'This publication is the five-year-milestone of the Indigenous Knowledge for Development Program in the Africa Region of the World Bank. The main goal of the program is to learn from the knowledge embedded in the practices of local communities.'

Deep in the most remote jungles of South America, Amazon Indians (Amerindians) are using Google Earth, Global Positioning System (GPS) mapping, and other technologies to protect their fast-dwindling home. Tribes in Suriname, Brazil, and Colombia are combining their traditional knowledge of the rainforest with Western technology to conserve forests and maintain ties to their history and cultural traditions, which include profound knowledge of the forest ecosystem and medicinal plants.

This paper discusses the issue of promoting languages and cultures through ICTs, on local and global levels as well as from technological, educational, cultural, and developmental viewpoints. It provides background information on ICTs, globalization, and indigenous populations.

'The days when students used the library to do research and complete their assignments are virtually gone with the advent of the internet and other ICTs.'

This paper argues the need for a bottom-up process in which indigenous knowledge systems are placed at the heart of the process of education for sustainable development. It also indicates how ICT may be used to facilitate such an approach.

Existing ICT implementation are largely top-down in their information flow: from experts to target groups. Merely incorporating indigenous knowledge within this structure places it at a considerable disadvantage. A wealth of knowledge is already available w more...

A study "Increasing Aboriginal Social Capital" is being conducted to examine the idea of social capital from an Aboriginal perspective, specifically in relation to the potential of information and communication technology.

It is being conducted by the University of Manitoba in partnership with Crossing Boundaries National Council, and is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Discussions relate to how connectivity is impacting Aboriginal communities. As well, shari more...

This report is the culmination of a two-year national dialogue on how information and communications technology (ICT) can assist Canada’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples in fully participating in the knowledge economy and information society. As a result of this engagement process the result has been a deeper understanding of how ICT can help Aboriginal governments and communities meet critical social, economic and cultural needs. There is also an example of Aboriginal communities, org more...

The International Indigenous ICT Task Force (IICTF) was set up by the Indigenous Caucus at the Tunis Summit as a formal indigenous mechanism to follow-up on the post-World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) processes.

The work of the IICTF is based on the WSIS-related documents; those developed by Indigenous Peoples themselves and those adopted by Governments in the Summit proceedings.

The IICTF is actively seeking to inform Indigenous Peoples on a broad scale on the WSIS process an more...

New York, NY (UCTP News) 17 May 2007 - At an event organized by the Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID) entitled “Tale of Two Worlds: Keeping Pace with a Moving Target” representatives of governments and UN agencies, along with civil society and industry executives met to share diverse perspectives on the occasion of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2007.

The event included not only a message from United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon but also a messag more...

Book review: Indigenous people around the world are becoming more interested in information technology because they see it as a way to preserve their traditional cultures for future generations as well as a way to provide their communities with economic and social renewal. However, the cost of the new technologies, geographic isolation, and a lack of computer literacy have made it difficult for indigenous people to adopt IT. Information Technology and Indigenous People provides theoretical and e more...