Category Archives: MODULE 2

This article describes the challenge of having telecommunications companies as gatekeepers to accessing the internet and mobile telephony. That the profit-making enterprise of network access is fundamentally opposed to access to these technologies and that rich corporations have great control over whether people are able to access the internet at all.

The article also highlights the physical impacts of these modern technologies, the effect of the use of conflict minerals in the production of high technology, and the impact on the climate and global ecosystem that modern industry brings.

The article highlight the importance of oral traditions, and describe community radio and cellular networks being rolled out in Central and Latin American countries to create a “digital commons” accessible by all. In this sense, they are describing the decolonization of infrastructure.

In addition, the article highlights the importance of decolonizing the media and digital platforms to mitigate and eliminate the mass urveillance of governments and global corporations and the sale of privacy and personally identifying information as the price of access to technology.

References

Loreto, B. (2018, July 9). Decolonizing Communication Media and Digital Technologies. ritimo. https://www.ritimo.org/Decolonizing-Communication-Media-and-Digital-Technologies.

This graduate thesis by Alejandro Mayoral-Banos describes a mobile application development cycle based on the concept of the Tipi and suggests it as a potential approach to introduce mobile application development in post-secondary education. I could see this approach being used in secondary schools as well if technology within the school allows. Banos (2016) is looking both at how the development of mobile software, and the post-secondary education system itself can be decolonized

The paper has helpful definitions of decolonization on while acknowledging that “the concept of decolonization may differ between communities and groups because the processes of colonization varied from place to place and occurred at different times.” (Banos, 2016, p.26). Additionally, Banos states “that technology can be decolonized just as long as it is developed by/for/with Indigenous peoples through a process that valorizes Indigenous knowledges (epistemology). This process should emphasize culturally appropriate methodological principles (methodology) during the whole procedure of the design of such technology (e.g. the mobile application).” (Banos, 2016, p.2)

References

Banos, A. M. (2016). Decolonizing Technology through a Tipi: Creation of an Indigenous Mobile Application at York University (thesis). York University, Toronto, ON.

This article by Ina Holev is a helpful summary of some ways that access to the internet offers a form of digital colonialism.  In particular it singles out Facebook’s “Free Basics” as an example of individuals having to give up their personal information in order to receive access to the internet, a form of colonialism that many of us now take for granted. Holev also describes the challenge of Wikipedia being largely authored and edited by a majority of contributors from the “Global North”.  This is the first time I have encountered the use of the terms “Global North” and “Global South” in terms of wealth distribution, and I find it problematic, in looking more at this, I find the terms overly broad and generalizing and found this article helpful in unpicking the terms.  Regardless of naming, what is described is a disparity between certain countries (and specific corporate interests within those countries) dominating the content and knowledge that is accessible on the internet.

The article also asks the important question “is knowledge only of value if it’s archived on the internet?” highlighting the bias of written knowledge. For oral narrative traditions, it makes me wonder if recorded, or live video would ever be able to meet the needs of an oral narrative tradition. I wonder if instead, the sharing of space with the narrator/storyteller is an inseparable component of the tradition?

References

Holev, I. (2020, January). Decolonise the Internet. (J. Beckett, Trans.)Latitude: Rethinking Power Relations – for a Decolonised and Non-Racial World. Goethe Institut. https://www.goethe.de/prj/lat/en/dis/21753740.html.

FirstMile.ca describe themselves as being “about celebrating the achievements of remote and rural First Nations with information and communication technologies. Their focus is on research, outreach, and policy.

They offer an online course titled “Colonialism and the e-Community” which is current under redevelopment, but archived versions are still available online: http://firstmile.ca/free-online-course/course-outline/

Digging into the site, there are many helpful resources regarding policies and strategies for eliminating the digital divide specifically for First Nations peoples. Particularly useful is their page on broadband policies and First Nations

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.

I found this resource very interesting! To see how and where the government of Canada mentions Indigenous Knowledge is not something I have seen before. The key phrase that stands out from this resource is making “valuable contributions to environmental, regulatory, and other processes across the country”. I found the mention of environment and regulation very stereotypical since that seems to be the main point that Indigenous peoples knowledge is used for. It would be interesting to see if there was more that could be considered or this could be phrased from a different perspective. In general, I appreciate that Indigenous knowledge is at least considered by the government of Canada and this is a big step in ensuring that Indigenous peoples are valued as more than just relics in today’s society.

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/conservation/assessments/environmental-reviews/environmental-assessment-processes/discussion-paper-development-indigenous-knowledge-policy-framework.html