Animikii is an Indigenously owned and operated digital agency in British Columbia offering website updates, custom software and digital communication strategies. Rather than focus on the type of work, they instead focus on whether their values are aligned with prostpective clients.
They offered a series titled “Decolonizing Digital” with an emphasis on the power of Indigenous Data Sovereignty held at the core of decolonization work. The series introduces the concept of Indigenous Data Sovereignty, stressing that here is no single answer as it it heavily depends on local circumstances.
“The internet is both a blessing and a curse, as it has never been so easy to form new relationships with people who you may never encounter, while platforms like social media allow one to escape into fantasies of popularity and connectivity. One-to-one we can facilitate mentorships through technology as long as we prioritize the relationship, not the means in which the relationship occurs.” (Animikii, 2019)
They describe four elements of digital decolonization that should be seen as circular processes and feedback loops rather than a linear approach:
- Indigenous Peoples are still here
- Indigenous Peoples are Global Actors
- Indigenous Peoples have specific rights
- Indigenous Data Sovereignty is Key to Self-Determination
References
Animikii Indigenous Technology. (2019, June 17). Decolonizing Digital: Empowering Indigeneity Through Data Sovereignty. https://www.animikii.com/news/decolonizing-digital-empowering-indigeneity-through-data-sovereignty.