Digital Self-determination: Aboriginal Peoples and the Network Society in Canada by Rob McMahon M.J., University of British Columbia, 2005 B.A. (with distinction), University of Victoria, 2003 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Communication Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology © Rob McMahon 2013 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Summer 2013 All rights reserved. However, in accordance with the Copyright Act of Canada, this work may be reproduced, without authorization, under the conditions for Fair Dealing. Therefore, limited reproduction of this work for the purposes of private study, research, criticism, review and news reporting is likely to be in accordance with the law, particularly if cited appropriately. Approval Name: Rob McMahon Degree: Doctor of Philosophy Title of Thesis: Digital self-determination: Aboriginal peoples and the network society in Canada Examining Committee: Chair: Dr. Kathleen Cross Assistant Professor _____________________________ Dr. Peter A. Chow-White Senior Supervisor, Associate Professor _____________________________ Dr. Richard K. Smith Supervisor, Professor _____________________________ Dr. Robert A. Hackett Supervisor, Professor _____________________________ Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn Internal Examiner Associate Professor Archeology and First Nation Studies _____________________________ Dr. Lorna Roth External Examiner Professor Communication Studies, Concordia Date Defended/Approved: May 31, 2013 ii Partial Copyright Licence iii Ethics Statement The author, whose name appears on the title page of this work, has obtained, for the research described in this work, either: a. human research ethics approval from the Simon Fraser University Office of Research Ethics, or b. advance approval of the animal care protocol from the University Animal Care Committee of Simon Fraser University; or has conducted the research c. as a co-investigator, collaborator or research assistant in a research project approved in advance, or d. as a member of a course approved in advance for minimal risk human research, by the Office of Research Ethics. A copy of the approval letter has been filed at the Theses Office of the University Library at the time of submission of this thesis or project. The original application for approval and letter of approval are filed with the relevant offices. Inquiries may be directed to those authorities. Simon Fraser University Library Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada update Spring 2010 Abstract “Digital Self-Determination: Aboriginal peoples and the network society in Canada” Digital self-determination seeks to elaborate the links between networked digital infrastructure development and the autonomy and agency of indigenous peoples. It foregrounds how indigenous peoples are involved in the diffusion, construction, governance, and use of networked digital infrastructures. Importantly, it considers how these infrastructures are not only tools of emancipation, but can increase the surveillance and control of indigenous peoples by powerful state and corporate interests. They can also extend the historic and ongoing reality of the ‘offline’ economic, social, political, and cultural marginalization of indigenous peoples by colonial powers. However, to accept such negative effects at face value is to fall into the trap of the teleological fallacies of social and technical determinism. Instead, in this dissertation I argue that indigenous peoples can shape and use networked digital infrastructures to support their self-determination. These processes are often guided by a recognition of self-determination that is grounded in and emergent from diverse indigenous laws, customs, and institutions. This frames digital self-determination with reference to the long-term and ongoing work of indigenous peoples to shape their own community-based media organizations and endogenous development projects. My dissertation considers these issues as they articulate with several facets of digital self-determination. I ground my argument in empirical research on the Northern Indigenous Community Satellite Network (NICSN), a cooperative socio-technical network spanning the northern regions of three Canadian provinces: Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba. NICSN involves two First Nations Tribal Councils and a regional government that administers the Inuit territory of Nunavik. These partners collaborated to build and manage regional infrastructure in ways that reflect the needs of their constituent communities. I explore how these institutions are taking control and ownership of the infrastructures that enable their development and use of online iv applications. Moving beyond considerations of access, I frame these infrastructures as socially shaped platforms of agency that mediate relations between indigenous peoples and the global network society. They are the result of dynamic negotiations and struggles between political actors seeking to advance normative agendas. These activities play out in the formation of frameworks of subsidies and regulatory conditions that reflect attempts to decolonize state-based policies and institutions associated with networked digital infrastructure development. Finally, I end with a discussion of how indigenous peoples and governments are developing online applications, from social media to broadband-enabled health and education applications. Negotiating the requirements of existing jurisdictional and administrative structures, they are shaping these platforms into spaces of convergence that reflect their goals of self-determination. Throughout this dissertation, I situate my observations in broader political, economic, and cultural contexts to elaborate both the promise and the challenge of digital self- determination. KEYWORDS: Indigenous Peoples; Aboriginal Peoples; First Nations; Inuit; Self- Determination; Network Society; Community Development; Infrastructure; Broadband; Policy; Sociotechnical; Media; Communication; First Mile v Dedication To mom, dad, mormor, and the whole crew: this one’s for you vi Acknowledgements I begin by acknowledging that most of my research and writing took place in the territories of the Coast Salish peoples of B.C., and I give thanks for the opportunity to live and work here. Many people shaped this work, and I owe them all my thanks. I’ll begin with my committee, for their guidance through this constantly evolving project. Our discussions were instrumental in helping me articulate the ideas and argument expressed here. To my senior supervisor, Peter Chow-White, thanks for helping me see both the challenges and the potential of the emergent network society, and for your intellectual and professional coaching during the past few years. To Richard Smith, many thanks for your advice and encouragement, which served as the foundation upon which this work sits. Your enthusiasm and support for the First Mile and other projects fueled this journey. Much gratitude to Bob Hackett, whose breadth and depth of knowledge sparked many of the intellectual queries explored in these pages. To Lorna Roth and Eldon Yellowhorn, thank you for examining my work and providing constructive and detailed feedback. Lorna, I’m glad my dissertation saved you some money! Eldon, it’s always good to see you in the neighbourhood. To the NICSN partners – Brian Beaton, Dan Pellerin, Ashmede Asgarli, Stephen Ramchandar, Jean-Francois Dumoulin, and Joë Lance – your intellectual, financial and administrative support, not to mention your good humour, made this project possible. I wish you the best, and hope this work accurately reflects your efforts over the years. To my ‘unofficial’ committee, my friends at First Nations Innovation Project and the First Mile Connectivity Consortium: Susan O’Donnell, Richard Smith, Brian Beaton, Tim Whiteduck, Kevin Burton, Heather Hudson, Duncan Philpot, Penny Carpenter, Jason Woodman Simmonds, Lyle Fabian, Kerri Gibson, Michael Gurstein, Brian Walmark, and Norm Leech. Your dedication and energy have been instrumental in this project. Special thanks to Lyle Johnson at KO-KNET, who made the videoconferencing links that connected me with research contacts and people in the communities. Special thanks to the SFU First Mile team Richard Smith, Leanna Milburn, John Pantherbone, Pat Truman, Renee Cheung, Roman Onufrijchuk, and Lucie Menveld – it’s been a fantastic experience working with you all. Thanks to Monroe Price for hosting me at the Centre for Global Communications Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and to Bob Anderson for supporting my visit to UPenn. Thanks to Arne Hintz, Kate Coyer and Susan Abbott for supporting my visit to the Central European University’s Summer School on Media, Democratization and International Development. Many thanks to faculty, students, and staff at Simon Fraser University’s School of Communication. While I cannot thank everyone who enriched my years at the School, I would like to acknowledge Catherine Murray for guiding me through my comprehensive exams, and Adam Holbrook for helping me sort through the technical intricacies of vii satellite systems. To colleagues and friends at the Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology, the Resilient Development reading group, and at SFU CMNS, many thanks for your companionship over the years. Thanks to Lucie Menveld, Denise Vanderwolf and Jason Congdon for your administrative support. And of course, big thanks to my friends and family, who all played a part in this journey. I acknowledge