Inclusive Technology Use Crucial for Preserving Indigenous Identity, Language, and Culture

National Assembly Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal emphasized the importance of leveraging technology for the preservation of indigenous identity, language, and culture during a program organized to commemorate the 31st International Day of the World Indigenous People. He argued that artificial intelligence (AI) can be utilized to document, preserve, and promote indigenous knowledge, traditions, languages, music, scripts, arts, and cultural heritage.

Key Takeaways:

• Dahal highlighted the need for inclusive and equitable use of technology to prevent further exclusion and discrimination of indigenous nationalities.
• He suggested that active participation of indigenous nationalities is crucial in the development and use of technology to ensure that it serves their interests.
• Dahal presented the successful example of containing Nepal Bhasa, a language of the Newar Community, in Google translate as a way to expand linguistic identity at the international level.
• He emphasized the importance of guaranteeing cultural rights of indigenous nationalities in the process of transforming diversity into unity.
• Dahal also advocated for the implementation of inclusion, federalism, republic, and secularism for the welfare of indigenous nationalities.
• The event featured special presentations of the Newari language and food items of the Tharu Community.
• Dahal emphasized that indigenous knowledge, tradition, language, music, script, art, and cultural heritage can be preserved and promoted through AI.

Statistics:

• None specific to this content, but generally, it is estimated that there are over 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, with many of them belonging to indigenous communities.

Sources:

• "NA Chairman stresses importance of technology for preserving indigenous identity" (The Himalayan Times)
• "International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples" (United Nations)
• The program was organized to commemorate the 31st International Day of the World Indigenous People, but the original text or publication date of the information is not specified.