Preserving Indigenous Heritage: The Power of Digital Knowledge Exchange

Take a look into how projects around the world are emerging to empower communities to preserve and share their cultural heritage with the world

CULTURE

PEOPLE

15 MINS READ

DATE

AUGUST 14, 2023

AUTHOR

Sisi Savidge

Sisi is a writer and multidisciplinary artist based in Berlin. Her work is rooted in language and non-hierarchical global thinking; encompassing writing, translating and editing across broadening projects and outlets of communication.

IMAGE

Cristian Wari'u young communicator, indigenous activist of the Xavante people and student of Organizational Communication at the University of Brasilia (UnB). He is the creator of the Youtube channel called "Wari'u" where he talks about indigenous peoples in contemporary times with a modern and accessible language and thus has resignified the struggle of the indigenous movement through digital cameras, mobile phones and internet.

“In many Indigenous communities, the notion of a single creator of a song or author of a narrative is undone by value placed on community production, ancestral creation of stories, or other forms of cultural and artistic content. No one person can or would assert authorship or ownership of these materials.” (Torsen & Anderson 2010)

Digital platforms can serve as a valuable tool for knowledge, and Indigenous communities are taking these opportunities to share their heritage and histories with a global audience. Though “Indigenous truth rests on the empowerment of Indigenous land and sovereignty, not needing any legitimation from colonial states or modernity” the practice of archiving, preserving and disseminating selected Indigenous artefacts and histories has long fallen into the hands of colonial oppressors.

As we advance further into the digital age, we are seeing multiple examples of Indigenous peoples accessing the virtual world.

This is so that their languages, stories and artefacts of cultural importance such as artworks and fabrics can be preserved and shared on a global scale. Through examining the digital practices of Indigenous communities and projects such as the Warumungu Aboriginal community in central Australia with Mukurtu, the Arctic Indigenous peoples with the Arctic Council, the Ulwazi Programme, the Guarani and Kaiowá communities in Brazil and the First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, this article will endeavour to share important digital practices, workshops, knowledge and platforms that support the development of preserving, exchanging and amplifying Indigenous heritage while accessing the digital space.

This article will go on to explore the potential benefits for children in understanding their heritage and history through digital platforms, such as with i...