Indigenous Digital Storytelling: Digital Interfaces Supporting Cultural Heritage Preservation and Access

Abstract

This paper reports on an examination and analysis of digital storytelling interface features and functionalities within a select number of Indigenous digital libraries and archives in order to support and inform the participatory and culturally-informed design and development of a digital storytelling system for the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) in Canada’s Western Arctic region. This paper provides an introduction to digital storytelling and the use of digital media in Indigenous communities to preserve oral traditions and stories in digital archives. It also presents participatory and inclusive design ideas and examples from Canada, US, and Australia to demonstrate and emphasize the importance of community engagement and community-based archiving for cultural heritage preservation and access.

Keywords:

• Cultural heritage preservation
• digital archives
• digital libraries
• digital storytelling
• Indigenous knowledge
• Indigenous storytelling

Additional information

Funding

This study is part of a larger project that is funded by an Insight Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).