Angel Benally
Diné
Tribal Affairs Specialist, FirstNet Strategy & Policy
Rachel Salinas
Lipan Apache
National President of the Inter-Tribal Council of AT&T Employees
Our culture has always been about connecting – whether that has been to our land or our people. Native people like us – members of the Diné and Lipan Apache tribes – and First Nations readers like you, celebrate our culture and heritage every day and every season. Through our careers at one of the largest telecommunication companies in the country, we bring this rich culture to the forefront, bringing connectivity to tribal lands, strengthening our commitment to Native people and sharing our stories.
At AT&T, connectivity is at the core of what we do, and our purpose comes alive when we serve our customers and our communities, especially our brothers and sisters living on tribal lands. Each day, we’re working to help to bridge the digital divide in our communities. The digital divide is the gap between those who can fully participate in the modern online world and those who cannot. An FCC report states that it hinders as many as three in 10 Americans from having the information they need to thrive. Native Americans living on tribal lands are the least digitally connected, according to the U.S. Census. That means many can’t do simple things like completing a homework assignment on a large-screen computer or applying for a job. For this reason, AT&T made a $2 billion commitment in 2021 to help address the digital divide through investments in digital literacy tools, education resources, broadband technology, low-cost internet service, computers and more.
These tools are only one piece of the equation. To aid in adoption of high-quality connectivity, we must also equip people with the digital skills and resources to thrive. We know far too many of our communities don’t have the internet access they need. And Native employees like us at AT&T are helping support these initiatives on sovereign land, like bringing AT&T Connected Learning Centers to our tribal communities in the future. Our learning centers provide free access to a range of digital resources, including high-speed internet, computers and digital learning tools. At these hubs, students and families can come together to learn.
In her role as tribal affairs specialist, Angel saw firsthand how the COVID-19 pandemic affected many of our communities, including on the Diné (Navajo Nation) land she calls home. While many were able to pivot to remote work and school, others were left behind.
For communities like Angel’s, FirstNet®, built with AT&T, also became a bridge to help close the digital divide. It is the only nationwide wireless broadband communications platform dedicated to first responders and the public safety community. FirstNet serves as a critical lifeline for our first responders – whether rural, tribal, urban or suburban. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, public safety’s FirstNet network provided connectivity, logistics coordination, packaged foods and medical supplies to tribal nations in 32 states. AT&T is currently helping build out stronger FirstNet capabilities across more than 100 sites in Navajo Nation.
And first responders aren’t the only ones who benefit from an expanded AT&T network. It also helps improve the overall coverage experience for AT&T wireless customers on Native lands. Residents and businesses can take advantage of the AT&T commercial spectrum bands, as well as Band 14 when capacity is available. Communities – like Angel’s – have also used FirstNet to boost wireless communications to benefit entire communities, including businesses and residents. For example, the Delaware Tribe of Oklahoma used dedicated FirstNet deployable network assets to improve communications during powwows to help keep the crowd safe and informed.
In addition to the Diné nation, we’re also excited to be working with the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians in Southern California to help bring connectivity to more than 400 homes. In 2023, we’re planning other collaborations to expand the reach within the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians.
One thing we’ve learned at AT&T is that relationships are critical to our success – whether it’s with our own colleagues or our customers. Like any relationship, it requires commitment, investment and a shared understanding. When it comes to business matters, we know it’s especially important to be culturally informed about Native communities and our unique needs. That’s why as we explore other public-private partnerships to bring broadband to sovereign areas, we’re working hand in hand with leaders to find solutions that fit our communities, in a way that honors our land and our people. As part of our commitment, we collaborated with Compudopt and Troy Aikman to help students in the Henryetta and Okmulgee areas in Oklahoma gain access to over 300 free computers, digital literacy trainings and technical support.
As employees, many of us have made similar commitments to address the many different needs of our community. That’s what has kept Rachel Salinas, a senior project program manager in our Dallas office, at the company for 22 years. We work by the mission of our Native people’s employee group, Inter-Tribal Council of AT&T Employees, to conduct ourselves in a way that is honorable to the Native American people, the environment, the memory of ancestors and all who live on the Earth. We work together to make a positive impact with our thoughts and deeds. Just this month, our company co-hosted our second annual powwow with ICAE and Native American business owners at our headquarters in Dallas, broadcasting the celebration on our seven-story media wall in AT&T’s Discovery District.
In honor of the Lakota phrase, “MitaKuye Oyasin,” which means, “we are all related,” we know that land acknowledgments are an important part of our culture and traditions. That’s why ICAE members are providing funding for historical markers honoring the early Lenape Native American Trails across Monmouth County, New Jersey. These are just a few of the ways we are committed to increasing the visibility and sharing of the contributions of Native people within the walls of AT&T and beyond.
For us to fully realize our shared connection, we must ensure we all can connect. We hope these efforts are just the beginning of what we can do, together, to connect our communities and share all the richness of Native cultures and values to enrich us all.
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