples (Organizations, Communities, Languages)
Five years from now, perhaps for the first time, interested parties will be able to query a
census of Indigenous Peoples organizations, communities, and languages.

Indigenous ICT Applications

To propose a solution one must first define the problem and then understand its
dimensions. The problem is the digital divide. Broadly speaking, The term digital divide
refers to the gap between people with effective access to digital and information
technology and those with very limited or no access at all. It includes the imbalances in
physical access to technology as well as the imbalances in resources and skills needed
to participate effectively as a digital citizen.7 It is axiomatic that there is an Indigenous
Peoples digital divide: but what is its magnitude?

7 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_divide

Jose Fernando Conejo

josec@iccta-citca.org

Biography
Jose Fernando is the creator
and founding member (1999) of
the Association of Indigenous
Communications Media of Colombia
(AMCIC). He is also the creator
of radio programs regarding his
communitys culture, organization
and territory. He has participated in
national and international events
as a community leader and
Indigenous communicator.
Jose Fernando has also received
local, regional and national
recognition for his work in Indigenous
communications, among which
is recognition from the National
University Association of Colombia
ASCUN, for his work, management
and support in monitoring the
national medias portrayal of
Indigenous Peoples.

31

A straightforward way to bring prosperity to a segment of Indigenous Peoples, those with unique
talent, is to provide them a way to sell their products

Using database technology, ICCTA will be answering the question with an inventory
of communication infrastructure and documentation on a large cross section of
e-citizenship, e-economy, e-education and e-health initiatives that bridge the digital
divide.8
ICCTAs reference database will be providing empirical data on the range of ICT usage
by Indigenous Peoples; the problems they have encountered; who is using ICT; and
which ICT solutions have been successful. This invaluable database will be in extensive
use by potential partners, governments, corporations, NGOs and relevant agencies and
will enable Indigenous Peoples and their communities to learn from the experiences of
other Indigenous Peoples.

Funding Sources
Every idea conceived by Indigenous Peoples that develops into a project will require
financial support. ICCTA will have an Internet accessible database identifying potential
supporters among foundations, corporations, governments and agencies.
INDIGENOUS PROJECT SUPPORT
Throughout the Indigenous communities the entrepreneurial members conceive of ways to
use the technology to the benefit of the community. But one thing tends to be lacking: the
relatively small amount of money that needs to be invested. Support is frequently available
but only in response to a formal application and subject to proper management and control.
ICCTA can provide the service needed to help realize these projects. ICCTA would earn a fee
for these services.

Proposal & Application Assistance

Members will bring their projects to ICCTA through their Commissioner. ICCTA
will provide assistance by assessing the project; aligning it with the objectives of a
particular government, agency, foundation, NGO or other sponsor. ICCTA will prepare a
plan and make an application.

Funding Assistance
Utilising ICCTAs database of funding sources, ICCTA will direct the application to the
most promising organizations and will assist in making the presentation.

Project Development & Management Assistance

Once the project has been initiated, ICCTA will assist the member by developing
project plans and exercising management and financial control to ensure success.
MARKETING & SALES AGENCY
There are many imaginative Indigenous entrepreneurs who have created products or
services that would be valuable to a broad audience. ICCTA will create the equivalent of

Commissioner
CARICOM

Craigs List or Kijiji which will categorize products and services and bring greater publicity to
the items.
A straightforward way to bring prosperity to a segment of Indigenous Peoples, those with
unique talent, is to provide them with a way to sell their products. Experience has shown that
the Internet can open the door, enabling people in remote, isolated communities to display
their wares and make a sale. A web mall is simply a website where many different artists
and artisans can each have a separate store window at the same web address offering
purchasers one stop shopping for many different items.
The concept of a web mall is now relatively commonplace. Many web-hosting companies
offer very low cost templates for the service and ICCTA can easily acquire the necessary
software and add the service to its web portal. The challenge is not building the store; the
problem is filling the shelves with product; creating the window display; supplying the
pictures and descriptions, and setting price tags.
PARTNERSHIPS
ICCTA has an ambitious vision and a difficult mission: to achieve its objectives, ICCTA will
seek to join other like-minded organizations in partnerships. Depending on the specific goal
each partnership may consist of two or more partners.Obviously, it is impossible at this stage
of ICCTAs development to set out a detailed plan of partnership formation. It is however
appropriate to indicate what is being contemplated.

For Purposes of Illustration

The following comments are presented solely to illustrate the types of organizations
ICCTA believes could be helpful and would complement its plans. It must be
emphasized that these thoughts are strictly ICCTAs and no connections of any sort
have been broached at this time.

Damon Gerard Corrie

Biography
Damon Gerard Corrie is a member of
the 2,000 person Eagle Clan Arawaks
(Bariria Korobahado Lokono) of the
country of Guyana in
North-East South America.
Since 1992 Damon has represented
his people internationally at the
United Nations (UN) where he
registered the Eagle Clan Arawaks
as observers and is himself a
registered participant of the United
Nations Permanent Forum on
Indigenous Issues (UNPFII); and at
the Organization of American States
(OAS) where he is a member of the
Indigenous Caucus of the Americas.
Damon has retained Special Advisor
status on International Affairs to
consecutive elected National Chiefs
of Pakuri since 1992.
In 1996 Damon founded the
Pan-Tribal Confederacy of Indigenous
Tribal Nations a worldwide
multi-racial Indigenous Confederacy.
Damon writes most of the news
articles highlighting the plight of
member tribes and has retained the
Presidency of the Confederacy
which he funds entirely himself.

32

8 ICCTA IRDC Proposal

33

ICCTAs relations with the public sector will clearly be non-partisan and non-political

Benefiting from Experience

In Canada, the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) has 25 years of
experience as a non-profit, non-partisan organization that helps facilitate sustainable
relations between the Canadian business sector and Aboriginals. CCABs programs and
services support the Aboriginal business entrepreneur through stages of education;
business development and leadership. Particularly noteworthy for ICCTA is that at
CCAB they share what we know and what has worked for others.

Advancing ICT
There are a number of other organizations that have the objective of harnessing the
potential of ICT to improve lives, reduce poverty, and empower people although not
specifically focused on the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas as ICCTA is. Consider
the Global Knowledge Partnership Secretariat (GKP) an international organization
incorporated in Malaysia. By forming a partnership, both ICCTA and GKP could help
each other achieve their respective goals.

e-Learning
Harvard Universitys Native American Program has as its purpose advancing the wellbeing of Indigenous Peoples through self-determination, academic development and
community service. A partnership between ICCTA, with its Indigenous membership
throughout the Americas, and Harvard, seeking to connect with Native Americans
could be mutually beneficial. Beyond that, could the Harvard idea be replicated
by introducing new partners such as Canadas virtual Athabasca University or the
Universidad de Buenos Aires with its distance-learning program, extending the reach
beyond Native Americans to all Indigenous Peoples of the Americas?

Consulting Companies
Companies such as PriceWaterhouseCoopers suggest to their clients that global
best practices must often consider Indigenous factors that affect the effectiveness of
governance and structure.9 Again, ICCTA with its Indigenous membership could be a
valuable partner in highlighting the Indigenous factors which will differ from country
to country.

Community Radio
Indigenous Community Radio is seen to be an important way for ICCTA to get its
message broadly disseminated. Lacking experience in this field, ICCTA intends to turn

34

9 http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/emerging-markets-strategies/governance-structure.jhtml

to those who have it and to pursue a partnership arrangement. Highly promising as

partners in this endeavor is the radio network of Native Public Media in the U.S.A. and
the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) which brings
together a network of more than 4000 community radios.

Commissioner
COSTA RICA

PUBLIC SECTOR RELATIONS

ICCTAs relations with the public sector will clearly be non-partisan and
non-political. It expects its relationship to be one of providing neutral assistance.

Governments
Liaison
ICCTA anticipates an important role providing liaison between governments and their
Indigenous communities, helping each to understand the other. Because of its broad
Indigenous membership in all the countries of the Americas and Caribbean, ICCTA
will offer a unique audience for government initiatives. Through cooperation and
consultation it will be of vital assistance in aligning policies with needs.

Trade
ICCTA plans to have a program to provide information on Indigenous concerns to
government trade offices in the countries of the Americas and Caribbean.

Submission Protocols
Governments with programs to support Indigenous Peoples and their communities
often seek advice in designing application forms and protocols suitable for the
Indigenous audience they are targeting. Where needed, ICCTA could provide an
outsourced service for both the design phase and could assist the preparation of
submissions and their subsequent evaluation.

Roundtables
Governments at time convene meetings or roundtables to consult those who may
be affected by policies or initiatives they are considering. For those issues relating to
Indigenous Peoples, ICCTA, because of its membership, will be ideally positioned to
nominate suitable participants.

Al Garca

Biography
Al Garca Segura belongs to the
Sbliwak Clan of the Bribri People.
Al attended universities in Venezuela,
Bolivia, and Ecuador and holds a
B.A. in Ethnology.
He is currently co-professor in the
Bribri language course at the Faculty
of Arts at the University of Costa
Rica, where he also acts as a writer
and researcher in projects on the
Indigenous languages and cultures
in the country.
Al is a member of the
Sub-Commission for Indigenous
Peoples Access to Justice developed
by Costa Ricas Supreme Court of
Justice. He is active in Indigenous
organizations that manage
development projects in Indigenous
communities in Costa Rica and other
Central American countries.
Al has published and recorded books,
articles and radio plays in America and
Europe on Indigenous cultures and
in 2006, received the National Values
Prize granted by the Costa Rican State
acknowledging efforts made in favor
of the most vulnerable peoples.
35

ICCTA, with its distinctive Indigenous membership, is the ideal body for the private
sector to connect with

Policy Development
Commissioner
URUGUAY

Insofar as existing and contemplated government policies and regulations relating to

ICT would affect the lives of Indigenous Peoples, ICCTA would, when invited to do so,
survey its membership and report the Indigenous point of view.

Commissioner
PANAMA

Agencies (UN [ITU], OAS [CITEL])

Indigenous Peoples should be directly represented in the forums of the UN, the
ITU, CITEL and others. If it is currently not the case, ICCTA will recommend inclusion,
propose candidates, and provide the reporting mechanism for proposals and decisions
to be communicated to the Indigenous Peoples.

Paula Hernndez
paulah@iccta-citca.org

Biography
Paula is studying law at the Faculty
of Law in Uruguay. She also
studies painting and sculpture
at the Pedro Figari School of Art.
In 2004 she participated in the
virtual courses given by the UN for
young Indigenous leaders. She also
participated in the courses given
by the ITU on Indigenous Peoples
Rights through the Use of and Access
to ICTs and Indigenous Peoples
Development with Identity through
the use of and access to ICTs.
Paula is currently the coordinator of
Cerro Community Radio 8.5 Uruguay.
She also works in the provinces with
HIV orphans within the context of the
ICTs framework for a better, healthier
world. She is also the creator of the
Chalona Ethnic Clothes Creations.

36

NGOs
ICCTA plans to enter into partnership arrangements with numerous NGOs where the
knowledge of its membership would greatly help NGOs realize projects that would be
very beneficial to Indigenous Peoples.
PRIVATE SECTOR RELATIONS
Cosmetic, pharmaceutical and resource development companies, among others, have a
particular need to consult and accommodate the interests of Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous
Peoples likewise need the facilities to be able to adequately communicate their interests to
these industries. ICCTA, with its distinctive Indigenous membership is the ideal body for the
private sector to connect with.

Knowledge
Indigenous Peoples have knowledge of geography, terrain, nature and traditions,
which can be an asset to these companies.

Opinion
From surveys or reports by its membership, ICCTA will be able to provide opinion on
the merits of certain business activity as it affects the Indigenous Peoples and their
communities.

Certification
ICCTA plans to develop an evaluation/certification process regarding private sector
activity for GRI and CSR reporting.

Nelson de Len Kantule

nelsonk@iccta-citca.org

Biography
Nelson is a scholar and researcher
of the Kuna culture who majored in
Philosophy and History at the
Jose A. Remon Cantera College in
Panama. He was a co-founder of the
Napguana Association and was the
Associations President from 2001
to 2007. He is a past Treasurer of
Napguana, was the Director of the
Napguanas Traditional
Fishing Project.
Nelson is the editor of the
Centre of Kuna Information and
Communication (CICI-K) and of
the International Indigenous
Press Agency. He has participated
in many international events on
justice, human rights and traditional
knowledge sponsored
by the World Bank, the United
Nations and the Organization of
American States.

37

PLANS IN
BRIEF

38

39

ADMINISTRATIVE
PLAN

The objective of the Administrative Plan is to create an efficient, effective, low overhead
organization which can work with others to channel energy expertise and funds to bring a
significant benefit of ICT to the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas.
ICCTA owes a duty and a responsibility to the Indigenous Peoples it serves and to its financial
supporters: governments, agencies, NGOs, foundations and corporations and to individual
members. To fulfill its duty, its guiding principles must be those of accountability and
transparency. It must maintain rigid financial control following international accounting
standards. Projects undertaken must have clearly identified objectives, include a cost benefit
analysis, have specific timelines, detailed budgets for all required resources and produce
measurable results as indicated in a list of deliverables. Projects must be evaluated at timely
milestones to ensure they are on track with their plans.

Organization
ICCTA plans to structure its organization as indicated in the following chart. The
President and CEO will be assisted by a team of Advisors providing valuable skills and
local knowledge together with the notable individuals of the Leadership Circle. A
major undertaking of the early years will be enlisting this body of noteworthy people
capable of assisting ICCTA in achieving its aims. Administrative duties will be overseen
by a Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).

To accomplish its objectives functional responsibilities are defined as: Application

Development; Communication & Marketing; Information Services & Webmaster; Finance;
Sales & Funding; and Research & Database Administration.

Application Development

Commissioner
BOLIVIA

Its role is to receive and catalog ICT application opportunities from Commissioners
and Membership; to analyze cost benefit relationships; to propose solutions either by
replicating existing methods or developing new ones; assist in project definition and
preparation of funding applications; and assisting in project management.

PR & Marketing
Marketing will be responsible for creating and managing material that will carry ICCTAs
image and message on pamphlets, brochures, presentations, the website, newsletters,
reports and press releases.
Communications will transmit the message in producing speeches, press releases,
newspaper stories, radio and TV broadcasts. It will arrange venues and develop a base
of receptive supporters in the media of all regions of the Americas and Caribbean.

Information Services & Webmaster

Information Services (IT) will be responsible for keeping ICCTA current with the
technology; administering IT infrastructure; and answering all technical questions.
ICCTA has ambitious plans to make its web presence the major focal point for all
Indigenous Peoples. The Webmaster will be responsible for gathering and presenting
content in four languages; establishing and maintaining links; arranging search engine
positioning; capturing and analyzing web traffic statistics; security and member login;
and referential databases.

Finance
Finance is responsible for control of financial records; budgeting; accounting;
reporting; and banking. It will operate a controller function and meet all international
accounting standards.

Flix Gutirrez Matta

felixm@iccta-citca.org

Biography
Flix has Bachelors Degrees in
Agronomy Engineering, Social
Communications and Anthropology
from the Universities of Tomas Frias in
Potosi and in Saint Andrews Higher
University of La Paz and a Masters
in Agricultural Economy from the
Bolivian Catholic University.
He has participated in various
national and international events
in which he has advocated for the
democratization and access to
Information and Communication
Technologies for Indigenous Peoples.
Flix is also the General Director
of the Apachita Indigenous
Communications Network, which
includes 42 FM radios and community
telecenters that are spread out in
the rural communities
in the mountainous regions of
western Bolivia.

40

41

Marketing is to produce a brand image and message which will

instantly identify ICCTA and succinctly convey the message of the importance of its work
Sales & Funding

2010SourceofFunds2010

Sales will create and manage the membership recruitment program; corporate
sponsorship; subscriber and advertising sales. It will assist the President, Advisors and
Advocates in seeking government, agency and foundation funding.

Agency&
Foundations
6%
Govt:Mexico
3%

Research & Database Administration

Subscribers
1.5%
Advertising
0.5%
Conferences
Conferences,
Tradeshows
3%

Commissioner
ARGENTINA

2014SourceofFunds2014
Membership,
17%

Govt:South
America,3%
Govt:Mexico,
4%
Govt:USA,7%

ICCTA will operate in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French. Simultaneous interpretation
will be required for meetings and all written material will be translated into these languages.

The charts (right) show the Government of Canada extending the first capacity building
support, joined by the United States, Mexico, Agencies & Foundations, and corporate
sponsors. By 2014 the pattern has changed with membership, activities and corporate
sponsorship providing most of ICCTAs income.

Govt:Canada
46%

Agency&
Foundations,
14%

The Central Office is in Ottawa, Canada. Regional Offices will be established over time in all
geographic regions in the Americas and Caribbean.

The Sales & Marketing Plan does postulate funding support from private sector corporate
sponsors, and public sector foundations, agencies and governments as substantial at the
beginning but diminishing over time. Throughout the five years addressed in this plan,
the participation from public and private sector sponsors will increasingly be earned in
the sense of providing solid value, and real returns. Over that time, ICCTA foresees that
involvement changing from capacity building participation to that of a valued partners
investment.

Corporate
Sponsors
19%

Membership
3%

The development of comprehensive databases of census information, ICT usage, and

funding sources are a major activity of ICCTA and will require a network of researchers.
Accurate and accessible databases will require specialist knowledge. This is the
responsibility of the Research & Database Administration Function.

SALES & MARKETING (FUNDING PLAN)

Self-sufficiency has been the custom among all Indigenous Peoples throughout the ages.
Their goal for ICCTA is no different.

Govt:USA
18%

Subscribers,5%
Advertising,2%
Corporate
Sponsors,39%

Govt:Canada,
7%

Conferences,
Tradeshows,
2%

Marketing
Marketing is to produce a brand image and message which will instantly identify
ICCTA and succinctly convey the message of the importance of its work. The marketing
activity is to design and produce material which will support an outstanding sales
campaign.
The challenge will be to create a brand that will instantly identify ICCTA as an
organization of Indigenous Peoples, run by Indigenous Peoples, for the benefit
of Indigenous Peoples! And the challenge is to deliver a concise message that will
succinctly explain ICCTAs plan to use ICT to enable Indigenous Peoples to join in
global prosperity.

Miguel Medina

Biography
Miguel is an Indigenous
communicator who belongs to the
Qom people in Argentina. He is the
founder of a Cooperative that
supports the employment needs of
Indigenous People who were forced
to abandon their communities and
migrate to the city.
In this Cooperative, besides the
social work, Miguel has created
a Working Group on ICTs with
the intention of expanding the
organizations communications to
the international level.

With marketing and advertising, public awareness, conferences and trade shows,
branding and messaging will create a receptive climate for membership recruitment
and gather support for project development and fundraising.
The immediate tasks for Marketing are:

42

Branding and messaging

Defining the cost benefit argument for membership recruitment
Defining the cost benefit for corporate sponsorship
Defining the argument for government, agency and foundation support
43

ICCTA plans to hold a major conference each year addressing solutions and

success stories of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. Attendance is projected at 1000 in year 1, rising
to 1500/2000 by year 5

Corporate Subscribers

Sales
The Sales Plan addresses four areas:
.
.
.
.

Recruiting members;
Attracting corporate sponsors;
Securing public sector support; and
Building revenue from subscribers, advertising and conferences, workshops and trade
shows.

Membership Recruitment
The plan contemplates three categories of membership: Indigenous Peoples (Voting)
$50 for 2 years; Indigenous Organizations (Voting) $250 for 2 years; and Friends
(Non-Voting) $50 for 2 years where the Friends category is for supportive nonIndigenous People. It is forecast that some of the membership fees would be paid in
kind rather than cash: Indigenous Peoples (50%) and Organizations (25%).

Three types of corporate sponsors are projected: Gold, with an annual fee of $50,000;
Silver at $25,000 and Bronze at $9,000.

Membership

IndigenousPeoples(Voting)
Members
16,000
14,000
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0

Conferences, Workshops, Trade Shows

ICCTA plans to hold a major conference each year addressing solutions and success
stories of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. Attendance is projected at 1000
in year 1, rising to 1500/2000 by year 5. Through registration fees, advertising and
sponsorship each conference is expected on average to realize a profit of $20,000.

Certain International government agencies such as the Inter-American Development

Bank (IDB), created by the Organization of American States (OAS), the World Bank,
or the agencies of national governments such as Canadas CIDA may have interests
that can benefit from coordination with ICCTA and therefore be interested in funding
specific projects or activities of ICCTA.

ICCTA will turn to governments to play a major role funding the capacity building
stage.

2011

2012

2013

2014

Year

CorporateSponsorship
CorporateSponsors
orporateSponsors

Advertising revenue will come from web banner ads, sidebars, pop up/under ads,
floating and unicast ads and ads in an ICCTA electronic newsletter and its print
publications.

Government Funding

2010

45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Gold
Silver
Bronze

2101

2011

2012
Year

2013

2014

Commissioner
BRAZIL

Advertising

Agency & Foundations

Corporate Sponsors

44

These would be smaller companies that wish to market to Aboriginal Canadian, Native
American and Indigenous communities and who could profit from access to ICCTAs
databases of communities and contacts.

FINANCIAL PLAN
The Financial Plan takes into consideration the fact that as the view reaches out into the
future, the ability to accurately foresee circumstances get progressively more difficult and
therefore the reliability of the projections is more open to question. To acknowledge this, the
Plan is considered from three points of view: an immediate First Quarter Budget, then the
Tactical Plan for the first two years which is encompassed within the five year Strategic Plan.

M a r c o s Te r e n a

Biography
Marcos Terena is the Professor of
Traditional and Spiritual Knowledge of
the Indigenous People and Coordinator
of the International Indigenous Forum
on Biodiversity.
Mr. Terena founded the United
Indigenous Nations, the first
Indigenous movement in Brazil and
was one of the coordinators of the push
for Indigenous Rights in the Brazilian
Constitution. He coordinated the
World Conference of the Indigenous
People on Territory, Environment and
Development, in an Indigenous zone,
the Kari-Oca Park, where the Earth
Letter and the Kari-Oca Declaration was
created in Rio in 1992.
Besides being the creator of Indian
Voice, a radio programme,
Mr. Terena has also commented about
Indigenous Rights in various television
programmes. He has written two
books: The Indian Aviator and
The Citizens of the Jungle.
Mr. Terena is the Articulator of the
Indigenous Rights in the UN as well
as the President of the Intertribal
Committee (ITC) and the VIATAN, an
Indigenous Information Center.

45

ICCTA is a not-for-profit organization. The Financial Plan is predicated on maintaining

Income and Expense in balance and budgets will be aimed at a breakeven position or a small surplus

Commissioner
NICARAGUA

The Income Forecast is made up of two components, Earned Income, which means income
that it is directly related to providing value for money and Funding Income, from agencies,
foundations, and governments where the benefit of the contribution may be judged on
wider criteria.

Expensedistribution
$1,400,000

RegionalOffices

$1,200,000

Administration

$1,000,000

Sales&Marketing
Research&Database

$800,000

IT&Webmaster

$600,000

Revenue from membership sales, corporate sponsorship, corporate subscribers, advertising

and conferences, workshops and trade shows is what is termed Earned Income.

ApplicationDevelopment

$400,000
$

Communication&PR

$200,000

Finance

$0
2010

Ada Villareal
adav@iccta-citca.org

Biography
Ada is a Computer Skills educator
by profession with intercultural
communication skills. A student in her
last quarter for a Masters in University
Teaching, she has taught Computer
Architecture, Networks, Introduction
to Communications, Linux Operating
Systems and Computer Information
Applications. She has given talks on the
Use of Free Software at the University.
Ada has collaborated in the production
of documentaries on the history
of the RAMA people in the RAAS
[SAAR], directing and producing such
documentaries as: By Marking the
Boundaries of our Lands we Ensure our
Future, the Environmental Impact of
the Bluefields United Nations Highway,
Municipal Governance and Citizens
Participation Forum. She is the Director
of the Educational Magazine for
Caribbean TV and a TV program and
events conductor.
She is a member of the organization
committee of the Organized Civil
Society for the South Atlantic
Autonomous Region of Nicaragua,
the Somos@telecentros.org network,
Free Software Network of Nicaragua
46 and is a Commissioner of ICCTA.

In 2010 ICCTA is seeking government capacity building support of $1,100,000 ($750,000 from
Canada, $300,000 from the United States and $50,000 from Mexico). By 2014 it expects to
merit continued support from governments of $750,000 (Canada $250,000; U.S. $250,000;
Mexico $150,000; South America $100,000) with the balance being derived from agencies &
foundations ($550,000), membership dues, friends, corporate sponsor support, subscribers,
advertising, conferences and trade shows.

2011

2012

2013

2014

IncomeSources
$2,500,000
$2,000,000
EarnedIncome

$1,500,000

Governments
Agencies&Foundations

$1,000,000
$500,000

The degree to which the sales effort is successful will affect the Earned Income forecast. In
order to assess the reliability of the numbers, a sensitivity analysis has been done which
shows that reaching only 50% and 75% of forecast membership sales would change the
forecast by 0.5% to 1.7% or 0.8% to 3.4%. corporate sponsorship sales are clearly more
important: if projections in all sponsorship categories were to fall short by 50%, the effect on
revenues would range from 10.2% in 2010 to 20.6% in 2014.
The distribution of projected expenses is shown in the chart (right). A major component
of the expense budget is the plan to open Regional Offices throughout the Americas but
primarily in Latin America and the Caribbean. Incurring these expenses will very much
depend on the success of the income projections, with the pace at which they are opened
up, speeding up or slowing down as circumstances dictate.
ICCTA is a not-for-profit organization. The Financial Plan is predicated on maintaining Income
and Expense in balance and budgets will be aimed at a breakeven position or a small surplus.

Commissioner
NICARAGUA

$0
2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Ellech Wiltshire
ellechw@iccta-citca.org

Biography
Ellech is a Systems Engineer with
a major in computer science software
development and websites.
He worked at the University of the
Autonomous Regions of Nicaraguas
Caribbean Coast as a website and
computer science systems
developer; he also worked at
Nicaraguas Superintendence of
Banks as the website administrator
and support technician.
Ellech has participated in different
workshops and activities related
to the topic of Indigenous Peoples
and has developed systems and
educational websites for Indigenous
Peoples. He is currently a member
of ONECA (Central American Black
Organization) in which he is a Senior
Advisor to the President for
ICT matters.

47

INCORPORATION
Incorporated pursuant to the Canada Corporations Act,
Letters Patent No. 446245-9, January 8, 2008.
HEAD OFFICE
193 Holland Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario
K1Y 0Y3
Canada
1-613-656-5033
WEBSITE
www.iccta-citca.org

CORPORATE
DETAIL

PRESIDENT
Tony Belcourt Mtis (Canada)
VICE-PRESIDENTS
Marisol Llantoy Barboza Quechua (Peru)
Jayariyu Farias Montiel Wayuu (Venezuela)
Marleny Tzicap Maya Kiche (Guatemala)
SECRETARY-TREASURER
Pedro Victoriano Cruz Purhpecha (Mexico)
COMMISSIONERS
Geoffrey Blackwell Muscogee (Creek) Nation (United States)
Manuel Castro Kichua Kaaris (Ecuador)
Jose Fernando Conejo Totorez (Colombia)
Damon Corrie Arawak (CARICOM)
Al Garca Bri Bri (Costa Rica)
Paula Hernndez Charra (Uruguay)
Nelson de Len Kantule Kuna (Panama)
Flix Gutirrez Matta Aymara (Bolivia)
Miguel Medina Qom (Argentina)
Marcos Terena Terena (Brazil)
Ada Villareal Mestizo (Nicaragua)
Ellech Wiltshire Creole (Nicaragua)
LEGAL ADVISORS
Blaney McMurtry, LLP
2 Queen Street East, Suite 1500
Toronto, Ontario
M5C 3G5
AUDITORS
Collins Barrow Ottawa LLP
Suite 400
301 Moodie Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K2H 9C4

48

END NOTE
The detailed plans to realize the Vision
and accomplish the
Mission are to be found in
Volume II of this Plan
49