ICTS for intercultural dialogue: an overview of UNESC's indigenous communiation project

Abstract

Using ICTs to preserve and revitalize Indigenous cultures and to promote intercultural dialogue is the aim of UNESCO's ICT4ID Project. Five pilot projects were conducted in 2004-2005 in Africa and South America to train Indigenous people in ICTs, support production of local content and assist in its distribution. Three of the projects focused on film-making; one on heritage management; and one on the making of a documentary and the design of a living cultural archive. This paper represents a preliminary evaluation of the pilot projects. Results show that all the projects have been successful in producing local content and providing at least some measure of distribution. However, projects have had varying success in terms of sustainability and varying success in achieving Indigenous self-representation.