- Details
- By Brian Edwards
- Economic Development
Mohawk Networks LLC, owned by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, has formed a majority-controlled joint venture with Canadian utility contractor Aecon to connect what it calls the "forgotten mile" — tribal communities overlooked in national broadband expansion efforts.
"We've talked about the last mile, but I truly think that a lot of tribal communities and indigenous communities are the forgotten mile, and have been far too long," Mohawk Networks General Manager Allyson Mitchell told Tribal Business News.
The partnership marks the first Indigenous-led joint venture to cross the U.S.-Canada border for both companies and positions them to capitalize on federal broadband funding flowing to tribal communities through programs like the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program.
Mitchell said the partnership reflects a deliberate choice based on shared values. "We chose to partner with Aecon for their deep commitment to Indigenous communities, a commitment that aligns with our vision," she said.
The Indigenous-led structure ensures tribal perspectives drive decision-making, with Mohawk Networks serving as the primary partner in community conversations. “The path to digital sovereignty begins with digital equity, and that's precisely what the Aecon Mohawk Networks JV is delivering,” Mitchell said.
According to Mitchell, the joint venture will initially target tribal communities that have received federal broadband grants but lack technical expertise to build networks. The partnership brings significant scale, with Aecon having infrastructure that passes over one million homes, according to Mitchell.
The business model divides responsibilities based on complementary expertise. Aecon will lead civil construction and workforce training, while Mohawk Networks will handle telecommunications infrastructure like inside plant wiring and network operations, according to Dereck Oikawa, senior vice president of U.S. operations at Aecon Utilities. Both companies will collaborate on network design and community engagement, he said.
The companies emphasized long-term relationship building over quick project completion. For Aecon, this approach stems from experience with Indigenous partnerships spanning more than a decade in Canada, including one joint venture that recently transitioned from a partnership to a general partnership after 11 years.
Jennifer Campeau, vice president of Indigenous relations at Aecon, said the company's strategy focuses on sustainable economic development. “We talk about developing capacity... that is also a part of economic resiliency, but also (about) rebuilding Indigenous economies," Campeau said.
The partnership approach seeks mutual benefit, Oikawa said. “When we come into a community working with Alison or any partnership there's always a win to be found,” Oikawa said.
The partnership comes as tribal broadband funding reaches historic levels. The federal government allocated $2.88 billion through the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, with additional funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Mitchell said the joint venture does not plan to take ownership stakes in tribal broadband networks, but will provide construction and consulting services. The Indigenous-led structure provides federal contracting opportunities through Mohawk Networks' 8(a) and HUBZone certifications from the U.S. Small Business Administration, though that is not an immediate priority, Mitchell said.
Mohawk Networks operates as an Internet Service Provider for the Akwesasne community and has built both fiber and fixed wireless networks since 2015. The company operates under the Tewáthahón:ni Corporation, the Section 17 holding company of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.
