Wikimedia Australia and Terri Janke and Company to scope a First Nations Protocol
Wikimedia Australia is delighted to announce that we are working with Indigenous law firm Terri Janke and Company, a leading consultancy firm with over 25 years of expertise, to scope the requirements for an Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) and Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDSov) Protocol for our organisation. This collaboration responds to the many insights from recent research reports, on-Wiki discussions, and invaluable input from our community at WikiCon Adelaide 2024.
Dr Terri Janke is a Wuthathi, Yadhaigana, and Meriam woman, and an international authority on ICIP. Dr Janke has authored many Protocols for Australian industries and organisations which have become a foundation for guiding culturally sensitive practices in the arts, museums, universities, media, and knowledge sectors when engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities. With her deep understanding of ICIP, Dr Janke is the ideal partner to guide Wikimedia Australia in scoping and planning the development of the important Protocol for our staff and Board.
The scoping of an ICIP and IDSov Protocol will be a critical step in ensuring Wikimedia Australia aligns with the principles of cultural respect and sovereignty for First Nations Peoples. Working with Dr Janke and her team centres self-determination (as outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)) ensuring that First Nations communities are involved in decision-making about their knowledge and data. In scoping this Protocol for our organisation, we are committing to an approach that not only respects the rights of Indigenous peoples but also actively builds cultural safety and equitable representation of Indigenous knowledge and data into Wikimedia Australia’s operational processes and projects.
The Protocol will provide Wikimedia Australia, its members and partners with a clear framework on how to responsibly engage with and support First Nations Peoples and communities. The Protocol will ensure that Wikimedia Australia’s work respects Indigenous knowledge systems and supports the rights of Indigenous Peoples to be centred in and control the use of their data and cultural heritage.
Why Terri Janke and Company?
Dr Janke and her team are leaders in the field of ICIP, Intellectual Property (IP) and IDSov. For well over 25 years they have developed protocols, models and processes for a wide range of major institutions and projects, ensuring that Indigenous communities' rights are recognised and respected in their dealings with the digital and creative sectors. Some of the Protocols developed by Dr Janke and her team include:
- Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts, for Creative Australia
- First Peoples: A Roadmap, Project Report and Connecting Custodians for the Australian Museums and Galleries Association (AMaGA)
- Australian Indigenous Cultural & Intellectual Property (ICIP) Protocol for the National Library of Australia
- Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Protocol for the teaching of Aboriginal languages and Torres Strait Islander languages in Queensland State Schools, for the Queensland Department of Education.
These Protocols serve as best practice models and benchmarks for people and organisations worldwide seeking to incorporate Indigenous perspectives and practices in their work, and to work respectfully and ethically with First Nations peoples and communities in that process.
A step ahead of national stand-alone ICIP legislation
There is significant momentum in the development of new, national, stand-alone Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) legislation in Australia. Dr Janke is Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Expert Working Group on Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property to develop this crucial stand-alone legislation. Respectful and ethical engagement with First Nations knowledge is important to WMAU and we want to ensure it is enshrined in our organisation. We are working with a highly respected leader in the field to develop an ICIP and IDSov Protocol specifically for our organisation. By doing so, we are positioning ourselves as an organisation that is committed to supporting Indigenous rights and sovereignty in the digital realm, long before national legislation comes into effect.
Next Steps
- Scoping Document: We’ll continue working closely with Dr Janke and her team to identify the requirements for an ICIP and IDSov Protocol for and within Wikimedia Australia. We’ll share with our community the consultation process, reports and documents through our website and communication channels, ensuring full transparency and engagement and to invite discussion and feedback.
- Ongoing Discussions with WMF: The Wikimedia Australia Board is in discussions on funding for the development and implementation of the Protocol. Updates will follow on the progress of these discussions.
- Formal Announcement: when we are successful in securing funding to go ahead with the Protocol development and implementation, we will coordinate a formal announcement, working closely with Dr Janke and her team to ensure a seamless and culturally respectful implementation.
We are excited about this important project and the opportunity to work with Dr Janke and her experienced team, to ensure that together we address questions, challenges and the complexity in how Wikimedia Australia can provide culturally safe and inclusive spaces online and within our organisation. This initiative is a significant step toward building a more equitable and respectful digital space for all, and we are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such an esteemed expert as Dr Janke and her team on this crucial work.
We’ll provide more updates as we move forward with this important work. We welcome your feedback - please send emails to board@wikimedia.org.au, and we look forward to sharing further details in the coming months.
Acknowledgement of Country
Wikimedia Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live, work, and share knowledge. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging, and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters, and culture. This initiative supports the rich heritage and invaluable contributions of First Nations Peoples and communities.