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Implications of an ecospatial indigenous perspective on digital information organization and access

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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.

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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).

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Correspondence to Heike Winschiers-Theophilus.

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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

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