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7 December 2004

A project dedicated to strengthening local Indigenous languages, cultures and environments in Northern Australia using digital technology is the focus of a free seminar being held at Charles Darwin University tomorrow.

L_R Michael Christie and Waymamba Gaykamangu

Indigenous Knowledge and Resource Management in Northern Australia is a three-year project funded by an Australian Research Council grant until 2006.

“For the past year we have been researching the use of digital technologies to keep local languages and knowledge systems strong with a focus on resource management,” Project Coordinator and Lecturer, Dr Michael Christie, explained.

“This seminar is an opportunity to provide feedback on what has been completed to date as well as outline the goals for the rest of the project.”

Coordinated by Charles Darwin University’s School of Australian Indigenous Knowledge Systems, the project’s research is focused in two areas:

• An audit of databases which represent Indigenous knowledge in Australia’s Top End; and
• Development of digital systems that support Indigenous people building collective memory.

“As part of the project we are working with a range of Indigenous groups and people including Larrakia, Garma Cultural Studies Institute, West Arnhem landers and others.” Dr Christie said.

“We consult about ways to use digital technology such as computers, digital cameras, sound recordings, etc for Indigenous groups to keep their own languages, and ecological knowledge systems strong,” he said.

Dr Christie indicated that tomorrow’s seminar will also see the launch of the Project’s research website located at www.cdu.edu.au/centres/ik/

Charles Darwin University ’s partners in this project are the Northern Land Council including Northern Australian Indigenous Land Sea Management Alliance, the Northern Territory Department of Infrastructure Planning and Environment and the Yothu Yindi Foundation including the Garma Cultural Studies Institute.