The Chiniki and Wesley bands of the Stoney Nakoda First Nation were the recipients of 84 new laptops as part of Shell's donation of $1-million worth of electronics, in partnership with the Electronic Recycling Association (ERA), across the country.
The Chiniki and Wesley bands of the Stoney Nakoda First Nation were the recipients of 84 new laptops as part of Shell's donation of $1-million worth of electronics, in partnership with the Electronic Recycling Association (ERA), across the country.
The donation, part of Giving Tuesday, which falls annually on the Tuesday after the US Thanksgiving, gifted computer equipment to the Wesley Band and Chiniki Community College. The day is designated to encourage individuals and organizations to give charitably.
The ERA, launched in 2004, is a company based out of Calgary, which focuses on refurbishing, recycling and reusing IT equipment to reduce e-waste.
“I have been so grateful on behalf of Wesley First Nation, ” said Lisette Golding-Cooper, Wesley director of education.
Morley has a number of educational programs in the community including adult programs, which the laptops, supplied by the ERA will be designated.
Among the programs is a business administration class in partnership with Bow Valley College, which recently saw 22 graduates. There is also a home renovation program through SAIT.
“We are constantly bringing in programs to train people so they will be able to be employed, ” Golding-Cooper said.
It's the first time the Nation will have laptops for the adult program.
“We did not have any laptops, that's the truth, ” she said, adding that their current desktop computers are outdated. “We're constantly looking for new and updated computers. ”
Golding-Cooper said on behalf of the Nation they were extremely pleased to receive more modernized computers.
“Everything that we do we know that we have to include technology. That is what we are trying to do - educate people on technology in different areas. So we are extremely grateful of the Shell company. ”
Tara Lemay, media relations manager with Shell Canada, said the company has been working with the Stoney Nation and other Indigenous nations for more than 65 years and much of the company's work is on traditional territories.
“It was really important for us to make sure we were connecting Stoney Nakoda organizations with the ERA to make sure they would receive our computers, ” Lemay said.
The organization donated 300 computers today through the ERA to 12 organizations as part of the kick off to the donation spree and will continue over the months to come. Six of the organizations were Indigenous communities.
The donation by Shell will equate to 3,000 laptops, desktops, monitors and printers across Canada.
“If organizations are interested, there is still a lot more computers to be given away. We encourage people to contact ERA, ” Lemay said.
Tsuu T'ina First Nation also benefitted from the Shell donation.
To apply for the program on behalf of an organization or for more information, visit www.era.ca.
