Abstract
The digitalisation of indigenous knowledge has been challenging considering epistemological differences and the lack of involvement of indigenous people. Drawing from our most recent community projects in Namibia, we share insights on indigenous ecospatial worldviews guiding the design of digital information organization and access of indigenous knowledge. With emerging technologies, such as augmented and virtual reality, offering new opportunities for richer and more meaningful spatial and embodied accounts of indigenous knowledge, we re-imagine digital libraries inclusive of indigenous people and their worldviews.
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00799-023-00353-6/MediaObjects/799_2023_353_Fig1_HTML.jpg)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00799-023-00353-6/MediaObjects/799_2023_353_Fig2_HTML.jpg)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00799-023-00353-6/MediaObjects/799_2023_353_Fig3_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00799-023-00353-6/MediaObjects/799_2023_353_Fig4_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00799-023-00353-6/MediaObjects/799_2023_353_Fig5_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00799-023-00353-6/MediaObjects/799_2023_353_Fig6_HTML.jpg)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00799-023-00353-6/MediaObjects/799_2023_353_Fig7_HTML.jpg)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00799-023-00353-6/MediaObjects/799_2023_353_Fig8_HTML.png)
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Duncker, E.: Cross-cultural usability of computing metaphors. In: Sudweeks, F., Ess, C. (eds.) Proceedings Cultural Attitudes Towards Communication and Technology, pp. 217–236. School of Information Technology, Murdoch University, Australia (2002)
Cherry, A., Mukunda, K.: A case study in indigenous classification: revisiting and reviving the Brian Deer scheme. Cat. Classif. Q. 53(5–6), 548–567 (2015)
Hurley, D.A., Kostelecky, S.R., Aguilar, P.: Whose knowledge? Representing indigenous realities in library and archival collections. Collect. Manag. 42, 124–129 (2017)
Gallert, P., van der Velden, M.: The sum of all human knowledge? Wikipedia and indigenous knowledge. In: Bidwell, N., Winschiers-Theophilus, H. (eds.) At the Intersection of Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge and Technology Design, pp. 117–133. Informing Science Press, Santa Rosa (2015)
Stichel, B., Blake, E., Maasz, D., Stanley, C., Winschiers-Theophilus, H., Afrikaner, H.: Namibian Indigenous communities reflecting on their own digital representations. In: Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Communities and Technologies-Transforming Communities, pp. 51–59. ACM, New York (2019)
Maasz, D., Winschiers-Theophilus, H., Stanley, C., Rodil, K., Mbinge, U.: A Digital Indigenous Knowledge Preservation Framework: The 7C Model-Repositioning IK Holders in the Digitization of IK, pp. 29–47. Springer, Singapore (2018)
Ningthoujam, S.S., Talukdar, A.D., Potsangbam, K.S., Choudhury, M.D.: Challenges in developing medicinal plant databases for sharing ethnopharmacological knowledge. J. Ethnopharmacol. 141(1), 9–32 (2012)
Wedel, J.: Human–plant interaction and spiritual healing among the Miskitu. Anthropos H.1, 263–270 (2017)
Amunkete, K.N.: A model for the digital preservation of indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants in Namibia via an e-learning platform. Masters, University of South Africa (2020). Available at: http://uir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/26842
Chakravarty, R., Mahajan, P.: Preserving traditional knowledge: initiatives in India. IFLA J. 36(4), 294–299 (2010)
Dharmaraj, S.: India widens access to traditional knowledge digital library (2022). https://opengovasia.com/india-widens-access-to-traditional-knowledge-digital-library/
Khalala, G., Makitla, I., Botha, A., Alberts, R.: A case for understanding user experience challenges confronting indigenous knowledge recorders in rural communities in South Africa. In: 2014 IST-Africa Conference Proceedings, pp. 1–8. IEEE (2014)
Sraku-Lartey, M., Acquah, S.B., Samar, S.B., Djagbletey, G.D.: Digitization of indigenous knowledge on forest foods and medicines. IFLA J. 43(2), 187–197 (2017)
Augusto, G.: Digitizing IKS: epistemic complexity, datadiversity and cognitive justice. Int. Inf. Libr. Rev. 40(4), 211–218 (2008)
Moulaison Sandy, H., Bossaller, J.: Providing cognitively just subject access to indigenous knowledge through knowledge organization systems. Catal. Classif. Q. 55(3), 129–152 (2017)
Assembly, U.N.G., et al.: Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People. General Assembly 64th Session (2009)
Rafferty, P.: The representation of knowledge in library classification schemes. KO Knowl. Organ. 28(4), 180–191 (2001)
Eisner, W.R., Jelacic, J., Cuomo, C.J., Kim, C., Hinkel, K.M., Del Alba, D.: Producing an indigenous knowledge web GIS for arctic Alaska communities: challenges, successes, and lessons learned. Trans. GIS 16(1), 17–37 (2012)
Bidwell, N.J., Winschiers-Theophilus, H.: Extending connections between land and people digitally. In: Giaccardi, E. (ed.) Heritage and Social Media: Understanding Heritage in a Participatory Culture. Routledge, New York (2012)
Rodil, K., Winschiers-Theophilus, H., Stanley, C., Kapuire, G.K., Rehm, M.: An approach to user interface design with two indigenous groups in Namibia. In Proceedings of the 26th Australian Computer–Human Interaction Conference on Designing Futures: The Future of Design, pp. 460–469. ACM, New York, NY, USA (2014)
Hinze, A., Bainbridge, D.: Location-triggered mobile access to a digital library of audio books using tipple. Int. J. Digit. Libr. 17(4), 339–365 (2016)
Hinze, A., Bainbridge, D., Cunningham, S.J.: The challenge of creating geo-location markup for digital books. In: International Conference on Theory and Practice of Digital Libraries, pp 294–306. Springer (2016)
Winschiers-Theophilus, H., Zaman, T., Stanley, C.: A classification of cultural engagements in community technology design: introducing a transcultural approach. AI Soc. 34, 419–435 (2017)
Kapuire, G.K., Cabrero, D.G., Stanley, C., Winschiers-Theophilus, H.: Framing technology design in Ubuntu: two locales in pastoral Namibia. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Australian Special Interest Group for Computer Human Interaction, pp. 212–216. ACM, New York (2015)
Muwanga-Zake, J.W.: Building bridges across knowledge systems: Ubuntu and participative research paradigms in bantu communities. Discourse Stud. Cult. Polit. Educ. 30(4), 413–426 (2009)
Mukumbira, S., Winschiers-Theophilus, H., Muashekele, C., Chitakunye, R., Wandai, P., De Cauwer, V.: Conservation tool design caught in the midst of transdisciplinary negotiations of data accuracy. In: 3rd African Human–Computer Interaction Conference: Inclusiveness and Empowerment, pp. 22–32. ACM, New York (2021)
Sinha, G., Smucker, T.A., Lovell, E.J., Velempini, K., Miller, S.A., Weiner, D., Wangui, E.E.: The pedagogical benefits of participatory GIS for geographic education. J. Geogr. 116(4), 165–179 (2017)
Zhang, Q., Hinze, A., Vanderschantz, N.: Narrative navigation: Visualizing story order and locations in augmented reality. In: Proceedings of the ACM/IEEE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries in 2020, pp. 541–542. ACM, New York (2020)
Rodil, K., Maasz, D., Winschiers-Theophilus, H.: Moving virtual reality out of its comfort zone and into the African Kalahari desert field: experiences from technological co-exploration with an indigenous San community in Namibia. In: 26th ACM Symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology, pp. 1–10. ACM, New York (2020)
Arendttorp, E.M.N., Rodil, K., Winschiers-Theophilus, H., Magoath, C.: Overcoming legacy bias: re-designing gesture interactions in virtual reality with a San community in Namibia. In: CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp. 1–18. ACM, New York (2022)
Johansen, F.B., Kjeldsen, T.K., Rosengren Jørgensen, M., Magot, S., Magot, A., Kandjengo, S., Winschiers-Theophilus, H., Arendttorp, E.M.N., Rodil, K.: Hunting with the Juhoansi in the Kalahari: a co-created VR gesture application. In: Adjunct Proceedings of the 2022 Nordic Human–Computer Interaction Conference, pp. 1–2. ACM, New York (2022)
Reijerkerk, D., Nyitray, K.J.: Removing indigenous knowledge boundaries: a review of library and archival collection literature since the enactment of the native American graves protection and repatriation act Nagpra. Collect. Manag. 48(1), 22–47 (2023)
Sulyman, A.S., Amzat, B.O., Taiwo, M.A.: Indigenisation of Nigerian librarianship through indigenous knowledge: exploring its possibilities. Libr. Philos. Pract. (2022)
Kong, J.: Application and research of artificial intelligence in digital library. In: Big Data Analytics for Cyber-Physical System in Smart City: BDCPS 2020, 28–29 December 2020, pp. 318–325. Springer, Shanghai (2021)
Shahzad, K., Khan, S.A.: Factors affecting the adoption of integrated semantic digital libraries (SDLs): a systematic review. Library Hi Tech (ahead-of-print) (2022)
Díaz-López, L., Tarango, J., Contreras, C.P.: Strategies for inclusive and safe education using virtual reality: from the digital library perspective. Digit. Libr. Perspect. 35, 216–226 (2019)
Zhang, C.: Research on digital library based on virtual reality technology. In: 2018 International Conference on Mechanical, Electronic, Control and Automation Engineering (MECAE 2018), pp. 129–134. Atlantis Press (2018)
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank our indigenous partner communities, specifically from Donkerbos, Otjisa and Epupa conservancy for the knowledge shared and created with us. We are also grateful for the funding received over the years from different sources, such as the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology, MTC Namibia, Carl Schlettwein Foundation, and the European Commission (EuropeAid/156423/DD/ACT/Multi).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Mukumbira, S., Winschiers-Theophilus, H. Implications of an ecospatial indigenous perspective on digital information organization and access. Int J Digit Libr 25, 241–248 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00799-023-00353-6
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00799-023-00353-6