Resources for Cultural Projects Involving Technology [Knowledge Base Index]

Some online volunteers are asked to help with applying ICT to culturally-related projects, such as creating a web site that offers information about a particular region and its cultural history (music, stories, artwork, etc.). These web sites can help volunteers using technology in cultural/heritage-related projects.

• Database of Best Practices on Indigenous Knowledge
  The Centre for International Research and Advisory Networks (CIRAN) in co-operation with UNESCO's Management of Social Transformations Programme (MOST) established this database, part of the MOST database of "Best Practices in Successful Projects related to Poverty and Social Exclusion." It contains examples of successful projects in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. It also includes a geographical and thematic index and an index of institutions. Indigenous Knowledge  is "the unique, traditional, local knowledge existing within and developed around the specific conditions of women and men indigenous to a particular geographic area." Communities have their own indigenous methods for imparting knowledge, for example, just as they have indigenous ways of deriving a livelihood from the environment. Information, insight and techniques that are passed down and improved from one generation to the next cover such topics as medicine, animal breeding and production, water management, soil conservation, and pest management.

  NOTE to UNITeS-affiliated volunteers -- if you think the project you are working on might qualify as a Best Practice for the MOST database, relating to Community Participation & Urban Governance, Poverty Eradication, Social Exclusion/Integration, Women & Gender Equality, Homelessness & Housing, Economic Development, Indigenous Knowledge or Crime Prevention please contact UNITeS about possibly submitting this information. A good model to follow in preparing information for submission is the such as the Community Information Resource Centre in South Africa.

• The Internet and Indigenous Groups
  Part of the Cultural Survival Quarterly. Includes an Introduction by Steve Cisler and articles such as: "Latin America: The Internet and Indigenous Texts,"  "Burma: Constructive Engagement in Cyberspace?", "Use of Internet Communication Among the Sami People, "Standing Stones in Cyberspace: The Oneida Indian Nation's Territory on the Web," "Assyrians: "3,000 Years of History, Yet the Internet is Our Only Home," "Olelo Hawai'i: A Rich Oral History, a Bright Digital Future," and "Surf's Up!: NWT's Indigenous Communities Await a Tidal Wave of Electronic Information."

• NativeWeb
  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. is a project of many people. It's resource center provides an excellent database of online resources for and by indigenous peoples, from information about sustainable economic development projects to sample native newspapers.

• Indigenous Knowledge Homepage
  A comprehensive site created by the Centre for International Research and Advisory Networks (CIRAN) to facilitate and improve the exchange of information within the International IK Network. Information and documentation is presented by topic, geographical region, and source of information, such as projects & programmes, best practices, organizations & networks, calls, conferences, journals, articles, mailing lists, databases and tool kits & audio-visual materials.