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Faculty Toolkit : Protecting Indigenous Knowledge
Protecting Indigenous Knowledge
This section supports learning about Indigenous copyright, cultural appropriation and protocols for conducting research in Indigenous communities and approaching elders for knowledge.
This page is no longer updated or maintained. Please visit the The Maamwi Hub- opens in a new tab instead. If you have any questions, please contact: info@tlp-lpa.ca- opens in mail
Tips
- Protecting Indigenous knowledge is tied directly to First Nation beliefs of respect and protection of information for future generations.
- It’s about stopping the appropriation of sacred knowledge, culture, or art for financial gain that doesn’t benefit First Nation communities.
- It’s about learning how Indigenous people view their knowledge and respecting their views and protocols.
- It’s important to know the difference between appropriation and appreciation.
- Indigenous Nations do not see ownership as an individual right, but rather a communal responsibility.
- Indigenous forms of ownership include communally owned property, familial-owned property, or properties held by the nation.
- Stories like dances and songs are mostly owned. Listening to a story or tale does not provide a person with the privilege of retelling that story. If you are buying an Indigenous gift or craft, take the time to make sure that it’s authentic.
- Responsible collaborations involve: consent, shared control, acknowledgement, respect, and reciprocity.
Resources
Videos
- Cultural Appropriation vs. Cultural Appreciation by Rosanna Deerchild - Opens in a new window
A lighthearted, comedic lesson on the difference between Cultural Appropriation and Appreciation. - Gather.Create.Share - Opens in a new window
Local Contexts has created this video to explain Traditional Knowledge Licence. - Indigenous Art Protocols & Cultural Appropriation by the Ontario Arts Council - Opens in a new window
This video acknowledges Indigenous protocols in the arts: respect, knowledge, reciprocity and how these rights have been exploited. It also offers guidelines on how to approach and engage with Indigenous communities by using the Indigenous principles of acknowledgement, respect, relevance, responsibility, relationality inclusion, and community. - Principles of Indigenous Research Methodologies - Opens in a new window
The Principles of Indigneous Knowledge Researchers Methodologies explained by Chuutsqa Layla Rorick. The most important principle being reciprocity, when conducting research in a community, the research should benefit the community as much as the researcher. - Protecting Indigenous Intellectual Property - Opens in a new window
This video explains the First Nations Principles of ownership, control, access, and possession.
Documents & Websites
- Documenting Traditional Knowledge Toolkit - Opens in a new windowCreated by the World Intellectual Property Organization, this document is a guideline for how to document and acknowledge Indigenous Knowledge.
- Local Contexts - Opens in a new windowLocal Contexts is an organization that supports Indigenous people and communities in the management of their intellectual property and cultural heritage, specifically in the digital domain.
- Research Ethics for Research with Indigenous Communities - Opens in a new windowA guideline for ethical research practices.
- Think Before You Appropriate - Opens in a new windowThis beautiful guide was created by IPinCH: Intellectual Property Issues in Cultural Heritage: Theory, Practice, Policy & Ethics at Simon Fraser University.