michaelwarf.com | The personal space of Michael Warf, Best Practice Evangelist

Culture, Collaboration & a Conference

Published on 23/05/08
by mwarf

Yesterday, we held a press conference at the University to announce a new project our team has been working on for a while. We’ve been collaborating with Blackfoot Elders and representatives from Red Crow College to build a digital asset repository of Blackfoot stories, photos, video, and audio.

Although I was misquoted in the Lethbridge Herald, (I’m the team lead for the web unit, not ALL of Information Technology) I think they did an excellent job summarizing why our new project breaks new ground.

In our first meeting, we learned about core differences between Western European and Blackfoot world views, and how this makes items like a simple search box (which I felt was a no-brainer for a search function) less appropriate for a system that serves multiple audiences, and cultural backgrounds.

I feel this project has given me great insight into Blackfoot culture and tradition, what better way to learn about the Blackfoot than to have monthly meetings with Blackfoot Elders and the head of Kainai Studies at Red Crow College?

Because they are public, I’m posting some of the early prototype screens to share.

That's it. What Next?

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