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CompuCorps Mentoring, Inc. has undertaken
work to determine needs in the area of Information Technology (IT) support with charitable
organization in the territory of Nunavut.
An Advisory Working Group will be established to develop linkages, evaluate needs and determine
whether and how CompuCorps Mentoring might respond to any or all of these needs.
The Advisory Working Group (AWG) will be a volunteer group that will be convened to address
these questions. Members of the AWG will undertake a variety of activities including:
- Networking with stakeholders in Nunavut
- Informational scanning to determine needs and opportunities
- Brainstorming
- Formulating actionable recommendations for projects
Preliminary links have made (details forthcoming) primarily with the Minister of Education
for the Territory.
This Advisory Working Group will provide general consultation facilitated by CompuCorps Mentoring.
Meetings will be held on a regular basis with priorities established by members of the AWG.
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Stakeholder and consultative input is being sought from all perspectives: Volunteer, Information
Technology, Inuit culture, and challenges specific to Nunavut. This Advisory Working Group will
therefore seek members on a cross sectoral and cross cultural basis:
- Nunavut representatives
- Voluntary sector
- Information Technology representatives from a variety of specialties
- Appropriate business sector linkages
In addition, a linkage will be made with a Foundation based in Germany that has established a
basis for inter-cultural IT voluntary project protocol.
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Members of the Advisory Panel will convene for an initial 0.5-day focus group to include:
- Sharing of information IT capacity building in the voluntary sector,
with specific focus on:
- Remote community needs
- Particular cultural considerations specific to Innu in Nunavut with respect to:
- Voluntary sector - charitable organizational current capacity
- Needs with respect to IT
- Identifying the challenges of establishing volunteer IT program models
- Stakeholder identification
- Formulate Recommendations for next steps
- Awareness of CompuCorps Mentoring activities and expertise
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The outcomes of this Advisory Working Group will be:
- Linkages - appropriate cultural input from, and contact with, stakeholders
- Potential projects identified
- Potential project partners identified - government, volunteer sector, business and other
- Recommendations for implementation of projects
The AWG will work in an advisory capacity for initiating appropriate steps to advance the
linking of volunteers, technology, and partners within the CompuCorps framework and mandate.
It is critical that the culture and cultural history of the Innu in Nunavut be respected.
There has quite understandably evolved a negative view of "experts" from the "outside"
dictating what is thought to be best for First Nations, Metis and Inuit people generally,
and this is true of people in Nunavut. There, this AWG must be inclussive of stakeholders from
the community from the outset.
This is an excellent learning opportunity for the right people. For a basic introduction to history
and current challenges of Inuit, see the following websites:
The aim is to build capacity in CompuCorps and further the key opportunities identified and
linkages made. Kevin Armstrong, who will conduct the work, is in a key position to carry
out these tasks. He is currently working for a National Aboriginal organization focusing in
the area of health and therefore with linkages to Inuit regions as well as access to critical
cultural information and understanding. Kevin has worked with CompuCorps in the past and fully
supports its vision, mission and work in the Canadian voluntary community.
Contact: Bill Marvel
Bill@compucorps.org
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