ABSTRACT
Digital information and communication technologies afford a dual potential for indigenous communities. Throughout this chapter the phrases American Indian, Indian, Native and indigenous peoples refer to the descendants of the indigenous peoples of what is now referred to as the United States. New technologies have the potential to support and sustain Native culture and the potential to accelerate its erosion. In education, the new digital technologies may empower and support the creation of new culturally responsive learning resources and environments for Native children. They may also be used to accelerate the dominance of Western-based modes of thought, culture and learning strategies into the educational environments of Native children and provide non-tribal members with access to cultural knowledge without the knowledge or sanction of tribal communities. This chapter will discuss both the ways that information and communication technologies have contributed to the loss of Native culture, language, history and traditional knowledge and the ways that digital technologies may be used in culturally responsive ways as a tool to empower Native culture and education.
