HOULTON – The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians celebrated the grand opening of a center Thursday that will offer computer access and educational opportunities to youth and tribal elders.

Officials from IBM, SeniorNet, the Native American Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development were on hand at the Maliseet Recreation Center to help open the Houlton Band of Maliseet Technology Achievement Center.

The center is part of SeniorNet’s “Hope and Harmony for Humanity Initiative,” which is a grant based initiative of IBM, the NACC, the U.S. Department of the Interior IEED and SeniorNet.

It is geared toward bringing technology access and education to low-income residents of rural Native American tribal lands.

The Maliseet center is equipped with 10 computers and will serve as a computer lab for free computer access and education. The center also will feature a special program to educate tribal elders on computer skills and applications. The center will offer classes on such topics as family history and genealogy, health, training, work skills and tutoring.

The grand opening ceremony was attended by representatives from the sponsoring organizations, tribal members and elected officials.

“We are extremely fortunate to have been chosen for this initiative,” Tribal Chief Brenda Commander said Thursday. “Some of our students lack access to the Internet and many of our tribal elders have never used a computer. They will be trained to use them. This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone.”

Wayne Rustin, the director of Global Equal Opportunity for IBM Corp., agreed. He credited everyone involved in the project for coming together to make it happen, and said he hopes the achievement center will serve as a “beacon ” for young people.

Leslie Smith, business development executive for IBM and chairman of the board of SeniorNet, also lauded the center for the opportunities it will bring to both youth and adults. He urged the tribe to concentrate on sustaining the center and working to “keep it alive.”

SeniorNet Chief Operating Officer Kristin Fabos said that tribal members will be offered computer classes and e-mail addresses through SeniorNet so they can communicate with friends and family around the world.

Just a few minutes after the center officially opened, Millie Hanning, a tribal member who lives in Houlton, already had sat down at a computer and logged onto the Internet.

“I think this is so cool,” she said. “It is going to take us a long way and it is going to help our youth. Hopefully a lot of our tribal elders will learn how to use these computers, too. This is wonderful.”

jlbdn@ainop.com

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