October 3, 2006 Source: :
http://www.royalroads.ca/about-rru/the-university/news-events/news-releases/2006/NR-Yekooche-.htm NR Yekooche
agreement Victoria
– Royal Roads University and the Yekooche First Nation have signed an
agreement to develop an online learning system that will help prepare the
residents of the remote B.C. community for self-government. "We are honoured and delighted to work with the Yekooche on this
ground-breaking project," said RRU chancellor Bob Skene, "The Yekooche
people recognize the need to be a learning community and their desire to
work with us to find new ways to enhance their capacity through governance
and economic vitality is simply wonderful." "Our young people have been asking us to give them the tools to learn," said
Yekooche Chief Allan Joseph, "So we are happy to be able to provide them
with this opportunity and fortunate to have Royal Roads willing to help us." The Yekooche First Nation, with a population of just over 200, is located
230 km. northwest of Prince George and is surrounded by lakes and mountains.
This agreement is part of a long-term partnership RRU plans with the
Yekooche in anticipation of the challenges they foresee as they finalize a
treaty, expected within two years, that will result in the formation of
their own government. An agreement in principle is already in place between
the Yekooche and the federal and provincial governments. "It’s going to prepare our people for the challenges we have down the road,"
said Dean Joseph, one of the Yekooche treaty negotiators. Under the terms of the agreement, RRU will provide the community with an
e-learning platform. The remoteness of the community has contributed to a
need for skills training, particularly in the area of online communication.
The first phase of the partnership will be a needs assessment, followed by
training provided through a pilot e-learning project. "We see this as the beginning of more agreements of this kind," Skene said,
"As a university that has been at the forefront of e-learning, the
opportunity to bring this kind of innovation to remote communities poses
significant opportunities – in British Columbia and beyond."
-30- For media queries, contact:
Communications Officer, Phil Saunders
phil.saunders@royalroads.ca (250) 391-2526, cel (250) 812-5065 or, Communication Manager, Stephanie Slater
stephanie.slater@royalroads.ca (250) 391-2712, cel (250) 361-5020
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