Virtual Circle - Internet Community Alive and Growing

by Karin Lynch

With unity, strength and vision as our guide, we will succeed," states Virtual Circle's Web site. Succeed is an understatement when it comes to this Aboriginal Internet community.

Virtual Circle is the inspiration of 25-year-old owner Darrick Baxter, a member of the Martin Falls First Nation near Thunder Bay, who now lives and works in Winnipeg. "I first got the idea back in high school," says Baxter, "when computer-related assignments were the order of the day. Since the notion of 'community' is so central to First Nations, it was natural for me to think of creating a virtual community on the Internet to present authentically Aboriginal perspectives."

He founded Virtual Circle - the Aboriginal Community, when he was just 21. "The Web site is a work in progress," says Baxter, who is also completing his BA in Political Science at the University of Winnipeg. The site changes and grows continuously, he adds, presenting "social, political and economic theories from an Aboriginal point of view."

Visitors can select from a wide variety of topics in the Aboriginal Index, visit the Guest Book and try the History Quiz. Baxter's latest venture is adding real estate services to Virtual Circle's offerings.

"Virtual Circle - the Aboriginal Community, first and foremost, is a service to mobilize First Nations communities and support the cause of Aboriginal people across Canada and the United States. There's absolutely no charge for anyone participating," Baxter emphasizes. "We have a business - Virtual Circle Multimedia - which supports our community work."

Virtual Circle Multimedia is a business success in its own right, and a natural spin-off of Virtual Circle.

"The Virtual Circle Web site is the showcase for our Web design work, and the multimedia business is an outcome of getting the Virtual Circle site going in the first place," Baxter explains. Several First Nations professionals look after different aspects of the business while he concentrates on developing and designing Web sites for a wide range of businesses and organizations. These include Industry Canada, the Government of Manitoba, Aboriginal Business Canada and a fashion designer.

"We pride ourselves on our development and design, and technical savvy," he emphasizes. "Our quality shows. But equally important is our ability to help clients think through every aspect of their Internet future. That's why we stress training to help clients become their own Web site managers. This lowers their costs and also helps them steer their own destinies."

Clients also know that when they deal with Virtual Circle Media, they are contributing to the larger community that is Virtual Circle.

"I think that the Aboriginal community has to look toward politics and other avenues, but most importantly we must think of what Matthew Coon Come said about us missing the Industrial Revolution. Let's not miss the Information Technology Revolution.We have to develop ourselves - our professional selves - in this area, so that Aboriginal businesses are the backbone of our success. Just give us time, and Virtual Circle will prove that virtual reality can come true!"

Visit the Virtual Circle Web site at www.vcircle.com

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