Our Shared Pathways

Yukon's First Nations-owned community fibre

Stronger connections build stronger communities

That common belief propelled 13 Yukon First Nation development corporations and Northwestel towards a ground-breaking partnership that brings the best network technology to every community in the Yukon.
For the first time in Canada, the community fibre assets that connect thousands of homes and businesses across the territory will be Indigenous-owned, with guaranteed benefits to Yukon’s First Nations for the next two decades.

Fred K displayed in a tablet

“We’re showing that by working cooperatively, First Nations can make these types of major investments and create more opportunities for investment and ownership in infrastructure and communications projects that impact the lives of our citizens."

Fred Koe, Da Daghay Development Corporation Chair

Illustration of Globe with highlight of a connected Yukon

We're walking towards a more connected Yukon, together

13

Yukon First Nation development corporations now own Yukon’s in-community fibre infrastructure.
18

Yukon communities will have fibre-to-the-home service by 2023.
20

years of guaranteed financial benefits to the participating First Nations.
20

times faster Internet speeds in communities served by fibre instead of dsl.

Shared Pathways forward

A new partnership model

This is a first-in-Canada partnership, but our goal is to not make it the last. Building on previous partnerships, we believe Shared Pathways can serve as a model for other jurisdictions across the North and Canada.
Long-term economic benefits

The Shared Pathways Network will result in a guaranteed return on investment for Yukon First Nations over the next two decades.

Indigenous owned infrastructure

The community fibre assets that connect thousands of homes across the territory are now Indigenous owned.
Investing in our network

This partnership gives Northwestel the ability to invest more upfront in northern network improvements. More importantly it strengthens our ties to the communities we exist to serve over the coming decades.

“With the Shared Pathways network, 13 Yukon First Nation development corporations take ownership of the in-community fibre assets built as part of our Every Community Project. These are real, tangible assets that are now Indigenous-owned. And as more Yukon communities receive full fibre connections over the coming two years, those assets will also be owned by Yukon First Nations.”

Curtis Shaw, Northwestel President