Guided by knowledge holders
Our aim is for teachers and communities to guide how their words and teachings are represented and shared.
Why this matters
Indigenous knowledge, in Indigenous voices.
As interest in Indigenous medicines, spiritual practices and ways of understanding the world grows, the people who carry these traditions are too often absent from the conversations and institutions developing around them.
Our vision is a space where Indigenous knowledge holders speak for themselves and participate as teachers and intellectual partners. Each voice remains rooted in its own people, place and tradition.
We want future generations to be able to encounter this knowledge with its meaning and origins intact.
A place to gather
A digital maloka.
We imagine the academy as a digital maloka: a place to come together, listen and share wisdom across distance and generations.
For us, this means creating a space where knowledge is encountered through the voices and stories of those who carry it. A place that invites relationship, reflection and a deeper respect for the living world.
This online space is intended to support the relationships through which knowledge is passed on. Its direction must remain grounded in the guidance of the teachers and communities involved.
Preserving with care
Sacred knowledge asks something of us.
We recognise the sacred nature of this work. Not everything that can be recorded should be recorded, and not everything that can be taught should be made public.
We are committed to building this work through long-term relationships, informed consent, fair compensation and reciprocity. Knowledge holders should guide what is preserved, how it is represented and with whom it is shared.
For us, preservation includes honouring cultural boundaries and recognising that different Indigenous traditions have their own meanings and responsibilities.
What guides us
The commitments behind the vision
Preserved with context
We want to keep voices connected to their language, people and place, with careful documentation and translation.
Carried forward with care
We seek to support learning across generations while respecting the boundaries of sacred and community-held knowledge.
Be part of the work
Help carry the vision forward.
Your support helps us work towards preserving these voices and sharing knowledge with care.