Local Contexts is a not for profit (501c3) that was developed to support Indigenous people and communities in the management of their intellectual property and cultural heritage specifically within the digital environment. Local Contexts provides practical tools (Labels and Notices) for Indigenous peoples in establishing alternative paradigms of recognition, acknowledgement and cultural rights.
Practically orientated in scope, Local Contexts is firmly constituted as a legal project for social change that prioritizes Indigenous standpoints and forms of Indigenous activism. Developed directly out of requests from Indigenous peoples for more information and clearer options to protect cultural heritage and data, Indigenous communities directly shape and modify this project for specific needs, especially indentifying unethical collection and use of Indigenous knowledge and data.
Local Contexts tools are delivered through the Local Contexts Hub, our technical platform where communities customize Labels and deliver these to institutions and organizations. Institutions and researchers develop Notices to disclose Indigenous collections and the associated Indigenous rights.
Jane Co-Founded Local Contexts in 2010 and has grown the organization which currently serves over 75 Indigenous communities, 105 research institutions and 469 researchers across 34 countries on 6 continents.
Jane continues her work with Local Contexts as a Strategic Advisor and as Vice-Chair of the Local Contexts Council. The Executive Director of Local Contexts is Hop Hopkins.
This short documentary gives an overview of the project and of the Labels and Notices in action: