Asia is home to an estimated 411 million indigenous people, among whom several are native to Chiang Mai and its surrounding regions. They possess distinctive cultures, knowledge, and ecological practices that root human societies to the land. Yet, their role in Asia’s modernisation story has been one of systemic marginalisation. With the growth of digital technologies, this marginalization continues to worsen.
From social media to public services such as identity and healthcare, Indigenous people are increasingly left behind on the other end of the digital divide. Their traditional ecological knowledge and customary practices remain unrecognized within global economic systems. Digitisation efforts in the name of climate action are affecting their lands and territories – at a cost to all of us.
digi-cnx hosted a discussion with Pyrou Chung, Director, East-West Management Institute, and Nina Sangma, Communications Coordinator, The Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), to better understand the story of Indigenous communities in Asia and the impact of digital technologies, as well as collaborate on how we can build more inclusive digital spaces.