We are specifically concerned about tribal rights and sovereignty. We wish to reaffirm that the realm of cyberspace will be governed by a philosophy of government-to-government relations, including tribal control of information about ourselves and tribal control of the policies governing the telecommunication medium itself, especially on reservations … Indian leaders … familiar with the medium are concerned that its vast potential will not be harnessed to promote cultural and economic progress, but will instead perpetuate the historical subjugation of Indian people.
Predictor: Baldwin, George
Prediction, in context:The 1995 book “Public Access to the Internet,” edited by Brian Kahin and James Keller carries the chapter, “Public Access to the Internet: American Indians and Alaskan Native Issues” by George Baldwin. Baldwin is on the planning faculty at California State University, Monterey Bay. He writes: ”Indian people who use the public data networks are now asking, ‘How do we implement the principles of tribal sovereignty and self-determination online?’ … When considering the electronic networks of the future, tribal sovereignty and self-determination should remain paramount … The content of the on-line discussions suggests that there is a growing agreement that the new enemy to Native cultural survival is the increasingly ubiquitous Western worldview promoted by the ‘transmedia intertextual phenomena of television, radio, press, and video games.’ … Any technology has a tacit set of values embedded within it. Those who use the technology implicitly agree to those values. Broadcast technologies of the past have supported values related to hierarchical control, centralized power, and one messages for millions of users regardless of their social diversity. This ideology is imbedded within the technology and, like television, may be destructive to community and tribal values … We are specifically concerned about tribal rights and sovereignty. We wish to reaffirm that the realm of cyberspace will be governed by a philosophy of government-to-government relations, including tribal control of information about ourselves and tribal control of the policies governing the telecommunication medium itself, especially on reservations … Indian people must write and produce their own stories and films, and they must manage and control their own communication companies. In today’s world of emerging network information systems, they must create and distribute information, and control the organizations that manage such information … Such development will produce careers for young Native people, many of whom have already demonstrated a remarkable ability to utilize computer technology within the context of the goals of their tribal community. Indian leaders … familiar with the medium are concerned that its vast potential will not be harnessed to promote cultural and economic progress, but will instead perpetuate the historical subjugation of Indian people.”
Date of prediction: January 1, 1995
Topic of prediction: Controversial Issues
Subtopic: Digital Divide
Name of publication: Public Access to the Internet (book)
Title, headline, chapter name: Public Access to the Internet: American Indians and Alaskan Native Issues
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Pages 143-151
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne