The “INDIGENIA” research project explored digital inclusion and the appropriation of digital resources by the Indigenous communities of Abya Yala (Latin America), focusing on the possibilities and positive aspects of the topic (the “digital good”). In particular, it aimed to answer the central questions:

• How can the Indigenous concept of “Buen Vivir” (Good Living or Living Well) be transferred to the digital world?
• How, from this perspective of Indigenous “Buen Vivir”, might we provoke and inspire a global understanding of what the “Digital Good” is and could be for humanity?

It also aimed to update these debates, placing emphasis on the rise of Generative Artificial Intelligence applications such as ChatGPT or Midjourney.

This project was carried out by means of a participatory and collaborative workshop with a group of artists, writers, educators and indigenous leaders from different ethnicities, cultures and knowledge systems of Abya Yala, carried out in the facilities of the Associação Indigenista de Maringá (ASSINDI) in January 2024. Creativity and arts enhanced our research, reflections and the communication of our results with the public. The workshop culminated with the event “Conexões em rede” and the exhibition “Indigenia do ser” at the State University of Maringá.

The project involved the following participants, from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Chile:

Alex Potiguara
aruma (Quechua)
Clementina Kaingang
Ednaldo Guarani
Géssica Guarani
Haylly Zamora (Wichi-Kari’ñá)
Irismar Guarani
Josielly Guarani
Kadu Tapuya
Kronūn Kaingang
Lucián de Silenttio (Aimara)
Márcia Kaingang
Mariela Tulián
Micæl Guarani
Tadeu dos Santos Kaingang
Osvaldo Güineo (Mapuche-Williche)

The organizing team was formed by Prof. Thea Pitman (University of Leeds), Dr. Andreas Rauh (Dublin City University), Dr. Sheilla Souza (representative of the Associação Indigenista de Maringá, ASSINDI) and Sebastián Gerlic (president of the NGO Thydêwá). The project was sponsored by the ESRC-funded Digital Good Network (University of Sheffield).

For further information contact: t.pitman@leeds.ac.uk

The workshop resulted in the drafting of a Manifesto for Digital Good Living: 

INDIGENIA: Manifesto for Digital Buen Vivir (Good Living) (PDF)

Other project results will be added in due course.

The ‘IndigenIA’ workshop and the time shared together at ASSINDI.

The activity of building a khipu to reflect on ancestral technologies and knowledge and talk about good living.

The activity of weaving a QR code to explore the connections between digital and ancestral technologies.

The ‘Conexões em Rede’ (Network Connections) activity to reflect on digital good living at ASSINDI and then at the State University of Maringá.

The presentations and the ‘Indigenia do ser’ exhibition at the State University of Maringá. Some of the zines made by UEM students.

Some of the zines made by UEM students.

Some of the outreach events in Indigenous communities.