NilaVena
Connecting Communities. Building Infrastructure. Supporting Sovereignty.
Access to fast, reliable internet is no longer a luxury—it’s essential infrastructure. For communities across the Nila Vena region, improving telecommunications means unlocking opportunities in education, healthcare, local governance, workforce development, and cultural continuity.
The Nila Vena Sustainability Forum is investing in telecommunications infrastructure because we believe that connectivity is a foundation for sovereignty. When our communities can access digital tools, information, and services without leaving home, we’re better positioned to lead our own development, tell our own stories, and build systems that reflect our values.
NilaVena
Why Connectivity Matters in the Nila Vena Region
Across the Bristol Bay lakes region, many villages have faced decades of underinvestment in broadband infrastructure. Slow, unreliable, or non-existent internet limits the ability to:
- Access telehealth and remote education
- Apply for grants, jobs, and housing assistance
- Participate in virtual governance and interagency planning
- Document traditional knowledge and share it across generations
- Stay connected to family, language, and cultural knowledge
Just as land, water, and food security are essential to well-being, digital access is a key component of modern infrastructure—and a growing pillar of community resilience.
NilaVena
Our Flagship Investment: SALMONet
One of the most ambitious telecom efforts in the region today is SALMONet: a broadband expansion initiative that uses state-of-the-art relay technology to bring fast, stable internet to some of Alaska’s most remote and environmentally challenging landscapes.
SALMONet uses technology that overcomes common barriers like tall trees, mountains, and extreme distances. It prioritizes Tribal governance and community-led deployment strategies. It supports telehealth, education, and e-governance throughout the region. It lays the groundwork for future services like smart infrastructure and virtual cultural education. And finally, SALMONet is currently focused on core NVSF communities and is designed to scale outward over time.
While SALMONet began as a pilot initiative, NVSF is increasingly positioned to steward and expand this work, building the organizational and technical capacity needed to sustain the system long-term.
NilaVena
Telecom Infrastructure & Tribal Sovereignty
Telecommunications is not just about towers and signal strength. In our region, it’s about:
- Access to critical services without needing to leave home
- Reclaiming control over the systems our communities rely on
- Creating local jobs and technical training opportunities for youth and adults alike
- Building a future where Tribal governments can manage services independently, without relying on outside providers or short-term grants
As we expand our infrastructure efforts, we are exploring partnerships, funding models, and technology options that are flexible, scalable, and rooted in community values.
NilaVena
Looking Ahead: A Connected Future
While SALMONet is leading the way, it’s just the beginning. NVSF is actively exploring and supporting:
Mesh networks and private towers to serve off-grid or seasonal communities
Digital tools for Indigenous land monitoring and remote stewardship
Local tech training to build capacity for maintenance and innovation