Why to be Wary of “Design for Developing Countries”

I was forwarded a copy of this article a few years ago by a colleague – and just thought of it again recently. Thankfully, I was able to find a link to it from Dr. Donaldson’s Stanford website. Excerpt There are thoughtful debates on “design and development” versus “design for […]

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The Memory of the World in the Digital age: Digitization and Preservation

An international conference 26-28 September 2012, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada From the UNESCO website: UNESCO proposes to organize an international conference from 26 to 28 September 2012 in Vancouver (BC) Canada, to explore the main issues affecting the preservation of digital documentary heritage, in order to develop strategies that will […]

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IT System to Support Indigenous Knowledge Preservation

Originally published on the School of Information Technology blog (Polytechnic of Namibia) by Linus Kamati on 20 September, 2011. Local and traditional knowledge is shared orally within rural communities; such as through telling of stories. It is not recorded in text or electronically, it is accessible only through participation within the […]

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Geoweb: Indigenous Mapping of Intergenerational Knowledge

Abstract This thesis examines the transmission of intergenerational cultural knowledge on eastern James Bay Cree lands. Geospatial technologies and the representation of Cree knowledge are explored, with emphasis on the geoweb. A geoweb with two parts, old and new, is theorized as compatible with Cree interests at a landscape level […]

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African Languages in a Digital Age: Challenges and Opportunities for Indigenous Language Computing

About the Book Offering practical approaches to finding a place for African languages in the information revolution, this overview lays the foundation for more effectively bridging the “digital divide” by finding new solutions to old problems. Conducted by the PanAfrican Localization project under the sponsorship of Canada’s International Development Research […]

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A Forum for Indigenous Culture Building and Preservation

Abstract This paper provides a context for a professional forum to consider the roles that can be played by museums, museologists, technologists and Indigenous cultural community members to support and rebuild cultural communities and to preserve Indigenous culture. As such work often does not take place within institutional walls, it […]

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Building Indigenous social capital in an online world

Abstract This paper examines the nexus between social relations of mutual benefit, information communication technology (ICT) access and social inclusion. More specifically, a case study methodology is used to examine the role of ICT in facilitating the social capital of Indigenous communities. A remote Indigenous community in the Northern Territory […]

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Communication for Social Change

If we had two friends who wished to establish a healthy relationship together, we might give them some basic advice: listen to one another, respect your differences, try to see things from the other person’s perspective, be patient, keep each other informed about important things, include your partner in decision-making, […]

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Using ICTs for Indigenous Cultural Preservation: Challenges and Strategies

As Indigenous communities endeavor to maintain their traditional ways of knowing, many are turning to information and communications technologies (ICTs) to sustain and stimulate their Indigenous knowledge traditions ([1],[2],[3]). They are using analog and digital video and audio recording devices, as well as a constellation of computer, mobile, and Internet-related […]

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A Value Sensitive Design Approach to Indigenous Knowledge Management Systems

Indigenous cultures across the planet are disappearing. In 2007, Wade Davis, a Harvard-trained ethnobotanist, presented at the TED conference on the (subject of endangered cultures). He said, “When each of you in this room were born, there were 6,000 languages spoken on the planet . . . and of those […]

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Negotiating Community Resistance

“Esdunèna keh kudoge dahkwandēʼ tedètsʼet. Neni dahtsʼadi netʼē dahkwandē tsʼèn keniden. Dahtsʼadi etʼē dahkwandēʼ. Dahkwandēʼ niʼushdèn shį̀. Dahkwandēʼ tsʼèn keniden. Dahkwandēʼ tsʼèn keniden.” [“To all my children, we are losing our language. You are our future leaders; you must learn our language. It is the root and heart of our […]

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