Grants:Project/Wikiup - Research and Integration tool for Indigenous Storytelling
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Project idea
editWhat is the problem you're trying to solve?
editWhat problem are you trying to solve by doing this project? This problem should be small enough that you expect it to be completely or mostly resolved by the end of this project.
Remember to review the tutorial for tips on how to answer this question.
Create a user-friendly tool to simplify the process whereby Wikiup can import, manage and publish/modify data from and export to Wikipedia and Wikidata. Additionally, the same tool, when there is no information on Wikipedia or Wikidata about an Indigenous Nation, group or location, that data could be easily published or at least be prepared to be published on a Wikimedia Wiki.
What is your solution to this problem?
editFor the problem you identified in the previous section, briefly describe your how you would like to address this problem.
We recognize that there are many ways to solve a problem. We’d like to understand why you chose this particular solution, and why you think it is worth pursuing.
Remember to review the tutorial for tips on how to answer this question.
By connecting Wikiup to the various APIs of Wikimedia’s Wikis we can gather and manage data much more efficiently than we are doing at present. There are a number of steps in how we are presently gathering, reviewing, editing and approving content for Wikiup. Taking the example of First Nations research: If there is Wikipedia content then it is reviewed, compared and fact-checked with other content (ie the Nation’s website, Cultural Guides, Traditional Knowledge Holders, libraries, Canadian government other sources) and stored in a text document with the links and references. Images, when available, are referenced in the document and stored on the researcher’s computer, tagged and documented.
The content is then input into Wikiup and presented to a Cultural Advisor or a Wikiup content administrator for publication on the network. This process is a very time consuming and is rather ad hoc method that is not scalable, nor is it easily replicable.
We believe that the best solution is the creation of a research tool to streamline the data collection, referencing, commenting, storing, editing and reformatting of content for the network and that this will save a tremendous amount of time and as importantly serve as a collaborative repository of the research thus enabling others to collaborate with and join in as part of the research process and ultimately in the publication process. This tool will be designed with the intention of simplifying the process of publishing new content from Wikiup to Wikipedia and Wikidata.
Project goals
editWhat are your goals for this project? Your goals should describe the top two or three benefits that will come out of your project. These should be benefits to the Wikimedia projects or Wikimedia communities. They should not be benefits to you individually.
Remember to review the tutorial for tips on how to answer this question.
1. Simplify and streamline the research process for the creation of content for the Indigenous Knowledge Network (Wikiup.org).
2. This tool will help us develop best practices for collecting, attributing, and receiving permission for the sharing of Indigenous traditional knowledge.
3. Develop a cross-pollination process whereby content can be easily and readily shared between Wikipedia/Wikidata and Wikiup.
4. By having an interface that adheres to the submission protocols of Wikipedia ‘Story Catchers’ will be able to easily publish a Wikipedia article from the content they produce for Wikiup. This will increase the opportunities for Indigenous people to become Wikipedians.
5. Another benefit, we believe, will come from the integration of oral traditions with modern day written attribution protocols.
Project impact
editHow will you know if you have met your goals?
editFor each of your goals, we’d like you to answer the following questions:
- During your project, what will you do to achieve this goal? (These are your outputs.)
- Once your project is over, how will it continue to positively impact the Wikimedia community or projects? (These are your outcomes.)
For each of your answers, think about how you will capture this information. Will you capture it with a survey? With a story? Will you measure it with a number? Remember, if you plan to measure a number, you will need to set a numeric target in your proposal (i.e. 45 people, 10 articles, 100 scanned documents).
Remember to review the tutorial for tips on how to answer this question.
Our goal is to put together four to six small ‘Story Catching’ teams that will include at least one team from the following: Indigenous Nation/Group, Secondary School, University, Indigenous organization. The goal is to produce 600 new Markers with one or more Stories populated with rich media content and including an AR (augmented reality) component. At the end of this process we anticipate having 10,000 downloads of the mobile app. Please note: the software is built and fully functioning - it is the content development, community engagement and research management that is required.
We will hire student and professional voice actors, videographers and writers to do some post-production on content for the network. We have already raised $10,000 for the creation of a first run of quality content to set the bar for volunteers, students and community contributors. Our goal is to raise $40,000 for higher-level content development this year.
We will engage a small software development team to define the best first steps in incorporating Wikimedia APIs into the Wikiup framework. We will put out a call to fellow Wikimedians for input on options and best approaches to cross-pollinate data between Wikiup and Wikipedia/WikiData and other Wikis. We will hire one or two programmers to integrate the APIs and to collaborate with our researchers and storytellers to refine the tool's interface and functionality.
Another measure is media coverage. When we initially announced the creation of the app we received a tremendous amount of media coverage and anticipate that once we re-launch we will once again attract a lot of media attention.
Do you have any goals around participation or content?
editAre any of your goals related to increasing participation within the Wikimedia movement, or increasing/improving the content on Wikimedia projects? If so, we ask that you look through these three metrics, and include any that are relevant to your project. Please set a numeric target against the metrics, if applicable.
We believe we will attract existing Wikipedians as contributors to Wikiup but also (particularly in our school and university outreach) encourage Indigenous youth to become Wikipedians and add to the free knowledge movement as it relates to their Nation or culture. Part of our outreach will include teaching participants about the work that Wikipedians do and to encourage them to become Wikipedians as well as Story Catchers and/or Cultural Advisors.
Total Participants: 120 Number of newly registered users: 40 Number of content pages created, or improved across all Wikimedia projects: 200
Project plan
editActivities
editTell us how you'll carry out your project. What will you and other organizers spend your time doing? What will you have done at the end of your project? How will you follow-up with people that are involved with your project? We will employ a small programming team to design and build the software tool. This will be an iterative process that will rely upon feedback, testing and consultation from our researchers and our community and educational partners.
By the end of the project we will have a user-friendly tool that will enhance and simplify the research and story catching process.
The Wikiup team will use surveys, questionnaires, media releases and newsletters to stay in touch with contributors and visitors alike.
Budget
editHow you will use the funds you are requesting? List bullet points for each expense. (You can create a table later if needed.) Don’t forget to include a total amount, and update this amount in the Probox at the top of your page too!
| Description | Cost |
|---|---|
| Research Director/Project Management | $5,000.00 USD |
| Programming | $10.000.00 USD |
| Total | $15,000.00 USD |
Community engagement
editHow will you let others in your community know about your project? Why are you targeting a specific audience? How will you engage the community you’re aiming to serve at various points during your project? Community input and participation helps make projects successful.
VNHS is a member of the Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council (MVAEC) and is connected to a host of service and cultural organizations serving the urban Indigenous community in BC and across Canada. Part of the story catching process is to tell the stories of all of the members of MVAEC as well as other community organizations that serve the Indigenous community. We will also be telling the stories of the Indigenous groups served by our other funders. (Central City Foundation, Vancity Community Foundation)
VNHS has strong connections to scores of Nations through its board and executive. Additionally the Society works with the Vancouver School Board and its Aboriginal Educators. This relationship can be repeated with other Indigenous housing societies who in turn are connected to their local school boards and universities.
Get involved
editParticipants
editPlease use this section to tell us more about who is working on this project. For each member of the team, please describe any project-related skills, experience, or other background you have that might help contribute to making this idea a success.
David Eddy - CEO Vancouver Native Housing Society. As the CEO of VNHS David is instrumental in connecting partners, funders and collaborators to this initiative. Stewart Anderson - Vancity Credit Union In his current role as Manager, Indigenous Partnerships, Stewart works to broaden and deepen the Credit Union’s involvement with Aboriginal communities in and beyond the traditional territory of the Coast Salish people where Vancity is located. Stewart is connected with scores of Indigenous groups and will be instrumental in helping us engage local, regional and national players. Vancity has invested in and continues to support Wikiup.
Community notification
editYou are responsible for notifying relevant communities of your proposal, so that they can help you! Depending on your project, notification may be most appropriate on a Village Pump, talk page, mailing list, etc.--> Please paste links below to where relevant communities have been notified of your proposal, and to any other relevant community discussions. Need notification tips? Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council mvaec.ca
Vancover Native Housing Society - vnhs.ca
Britannia Community Services Centre - britanniacentre.org/
Britannia Secondary School - britannia.vsb.bc.ca/
SOS Children's Village BC -www.sosbc.org/
Endorsements
editDo you think this project should be selected for a Project Grant? Please add your name and rationale for endorsing this project below! (Other constructive feedback is welcome on the discussion page).
The following are endorsements from last year's submission (more to come as we reach out to the community with our new plan):
Support - As a contributor to the Haitian Wikipedya, I am excited about the possibility of capturing the oral traditions of the indigenous people of Haiti. There is very little literature available at this time and I am concerned that some of it may have been destroyed in the last earthquake, making the need for this project important. Best Regards, Barbara (WVS) (talk) 21:58, 27 September 2017 (UTC)
- We at SOS BC work with Indigenous foster children and believe that this would be a wonderful project to enhance the resources available to them to facilitate connections to their cultural hertiage. 69.42.61.163 20:28, 10 October 2017 (UTC)
- Great way for Indigenous Knowledge Holders to share their knowledge with Indigenous and non-indigenous persons.
Robert Wilmot 2001:569:73C3:6C00:9F6:68D1:90D9:A671 01:03, 18 October 2017 (UTC)
- This project would help document and make First Nations knowledge more accessible, which is seriously needed in Canada. GregWS (talk) 17:19, 2 February 2018 (UTC)
- I think this is a timely and needed project. 69.42.61.163 22:08, 2 February 2018 (UTC)
- A fantastic opportunity to engage First Nations and other youth from the downtown of Vancouver in authentic literacy experiences with meaningful and tangible impact. 64.114.223.35 23:10, 6 February 2018 (UTC)(Posted by: Douglas Dunn, M.B.A., C.F.R.E. Executive Director, SOS Children Villages British Columbia)
- I endorse this project as an excellent opportunity to support the creation, stewardship and sharing of stories in an appropriate manner. It also provides a unique way for Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners to work together to co-create these stories in a way that respects Indigenous knowledge, and community ownership of that knowledge. The proposed initiative has potential to support intercultural cooperation and reconciliation learning, as well as support technical skills training, in a range of user communities. As an Assistant Professor and settler scholar at the University of Alberta who studies community engagement and technology development in rural/remote/northern/Indigenous contexts, I am excited at the potential of this project for both teaching and research purposes. (note: posted by Dr. Rob McMahon Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Extension at the University of Alberta. Teaches in the Master of Arts in Communication and Technology (MACT) and Master of Arts in Community Engagement (MACE) programs.)
- It is preserving Indigenous Knowledges in a way that is interactive for learners. 142.22.48.2 17:13, 22 February 2018 (UTC)(Note: Posted by Chas Desjarlais - (Nehiyaw-Metis) District Vice-Principal – Indigenous Education - Vancouver Board of Education)
- An innovative way to collect, share, and preserve our Indigenous Knowledge in a way that can benefit our communities and peoples. I see this tool as having excellent potential. 142.22.48.2 17:18, 22 February 2018 (UTC)(Note: Posted by Robert Clifton - Liimk Halaayt Indigenous Education Consultant, Vancouver Board of Education
Support Slowking4 (talk) 00:10, 12 March 2018 (UTC)- This is a valuable project, and I endorse it fully. In partnership with Farm to School, Wikiup could support the integration of Indigenous knowledge into the BC curriculum and provide a platform for knowledge sharing for teachers across the Vancouver Area. We are hoping to partner with Wikiup on Farm to School's Indigenous Foodscapes project, where teachers and students will be able to add their own stories to this platform and share various Indigenous perspectives on land, place, foods, medicines and communities. 2001:569:7C26:5000:1E0:D3DD:8B9C:41D4 07:05, 16 June 2018 (UTC)