Connecting Traditional Knowledge and Technology in Grafton, Australia

In the exploration of five Smart Cities and the impact that they are having on civic innovation and urban resilience, an interesting method of community engagement captured my attention: makerspaces. Makerspaces have not only provided places for people to access technology, tools, knowledge, and community, but they have also been catalysts for change among vulnerable populations across the world.

In Grafton, Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have faced a dramatic population decrease due to British colonization across the country in the late 1700s (Australians Together, n.d.). This has led to a loss of cultural identity among these communities and contributed to a culture of lost identity (Australians Together, n.d.). In an attempt to protect the traditional heritage of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence launched the program IDX (Indigenous Digital Excellence) which promotes the use of technology in learning about the land and one's heritage (2017). Participants have access to robotics, 3D printing and drones and learn about their land and ancestors through this program (National Centre for Indigenous Excellence, 2017).

Grafton, while a seemingly unremarkable country city, stands out to me through their ability to embrace technology as a way to tell stories and learn about their culture. I found it particularly inspiring that they used drone technology to teach high school students about the river and to recognize its importance to the Aboriginal communities that rely on it (National Centre for Indigenous Excellence, 2017).

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