Indigenous peoples and Access to Information and Knowledge

Furthermore, access to Information and Communication technologies means easier access to information on issues like empowering Indigenous communities and representing Indigenous Peoples in international and regional arenas but also to information that can be used in pursuit of economic, social and personal development. Most of the Indigenous Peoples are affected by the Digital Divide, the term used to describe the gap between those who can benefit from the digital technologies and those who cannot. The Digital Divide is not only gap between the western industrialized nations and the developing world of the South, it also affects persons with disabilities, elderly persons and women amongst other groups. Many Indigenous communities don't have access to Internet, culturally appropriate software or the skills to use the technology. Therefore providing adequate infrastructure and capacity building in Indigenous communities are essential measures to bridge the digital gap. However, the role of the traditional Information and Communication Technologies such as radio should not be ignored: community radio for example is a medium that can provide access to local, regional and national information and involve the Indigenous community members in the decision making of their community.

Access to information and knowledge also means access to Indigenous knowledge and information that is traditionally managed by Indigenous Peoples themselves according to their own customs, rules and obligations. In the Information Society where access to knowledge and information is one of the most central maxims it should not be forgotten that prior and informed consent should be requested from Indigenous Peoples instead of treating Indigenous traditional knowledge as something that belongs to the so called public domain. Misappropriation and misuse of traditional knowledge not only breaks the traditional information management system but also often involves making economic profit that is not shared with the holders of the knowledge. Intellectual Property Rights are undeniably one of the central concerns for the Indigenous Peoples in the Information Society.