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The Navajo Nation (Diné in the Navajo language) have been working hard to close the digital divide in the four corners region. Their massive reservation, the largest in the country at 27,000 square miles, covers vast stretches of rural Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, and the remoteness of the region have contributed to a lack of basic services for the Navajo people. Many government groups, schools, and citizens have no internet connections or computers, and some don’t even have telephones. In fact, the Navajo reservation has a staggering 38% poverty rate. Poor roads and far-spread services means that citizens have to drive hours for medical care and government services. A new initiative by the local government, called Internet to the Hogan (hogans are traditional Navajo dwellings), hopes to address these issues through better internet and computer access.

Internet to the Hogan is a collaboration between the Navajo Nation Department of Internet Technology, the state governments of Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, and private philanthropic organizations like the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. The simple goal is to bring broadband technology to schools (both public and private), homes, and Chapter houses, which are local government offices similar to town councils throughout the reservation. This will enable those living on tribal land to access health care services, local government resources, libraries, and all the other tools that “wired” Americans take for granted. The infrastructure is immense and expensive, but the project seems to be jumping these hurdles. Navajo Technical College is spearheading the effort; students, faculty, and community members are building a series of wireless broadband towers which will connect 31 Chapter houses to the internet, later to be extended to schools, clinics, hospitals, police departments, fire stations, and homes.

The Navajo people stand to benefit enormously from this initiative. Health care services are sadly lacking on the reservation, and access to online tools and information could be a first step to a healthier population. Diabetics could establish healthy eating habits and track their blood sugar levels with the help of the American Diabetes Association website. Families can look up symptoms for minor illnesses on WebMD or upload their medical records to HealthVault for the benefit of a doctor in Flagstaff or Albuquerque. And, with the spread of video conferencing technology, they could even have a “doctor’s visit” over a laptop or cell phone without an onerous four hour drive. The communication services would also be a major improvement in emergency services during natural disasters, which, believe it or not, have previously been announced by dropping leaflets from airplanes.

In addition to the potential health benefits, schools and universities will have the resources available to make their students competitive beyond the borders of the reservation. Computer training and e-learning is a given at most American schools, and students who do not have basic skills are handicapped when it comes time to enter the work force. The Internet to the Hogan initiative is giving Navajo students the chance to catch up to their peers in more affluent communities. This also translates to a stronger economy for the tribe. Native-owned businesses with web access will be able to create e-commerce sites or web applications to showcase their products and services outside the local area. This is especially significant given the recent popularity of native handicrafts from the four corners region, including pottery, silver jewelry, and traditional rugs. Navajo artists could sell their wares online directly to consumers, instead of selling to gift shops in and around the National Parks, giving them higher profits and a better margin. This could also potentially create jobs in remote parts of the reservation, and increase tourism to the ancient Anasazi sites of Canyon De Chelly and Chaco Canyon, which are administered by the Navajo Nation.

Not only Navajo tribe members stand to benefit from the Internet to the Hogan initiative, though. The wireless network and IT services will reach beyond tribal land to other rural communities in the Four Corners region. The project serves as an inspiring example of the power of community action and the desire to improve one’s circumstances that will likely be duplicated in other areas. The Navajo people are wisely preparing to meet the technical challenges of tomorrow while entering the global information arena. Let’s hope their spirit of enterprise spreads far beyond their borders.

Wednesday, November 28th, 2007 Both comments and pings are currently closed.

By Haley January Eckels