Tag Archives: traditions

The Ethnos Project/ Resource Database

http://www.ethnosproject.org/

This site contains a a huge database of resources for studying the “intersection of indigeneity and information and communications technologies (ICTs).” The site was made for academic research, government agencies, indigenous groups, cultural organizations and others who are interested in indigenous populations and their interaction with technology.

Within the site you find a multitude of blogs from various contributors and links to video and other media. The site makes excellent use of social media and is very user friendly.

Those interested in topics such as “digital humanities, human computer interaction, Indigenous Knowledge management, culture and development, language preservation, and participatory design” will find the site very useful

Urban Native Magazine

While this may not be a scholarly website, Urban Native Magazine provides readers with a multitude of information. While some of this information may be best left to teenage girls, this magazine celebrates aboriginal culture. Like most magazines, emphasis on fashion and up-and-coming trends are prevalent; however, this magazine provides a cultural temperature on indigenous business opportunities, explores stereotypes and provides commentary on serious and relevant aboriginal issues. A recurring article entitled Rez Girl in the City (written by Anonymous) provides a dialogue of merging the modern world with aboriginal values and the trials which this particular individual experiences as a result. (Module 1 – Post 2)

To view this websites, visit, http://urbannativemag.com/

Module 4 – Post 5: A Journey into Time Immemorial

A Journey into Time Immemorial

In searching for interactive ways to present Indigenous knowledge and culture using technology, I came across this exceptional site. This virtual journey is highly interactive and viewers can explore the village in order to learn about Sto:lo traditional ways of living. Interactive icons, such as villagers, animals, fish, boats, etc. can be selected to find out more information about it or information can be access via the multiple dropdown menus.

In addition, the site also provides resources for educators who wish to use the site for science, social studies, English and language arts, and First Nations’ studies classes. For each class topic, learning outcomes are also provided for students in different grades (6-10). The site also contains video and audio resources such that you can listen to interviews with Elders and community members as well as games and a glossary.

This site would be an excellent resource to learn about the Sto:lo Nation’s traditions and culture. I also believe this would be appealing to a younger demographic and could be used in classrooms.

Lee Brown

http://med-fom-learningcircle.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2011/03/Emotional-Health-Wellbeing-Dr.-Lee-Brown.pdf

Creating Emotional Health and Wellbeing

This .pdf is a slideshow for a talk Brown gave in 2013. I have been looking unsuccessfully for more work by Brown and this, at least, outlines the thoughts he dicusses at https://connect.ubc.ca/webapps/blackboard/execute/displayLearningUnit?course_id=_61105_1&content_id=_2725247_1&framesetWrapped=true a little more visually. Lee Brown’s explanation of how emotional well being ties into cultural awareness is an important point in my paper for the final assignment, so the more I can find, the better.

Post by Trevor Price

July 4, 2015

Module 2.3: Indigenous Health Research Group

The University of Ottawa hosts an interesting website & blog called the Indigenous Health Research Group, which brings together a group of researchers (the primary focus in this case being local dietary and physical activity practices/habits) and indigenous communities and remote First Nations in Canada’s north.

I was interested in their blog and other materials because the research focuses so heavily on collaboration with communities rather than strict ‘intervention’. For example, these researchers (a very interdisciplinary team) work to help increase access to traditional/wild foods, and help to encourage traditional cultivation, or to encourage things like the Bison hunt in generations who may not have experienced these traditional activities. This helps disparate/isolated communities to regain their self-reliance and to diminish their need for imported foods.

Module 2.2: First Nations Health Authority

This week I was really focused on trying to learn more about the landscape of traditional health knowledge in Canada and abroad. Another new-to-me organization is the First Nations Health Authority which is a BC-based government agency (or at least funded by the federal government) with the responsibility to:

[act as party responsible for] “the administration of federal health programs and services previously delivered by Health Canada’s First Nations Inuit Health Branch – Pacific Region, and to work with the province and First Nations to address service gaps through new partnerships, closer collaboration, and health systems innovation.”

I found this particularly interesting because it’s fairly uncommon to see first nations health in the hands of first nations groups, and more rare to see the federal government step down from administering programs like this. It also relates back to some discussions we’ve held in our Connect forums on the need to have first nations/indigenous voices really guiding the conversation on issues surrounding this specific population.

Module 1 Post 3: Taking back Visual Identity

In searching for how First Nations people are reclaiming their identities, I fell on an interesting article called “ReMatriate wants to take back ‘visual identity’ of First Nations“.

In response to a Canadian designer’s announcement that its new fashion line was inspired by Indian tribes in Canada, women from various First Nations in the country are coming together and using social media to reclaim the control of their ‘visual identity’. Although short, the article addresses the issue of injustice regarding the Westerners’ ability to “borrow” elements of First Nations traditions and culture they deem pleasing while the Aboriginal peoples are required to fight in order to preserve them.

These women are using Facebook and Instagram as a means to share pictures and stories in an attempt to take back their identity and role in society as females. This article could definitely serve as an inspiration to researching women’s role and identity in society and how technology is being used to help them to share who they are and how they are represented.

Module 1.3 – ICT For Peace (or, is technology neutral)

ICT For Peacbuilding is a really interesting website that looks at the use of information communications technology (ICT) for conflict resolution. I thought it was interesting to extrapolate a lot of their discussions on the neutrality of the internet/technology as it pertains to our discussions of these topics in this course. The main author certainly believes that the question, “is technology culturally neutral”, isn’t even the question we should focus on, rather,

whether one accepts the neutrality of technology depends on one’s valuing philosophy – whether one tends toward the pragmatic and situational, or the absolute and authoritarian. Those who believe that technology is neutral argue that “guns don’t kill people, people do”, or that a knife can be used to “cook, kill, or cure.” Those who believe the opposite counter with evidence that technology cannot be evaluated in a vacuum and that there are traits common to all technological developments: (1) technological objects are unique; they are designed to function in a particular and limited way, and (2) technological objects are intertwined with their environment; they interact in unique ways with the rest of reality.

I do think that the neutrality of technology really depends upon the lens with which we look at each circumstance. There are opportunities for individuals to represent themselves in the way they’d like to be seen. But it is certainly not clear to me if that means true neutrality or simply a manipulation of the cultural norm.

Module 1.1 – The Impact of Digital Technologies on Indigenous Peoples

While I was reading the first article for Module 1, I got to thinking a bit more about the impact of digital technologies on indigenous traditions. I wanted to read more about beliefs and conventions surrounding how and when technologies, such as video (YouTube, Vimeo) or audio recordings (podcasts, terrestrial radio) are considered suitable for cultural and educational knowledge transmission.

As a result I came across EcoLiterateLaw’s page, which focuses on globalization and the transformation of cultures and humanity. There the author discusses the uses and impacts of technologies and technology tools (as mentioned above) as they can be seen to benefit indigenous communities, primarily by fueling self-determination and self-identification, and by allowing for information and knowledge sharing online. Furthermore, there is some suggested benefit to having the ability to participate in knowledge exchange through online chat or forum groups, that allow indigenous groups to meet and learn from other, more disparate groups, in ways that were previously unavailable.

In spite of all these highlighted potential benefits, the article comes to discuss the negative connotations of indigenous participation online,

…because colonizers are the ones with the resources to be in control of this information, the Internet, for the most part, is only a modern tool for further colonization. And, there is always the risk that others, who have no stake in Indigenous peoples integrity or survival, will circulate stories, histories, cultures, and traditions devoid of respect for the principles underlying the veracity of those principles. Although there may be reason to believe otherwise, history has shown that the stories of “[I]ndigenous peoples worldwide . . . have been told and manipulated by others, only to be reduced to fantasy, novelty, myth, and untruth. [Indigenous] knowledge was validated, discarded, or modified to suit a strategy of colonization, conquering both geography and knowledge systems.”

I found this quite enlightening and made me think of the concept of concealed identities online in a different light.

Module 1.5 – A picture tells a thousand words…

The Canadian Museum of History contains First People’s Photographic Perspectives collection in their archives. These are amazing photographs to spark conversation with students around the life, traditions and culture of Indigenous People in Canada. The Canadian Museum of History site also contains a large repository of research and collections of indigenous peoples in Canada.

http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/aborig/jaillir/jaillexe.shtml