Module #1 – Post #1

Aboriginal Culture in the Digital Age. Aboriginal Voice Cultural Working Group Paper – http://www.kta.on.ca/pdf/AboriginalCultureinaDigitalAge.pdf

This article looks at the way in which information and communication technology (ICT) are being used within aboriginal culture and how they could be used to support cultural preservation, renewal and possible impacts that ICT’s have on daily life for aboriginal people.

Important points made in this article include a section on cultural and spiritual identity, the dynamics of culture (history, tradition, spirituality, language etc), and

One of the reasons I chose to include this article is that because it does provide hopeful references and information regarding the use of ICT within cultural contexts. The idea of not using ICT’s in today’s modern world seems almost impossible, everyday interactions demand the use of technology of all kinds. “While it will never replace face-to-face contact with Elders, teachers and peers, ICT may serve as tools to reinvigorate language usage, especially with the younger generations who, by and large, have experience with technology and a high level of comfort with it.” (Pp.5)

The authors are very interested in what ways ICT has threatened culture and will continue to threaten aboriginal people and in what ways people can prevent this, and preserve their culture. I thought that this approach was unique, because ICT is often just blamed for bringing a Western cultural affront to all, demanding adoption to survive in modern society. However, this article attempts to examine what it is about ICT’s that are threatening and the ways that this threat can be harnessed to be advantageous for aboriginal communities.