MESSAGE FROM DAMIEN:

 

Hi all,

  

This is a collaborative exercise, so please add your ideas to the text below. Its a brainstorm, so all ideas welcome.

 

I see this database eventually becoming its own charitable organization, like Wikipedia. To do this, we would need a board of directors and at least one staff. To ensure broad relevance, the board should be made up of 8 to 10 representatives from across Canada. Using current internet technology such as www.skype.com and Google Docs, we could keep the overhead expenses down by not having to meet in-person often.

 

To access the wiki, and start adding text, do this:

 

• Go to http://fntid.pbwiki.com
• Click "Log in" (near the top right)
• Password: "simple", add your name and email address in the respective fields, click "Log in" 
• Then you're back at the main page with all the text.
• Click "Edit Page" near top of screen
• Add your text, comments, etc.
• Click "Save" (at bottom of screen)
• Send these instructions and the link to your people

 

 Damien

 

 

 

Summary

This concept document discusses the planning, development, delivery and maintenance of an on-line searchable public database that concentrates and consolidates digital information that is specifically focused on contaminants issues as they affect aboriginal people in Canada. This is more than just a database project - it is a discussion about developing a new but small charitable organization. The purpose of this tool is to provide aboriginal citizens and leaders with a syndicated information tool focused on contaminants affecting Canadian aboriginal people.

 

 

Statement of need

The health of aboriginal people in Canada is being put at risk by toxic contamination in various ways. Often aboriginal communities, specifically First Nation reserves, are subjected to industrial pollution due to bad municipal zoning decisions that allow polluting industries to operate sometimes within meters of an aboriginal community. Furthermore, aboriginal people are at higher risk of accumulating persistent pollutants in their body tissue as a result of eating traditional foods such as fish and game that have been contaminated, directly or indirectly, by toxic substances from industrial and/or government operations.

 

However, there is no syndicated information repository on the sources, types and history of contaminants issues that are affecting Canadian aboriginal peoples. The existing information on this subject is either siloed in government and/or research institutions or is diffused throughout the internet on hundreds if not thousands of personal computer hard drives. To address this gap, we propose to develop, deliver and maintain a web-based database where internet users can access a broad pool of information that is relevant to the topic of contaminants affecting Canadian aboriginal peoples.

 

 

 

 

The tool

The tool will be a result of mass collaboration and will have two functions: 1. to provide the general public with an open source of information focused on contaminants issues affecting aboriginal people in Canada, and 2. to provide our staff with an information foundation to develop reports and other documents for sale as products that will help secure funding for this project in the long term (see "Sustainability" below). An existing example of this type of online tool is: www.loggingoff.info (also see www.loggingoff.info/library_and_search.html) and the Collaborative on Health and the Environment Toxicant and Release Database (http://database.healthandenvironment.org/index.cfm).

 

 

Internet users will be able to query a large database of information on contaminants issues affecting aboriginal people in Canada. The database will consist of reports, government documents, media files (audio, video, news text), maps, and research papers. These files will be uploaded to the site by our project/research coordinator and will also offer the general public the opportunity to upload files relevant to the project goal (files uploaded by the public will be reviewed by our project/research coordinator).

 

 

Users will be able to search the data using sophisticated querying technology to ensure efficiency and accuracy. For example, a user could search for "dioxin point sources within 10 km of Aamjiwnaang First Nation". If this query resulted in too much information, the search could be narrowed to find "government reports and news items on dioxin emissions within 10 km of Aamjiwnaang First Nation".

 

 

As mentioned, the database will also provide the basis for the project/research coordinator to produce information products such as trend reports and/or annual report cards. For example, one product may be a report on the mercury levels in airborne emissions within 20 km of all Canadian First Nation communities. Another example could be the release of an annual report card on the emissions data of the most toxic polluters next to aboriginal communities in Canada.

 

 

Goal and Objectives

The goal of this project is to liberate, concentrate and consolidate information on contaminants issues directly affecting aboriginal communities in Canada so the public and our leaders can make better decisions to protect the health of aboriginal people in Canada.

 

To achieve this goal, three objectives will be met:

 

1. a strategic plan is developed

2. the database is developed and functioning on the internet

3. leaders reference the database in decision-making

 

 

 

Workplan

This project is divided into three phases: 1. Developing a strategic plan, 2. Developing and delivering the tool, and 3. Maintaining the tool. Each are outlined below:

 

Phase 1 (4 months): Developing a strategic plan

- Hold a two to three-day planning meeting at a central location where all contributors provide input. A facilitator leads this process.

- One project/research coordinator is hired to lead the process after the meeting

- The coordinator acquires ongoing input and provides member of the planning team with updated drafts of the strategic plan on a defined schedule.

- The planning team reviews each draft, and signs of on the final draft strategic plan.

 

Phase 2 (1 year): Developing and delivering the tool

-

 

Phase 3 (year 2 though year 10): Maintaining the tool

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resources required

We will make use of current internet tools to reduce overhead costs and leverage resources. For example,

 

 

Phase 1

Strategic Planning Meeting

- how many people?

- where?

- how long?

- who will facilitate it (and for how much?)?

- how do we want the tool to work? can we use models from elsewhere (e.g. www.loggingoff.info)? what will the interface look like? identify and describe our audience.

- role and responsibilities assigned (by person? by organization?)

- how will we account for input?

- how will the general public be able to contribute?

- ?

 

 

 

Phase 2

Developing and delivering the tool

- what web developer can do this work?

- how much web-space will be needed (first five years? next ten years?)

- ?

 

 

 

Phase 3

Maintaining the tool

- One staff (project/research coordinator)

- web server space

- legal issues?

- researching and writing reports (contractors?)

- ?

 

 

 

 

Sustainability

The database will be sustained through selling information products such as reports and maps, on-going fundraising, and donations.

 

 

 

Budget

By phase...

 

Potential funders:

Salamander Foundation

???