The gap: Indigenous knowledge and social media

There are various interesting initiatives trying to empower indigenous communities and document their cultural heritage and wisdom, but also documenting the vast impacts of climate change. One such initiative is spearheaded by the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC). This video documents IPACC’s work in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity and how their members use ICTs and media to document biodiversity.

Read the full article at Web2forDev.

But can ICT truly preserve and protect distinct identities and culture? Does ICT by its very intervention introduce an element of westernization amidst the indigenous culture that it purports to preserve and protect? What is the optimum balance between preserving traditional knowledge and embracing remix culture? The cultural debate surrounding deployment of ICT in the field of indigenous/ knowledge and culture simply refuses to die down.

Read full article at Global Voices Online.

The chief of an endangered Amazon tribe unveiled the product of an unusual partnership with Google Inc. that pairs high tech with indigenous knowledge in an effort to rescue ancient rain forests and a dying culture.

Almir Surui, speaking at the 20th annual Bioneers Conference in San Rafael, showcased Google Earth images years in the making that throw into sharp relief the rapid encroachment of illegal mining and logging onto his people’s 600,000-acre reserve.

The data-rich maps include layers of videos, pictures, text and historical markers gathered by tribe members. It underscored the importance of the land and propeled the Surui people’s efforts to become self-sufficient.

• Read more: http://www.sfgate.com