A framework for digital preservation of Indigenous knowledge system (IKS) in repositories in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tolulope Balogun ◽  
Trywell Kalusopa

Purpose The purpose of this study is to assess the digital preservation policies and plans for long-term digital preservation in selected repositories in South Africa, with a view to develop a digital preservation framework for the preservation of Indigenous knowledge system (IKS) in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach Through the multiple case study research design, data was obtained from eight respondents in four Indigenous Knowledge Systems Documentation Centers (IKSDCs) in institutions that are part of the National Recordal Systems (NRS) initiative across four provinces in South Africa using in-depth face-to-face interviews. Data collected was also supplemented with the content analysis of several policy documents in South Africa. Findings The findings reveal that there are no digital preservation policies in place in the institutions, especially long-term digital preservation for IKS. However, some of the institutions are formulating policies that will include the management of IKS collected in the institutions. This study also reveals that digital curation, policy formulation and disaster preparedness plans to some extent are measures said to be in place for the digital preservation of IKS. Research limitations/implications This study focuses mainly on the NRS initiative in South Africa. Indigenous Knowledge (IK) related to traditional medicine, traditional plants and food are currently being digitized at the IKSDCs by IK recorders. This study will help in ensuring that the South African Government’s effort and investment in digitizing IKS and making them accessible online is not wasted. This study will help mitigate the risk of damage and alteration over time, either deliberately or in error. Originality/value This study fills a gap in the literature on the digitization and digital preservation of IKS from the context of the NRS project in South Africa. Very few studies have been carried out on the digital preservation of IKS in Africa. This study also proposed a framework for the digital preservation of IKS in South Africa.


2021 ◽  
pp. 026666692110055
Author(s):  
Tolulope Balogun ◽  
Trywell Kalusopa

The purpose of the paper was to highlight the digitization of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in institutional repositories in South Africa with a view to develop a framework for Web archiving IKS-related websites in South Africa. Anchored on the interpretivist paradigm, the qualitative research method was adopted for this research. The multiple case study research strategy was considered appropriate for the study. Data was gathered through face-to-face in-depth interviews and content analysis. Interviews were conducted with eight IKS staff at the IKS Documentation Centres across four provinces in South Africa. The study revealed that although there are efforts to digitize IKS and make them accessible through some channels online, there are no specific digital preservation policies guiding the project. Apart from the fact that there are policies in place to support any Web archiving initiative, the concept of Web archiving was generally unfamiliar to the respondents. The respondents admitting to the lack of a standard policy guiding the digitization project also admitted to a lack of knowledge or in-depth understanding of Web archiving and its prospect as a digital preservation measure. The research, therefore, proposes a Web archiving framework that should be incorporated in the digital preservation policy framework. This research will be useful to policymakers and all stakeholders in South Africa and other parts of Africa.



2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manisha Poudel ◽  
Nanda Bahadur Singh

The present study focuses on traditional usages of animals and plants species for medicinal purpose and indigenous knowledge system existent in Darai ethnic group of Mangalpur VDC, Chitwan, Nepal. A total of 28 animal species and 76 plant species were found to be used by Darai people to treat 22 and 36 different ailments, respectively. Darai people have their own indigenous knowledge for making various bamboo products and fishing equipments and local drink (moat/muna). The existence of knowledge associated with animals and plants and their medicinal utility is currently threatened mainly due to modernization, easy access to health services, lack of interest of youngsters, few local healers and fading of ethnic characters of Darai ethnic group. Thus, documentation of such knowledge has become an urgent need.Journal of Institute of Science and TechnologyVolume 21, Issue 1, August 2016, page: 103-111



2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Mannheimer ◽  
Conor Cote

Purpose For libraries with limited resources, digital preservation can seem like a daunting responsibility. Forming partnerships can help build collective knowledge and maximize combined resources to achieve digital preservation goals. This paper aims to provide guidance to help libraries with limited resources achieve digital preservation goals by forming partnerships to build collective knowledge and maximize combined resources. Design/methodology/approach In 2015, librarians from four Montana institutions formed the Digital Preservation Working Group (DPWG), a collaboration to increase digital preservation efforts statewide. The group’s immediate goals were to promote digital preservation best-practices at each individual institution, and to learn about and support each other’s work. The group’s long-term goal was to implement a shared digital preservation service that would fill gaps in existing digital preservation efforts. Findings Beyond the cost savings gained by sharing a digital preservation service, the members of DPWG benefitted from shared knowledge and expertise gained during the partnership. The group also functioned as a sounding board as each institution built its digital preservation program, and it became a system of support when challenges arose. Practical/implications This paper proposes a five-point plan for creating digital preservation partnerships: cultivate a foundation of knowledge and identify a shared vision; assess the current digital preservation landscape at each institution; advocate for the value of digital preservation activities; implement shared digital preservation services; and sustain group activities and establish structures for ongoing support. Originality/value The activities of DPWG provide a model for institutions seeking to collaborate to meet digital preservation challenges. This paper shows that by implementing a structured plan, institutions can build and sustain digital preservation partnerships, thus positioning themselves to achieve digital preservation success.



2012 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mostafizur Rahman

The main focus of the study was to identify the indigenous knowledge system being used by the rural men in farming and household activities and also to examine its extent. Data were collected from Poba upazila under Rajshahi district and Gabtoli upazila under Bogra district in Bangladesh from 125 randomly selected rural men out of total population of 1,145 from 15 February to 14 May, 2009. The fifty potential indigenous knowledge systems were identified through participatory rural appraisal prior to finalizing the schedule. The findings reveal that greater proportion of rural men were illiterate, middle aged categories, small farmer category, medium agricultural and environmental knowledge category, high level farming experience, medium cosmopoliteness, medium communication exposure, no organizational participation and moderately favorable category. Among the 50 identified indigenous knowledge systems, ?Setting up bamboo sticks, branches of trees etc., in rice fields to let the birds sit and eat away insects? reached the highest extent of use by the farmers in agricultural practices. ?Soaking boro rice seeds in water for 1-3 days before sowing in the bed for rapid germination?, ?Drying mature bottle gourds (Lagenaria vulgaris) in the sun and storing the seeds inside without rupturing the fruits? and ?Keeping rice seedlings under shed for 1-2 days before transplanting for the purpose of increasing tolerance? took the 2nd, 3rd and 4th position regarding the extent of use. Considering farmers? practicing category, the highest proportion (47.2%) of the respondents belonged to the low user as compared to 39.2% in the moderate user and 13.6% in the high user. Recommendations were forwarded to the extension specialists, researchers and administrators to undertake desk and experimental research concerning indigenous knowledge systems.



2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL3) ◽  
pp. 884-891
Author(s):  
Hariprasath T K ◽  
Lakshmi T ◽  
Gayatri Devi R

Indigenous information frameworks structure the fundamental comprehension of conventional culture and aptitudes. These are old ways of thinking created by social orders and networks long accounts back. Nature and mountain encompassed individuals, as a rule, have the nearby clinical information and dealing with and settling on choices which are key in everyday life which is being known by everybody and being drilled. The point of the overview is to examine general information on Indigenous frameworks in Dental practices. Cross-sectional overview utilizing a poll of 12 inquiries which were embraced and changed from past investigations and structured in a less difficult inquiry led among the Undergraduates and Postgraduates of Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals. Among the absolute understudies, the dominant part of them know about the Indigenous Knowledge System (75%) and remaining need some more mindfulness projects and battles in Indigenous Knowledge System. The reports from the review presumed that Indigenous Knowledge Systems have a significant job in Dental practices and from the outcomes we can see that individuals are happy to utilize the customary plants and follow the conventional strategies in a day by day life.



2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-22
Author(s):  
Anselm Kole Jimoh

Afričko iskustvo kolonizacije zavijestilo je kulturu epistemološkog utišavanja afričke domorodačke epistemologije monokromatskom logikom zapadnog mišljenja. Sistematično je obezvrijedila afričke domorodačke sustave znanja time što je afrički intelektualni pogon predstavljala kao alogičan i ponekad primitivan. Odmah po kolonijalnom iskustvu, pokušaji nekih afričkih istraživača da utvrde dubinu afričkog obrazovanja razlomilo je afričke sustave znanja. Do toga je došlo jer su pokušali koristiti zapadnjačku logiku i modele kao paradigme za istraživanje, ispitivanje i ocjenjivanje afričke prakse znanja. U ovom istraživanju argumentiram za potrebu rekonstruiranja razlomljenog sustava afričkog domorodačkog znanja. Predstavit ću kako su sustavi afričkog domorodačkog znanja (AIKS), na što se u radu još referiram kao na afričku domorodačku epistemologiju, iskrivljeni i razlomljeni. Potom, predložit ću rekonstrukciju tako što ću artikulirati kako stječemo i ovjeravamo znanje u afričkoj domorodačkoj epistemologiji. Pod afričkom domorodačkom filozofijom podrazumijevam sustav istraživanja, razumijevanja, zaprimanja i označavanja afričke koncepcije zbilje koja je specifično afrička i filozofijska. S obzirom na to, primijenit ću filozofijsku metodologiju kritičke analize, evaluacije i rekonstrukcije u svrhu ocrtavanja pojmova domorodačkog sustava znanja (IKS), afričke domorodačke epistemologije, efekta kolonijalnog razlamanja, globalizacije te zapadnog uokvirenja sustava afričkog domorodačkog znanja. Donosim zaključak da je za rekonstruiranje afričke domorodačke epistemologije potrebno osloboditi je zapadnjačke paradigme procjenjivanja. Time bi se odrazio autentični uzorak afričke misli koji opisuje spoznavanje istinito za afričko iskustvo, kako u prošlosti tako i danas, bez da se drugi oblici spoznavanja podcjenjuju



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