Tag Archives: Indigenous language

Module 2.1. UNDRIP: UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples related to Knowledge Societies and ICTs

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The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted by the United Nations in September 2007.

According to Wikipedia, the purpose of the declaration is to “set out the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples, as well as their rights to culture, identity, language, employment, health, education and other issues.” It also “emphasizes the rights of indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions, and to pursue their development in keeping with their own needs and aspirations.” Moreover, the Declaration “prohibits discrimination against indigenous peoples”, and it “promotes their full and effective participation in all matters that concern them and their right to remain distinct and to pursue their own visions of economic and social development.”

The UNDRIP was adopted by 144 countries, and was first voted against by 4 countries, Canada and the USA (have yet to reverse their position), and New Zealand and Australia (reversed their position in 2009).

Like all UN declarations, the UNDRIP is not legally binding. However, the main purpose of the declaration is to provide standards for treating the indigenous peoples, and for eliminating the violation of their identity and their cultural rights.

The UNDRIP can be found on:

http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/DRIPS_en.pdf

Module 1.3. Indigenous Language iPhone Apps

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Many smart phone applications intended for “indigenous language” use on iPhones, iPads and iPods abound, making such tools accessible to users worldwide – although their use require somewhat advanced computer literacy.

More than 3,000 languages around the world are facing extinction today. Aramaic, for example, the language that Jesus spoke, has been lost in the Middle East for long centuries. However, in two small villages in Israel/Palestine and in one in Syria Aramaic is still being taught to young children at schools. In desperate hope of saving, preserving and reviving Aramaic as a part of humanity’s cultural heritage, an Aramaic application has been launched. The app teaches the alphabets and their pronunciation, as well as, a few phrases.
Another example is the vulnerable Tamazight, the indigenous language of the Berbers of North Africa. The surviving Berber languages receive some official support from North African countries, and some of them have been made available through applications for smartphone and tablet users.
First People’s Cultural Council published a list of indigenous language learning apps; hundreds of these apps teach endangered languages through word games, interactive lessons, word lists, writing tools, flashcards, etc.
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