Article content While March 16 marks the virtual National Day of Action for Affordable Internet, many households in rural communities across the Northwest Territories (NWT) cannot participate. In smaller communities like Tulita, Tsiigehtchic, and Ulukhaktok (which recently experienced an eight-day internet blackout), frustratingly slow and expensive Internet access impacts our ability not only to access online information and services, but also to participate fully in consultations and forums intended to address digital divide challenges. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Try refreshing your browser, or Opinion: The North needs more equitable, accessible Internet Back to video As northern organizations and partners in the DigitalNWT initiative, we have firsthand experience of these challenges. Northern centres like Yellowknife and Inuvik enjoy the fastest connectivity in the territories but have nowhere near the service options available in the urban south. The 29 rural, predominantly Indigenous communities report higher prices and slower average download speeds — and some households can’t even connect to Internet speed tests.