What We Heard:
Reflections from the TELUS + IPF Digital Equity Webinar
On May 21, 2025, the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation (IPF) and TELUS co-hosted a national webinar focused on bridging the digital divide in Indigenous communities across Canada. Rooted in our Bridging the Digital Divide report, the session explored what accurate digital equity looks like when Indigenous leadership, institutional partnership, and community priorities align.
The conversation brought together viewers from across Turtle Island. Their reflections were thoughtful, bold, and deeply rooted in lived experience.
Joining us were James Delorme, a respected Indigenous digital advocate and former Chief of Klahoose First Nation, and Marissa Nobauer, Director of Reconciliation, Community Engagement and External Relations at TELUS. James, who also serves as CEO of the Indigenous Infrastructure Fund and sits on the TELUS Indigenous Advisory Council, brought deep insight into sovereignty-first infrastructure and Indigenous governance. Marissa, a key architect behind TELUS’ Reconciliation Action Plan, has led national efforts to expand broadband access to Indigenous and rural communities through co-funded, community-informed partnerships. With her signature blend of clarity and insight, Michelle Okere, our Executive Director at the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation, guided the session with focus and respect, creating an energizing space for dialogue.
The Heart of the Conversation: Community Voices
Throughout the session, one message stood out: connectivity is not the finish line; it’s the foundation. Real digital equity empowers Indigenous communities to create, lead, and thrive on their own terms in a digital world.
What We Heard
- Youth are leading. Across regions, young Indigenous innovators are developing tech skills, launching businesses, and building community networks.
- Local leadership matters. Ground-level voices affirmed that effective solutions must be community-designed and regionally responsive.
- Equity is ongoing. Participants emphasized the need for long-term investment, not only in infrastructure, but in Indigenous-designed systems that reflect community realities.
Key Highlights from the Webinar
“This isn’t just about technology. It’s about equity and leadership on Indigenous terms.” Michelle
The Digital Access Report was described as a roadmap, not just for understanding the landscape, but for guiding real progress.
Drawing on his decades of experience in Indigenous governance and infrastructure, James Delorme emphasized that data serves as a foundational connector, bridging Indigenous lived realities with industry understanding. He urged participants to think beyond connectivity to digital sovereignty, where Indigenous Peoples define their own tech futures.
Marissa Nobauer, who leads TELUS’ reconciliation and external relations strategy, offered concrete examples of how broadband expansion is guided by cultural safety and respect. She emphasized that trust-based, relationship-first strategies must underpin all connectivity efforts, a principle that’s now embedded in TELUS’s Reconciliation Action Plan.
Strong TELUS Case Studies Shared
Marissa highlighted three case studies that demonstrate what reconciliation in action can look like when community voice and institutional action align:
- Nisg̱a’a Nation Partnership: TELUS built the infrastructure; the Nisg̱a’a Nation owns the towers. This sovereignty-first model supports public safety, economic development, and long-term employment.
- Conklin Métis Collaboration: TELUS rerouted fibre infrastructure after identifying unmarked burial sites, demonstrating respect for cultural protocols and responsive operations.
- AI & Cultural Safety: TELUS partnered with Plato Testing and Shani Gwin to audit and refine their internal AI tool, Fuelix, ensuring it better reflects Indigenous perspectives and values.
Bringing the Report to Life: TELUS Examples That Reflect the Path Forward
These real-world examples directly reflect the priorities outlined in "Bridging the Digital Divide."
Divide report:
- Indigenous Ownership: The Nisga’a partnership illustrates how infrastructure ownership supports self-determination and long-term prosperity.
- Protocol-Led Practices: The fibre reroute in Conklin shows how operations can respect cultural protocols through meaningful engagement.
- Ethical Technology: The Fuelix audit aligns with the report’s call for Indigenous involvement in shaping emerging technologies with care and cultural safety.
These initiatives go beyond intention; they show how strategic partnerships can deliver real, respectful change when guided by Indigenous values.
Gratitude to Our Speakers and Hosts
This webinar demonstrated what’s possible when experience, insight, and commitment converge around a shared goal of equity.
- A heartfelt thank you to James Delorme, whose background as Chief, entrepreneur, and digital disruptor brought depth and wisdom to the conversation.
- Deep appreciation to Marissa Nobauer, whose leadership in reconciliation and connectivity gave participants a clear view of what policy-in-action can look like.
- Special thanks to Michelle for holding space with generosity and care as the dialogue unfolded.
We also acknowledge Christy Morgan, Manager of Reconciliation Strategy at TELUS, for helping bring the right voices together; Jen Howton, for her coordination and behind-the-scenes leadership; and, again, Michelle, for anchoring the session with intention and heart.
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Keep the Conversation Going
This conversation is just one step in a much larger journey. At the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation, we believe in walking together—grounded in trust, led by community, and committed to lasting equity.
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Let’s continue raising strong signals—together.