Northwest tribes connecting to Internet with regional grant

The UW Regional Medical Library (RLM) recently received $300,000 from the National Library of Medicine to help 10 to 12 tribes and native villages in Washington, Alaska, Idaho and Oregon connect to the Internet for access to health information.

Pilots for the program are near completion. In two communities, the Spokane Tribe in Wellpinit in eastern Washington and the Suquamish Tribe in Suquamish, RLM staff developed plans to install computer equipment in tribal government buildings and implement local area networks and fiber optic links between buildings. Wide area networks will also be created, providing tribal members with dial-in access to the Internet.

The project, called Tribal Connections in the Northwest, will also provide technical support, training and community awareness about the benefits the Internet can bring to small communities.

For more information, call Roy Sahali, project manager, at (206) 543-8262, or e-mail rs@u.washington.edu