Author: Ronna Hoglund

” NativeWeb is an international, nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to using telecommunications including computer technology and the Internet to disseminate information from and about indigenous nations, peoples, and organizations around the world; to foster communication between native and non-native peoples; to conduct research involving indigenous peoples’ usage of technology and the Internet; and to provide resources, mentoring, and services to facilitate indigenous peoples’ use of this technology.”

You will find tons of information and links to other sites nicely “packaged” into categories (e.g. environment, women) or by nation (e.g. Inuit, Pomo) or by geographic region (e.g. Canada, Greenland). Very useful!

Phil Borges uses his photography to bring attention to indigenous peoples and the cultural issues they face. His work is stunning! Phil is the founder of “Bridges to Understanding” and co-founder of “Blue Earth Alliance.” Bridges to Understanding uses digital storytelling to empower youth and create cross-cultural understanding. Blue Earth Alliance uses photography to affect change.     

http://www.philborges.com/

This organization is dedicated to preserving the nature and culture of the indigenous peoples living in the Amazon basin – Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Equador and Peru. A focus of Amazon Watch is to prevent the creation of “mega-projects” that destroy the land and the people living there.  Amazon Watch works in partnership with the local organizations to provide funding and help to represent the needs and desires of the people being affected.

http://amazonwatch.org/

The Australian Museum has done a nice job in re-creating the “Stories of the Dreaming” from Indigenous Australian culture in a respectful way.  Some stories cannot be re-told or shared because they are sacred.

http://australianmuseum.net.au/Stories-of-the-Dreaming

The “Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization” is dedicated to providing nonviolent solutions to problems affecting indigenous peoples and minorities around the world and to protecting and promoting human and cultural rights. The website (and this organization) is a good example of how technology can provide the means to draw attention to issues that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.

 http://www.unpo.org/

Gerry Barrett performs – need I say more? Lots of Native “issues” raised in this very funny piece. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGDy8B0cZwA&feature=related

Unfortunately the website is under construction for Whitehorse General Hospital, however, some information is available through their 2009-2013 Strategic Plan concerning their “unique” health program for First Nations people. Having a background in healthcare and understanding that First Nations people live everywhere in Canada, I have often wondered why more healthcare facilities do NOT have a “unique” health program of their own? This hospital is one to watch and emulate across the country.

“We provide culturally and traditionally appropriate programs to meet the needs of First Nations people. These include recruitment, training and retention of qualified First Nations staff to operate the programs; providing cross-cultural training to all hospital employees; linkages to First Nation communities outside Whitehorse; and providing discharge planning, language, traditional medicine, and dietary needs for First Nations patients. Financial issues continue to be a challenge in providing our unique First Nations Health Program.”

http://www.whitehorsehospital.ca/content/EN/YHC_Strategic_Plan.pdf

This site provides a means to view (and purchase) works of art (sculpture, paintings and craftwork) created by Native artists. It stood out from other online galleries in that it provides a description and background information about each artist and access to view  all of the works of art. Information on upcoming artist exibitions is up-to-date and the site is respectful in that it focuses more on the art, not the sale.

http://www.bearclawgallery.com/aboutus.aspx

As I was exploring the Internet trying to learn more about Native culture(s), I came across an exciting website developed with the help of Carlton University.  Although there are many websites claiming to promote Native art and culture, many of them really only want to sell something. Not this one! This site contains a wealth of knowledge and information, respectfully put together through the use of technology to educate and entertain!

The website introduction says it all:

“Welcome to Native Drums, an exciting and innovative website devoted to the rich heritage of First Nations culture and music in Canada.

With games, videos, and moving image galleries for Kids, in-depth interviews and articles for students, the image research database for scholars, and downloadable resource kits for teachers, Native Drums has something for everyone!”

http://www.native-drums.ca/index.php/Home?ln=e

There is also a companion website devoted to Native Dance.

http://www.native-dance.ca/

This site provides a wealth of information for and about the James Bay Cree of Northern Quebec. A tremendous amount of work has obviously gone into this site to compile information about Cree culture including art, language, and history.  I found this site to both interesting and educational – check out the Interactive Resources “Dressed as Visions” – an online collection of James Bay Cree artifacts that are currently displayed in museums around the world.  

http://www.creeculture.ca/content/