Enter Dadirri | Enter Dadirri - AI Ethics, Indigenous Perspectives, UNESCO

ENTER

DADIRRI

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We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land and

pay our respects to the Elders both

past,

present,

and emerging.

Introduction

"Enter Dadirri" is a project that aims to present perspectives to law and technology as it applies to Indigenous communities in Australia.

This project sought to enliven first-hand accounts and perspectives from those working in the law, technology and Indigenous services. This work was grounded through a series of interviews that sought to discuss the impacts of artificial intelligence, inclusive design, and the digital divide.

Enter Dadirri was a multi-pronged project which included:

The production of a report entitled 'Law, Technology, and Indigenous Communities in Australia: Preparing for Facial Recognition', which further informed;
A submission to the UNESCO consultation on AI Ethics, the first global standard-setting instrument on the ethics of artificial intelligence;
The construction of this website to share stories and anecdotes from the project with the public; and,
The creation of a beautiful piece of digital artwork used throughout the project which represents the idea of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives on the ethics and technology of AI.

We thank the individuals who generously contributed guidance and insights to this project of whom included Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, lawyers, barristers, academics, policy makers, entrepreneurs, technologists, police and law enforcement officers, creatives, philosophers and ethicists.

We hope that you enjoy exploring this project as much as we have enjoyed creating it.

- E.S.C.

Dadirri (da-did-ee)

Dadirri is a word, concept and spiritual practice.

It comes from the Indigenous languages of Ngan'gikurunggurr and Ngen'giwumirri which are spoken in the Nauiyu (Daly River) Region in the Northern Territory, Australia.

Dadirri means ‘inner, deep listening and quiet, still awareness’.

"A big part of dadirri is listening.

We learn by

watching

and listening,

waiting

and then acting"

- MIRIAM-ROSE UNGUNMERR,

INDIGENOUS ELDER

As such, the aim of this project is to not only listen, but to listen in preparation for action.

INTERVIEWS

36

AUSTRALIAN STATES AND TERRITORIES

07

KEY THEMES

06

The Eye

The overall feel of this artwork is an abstract eye. The "eye" feels otherworldly and ambiguous - perhaps also a representation of an AI eye.

The globe in the centre shows that the project spans not only on home soil but across the world. It takes on an even deeper meaning in this artwork - with the rise in current technologies, we are more connected than ever. These symbols are almost an Aboriginal take on a computer circuit.

Around the globe there is the symbol for people gathering. There is a range of different people depicted through size and shape to represent the many different people involved the project.

The circles and ladders that frame the shape of the "eye" represent meeting places. The connection of the circles with the ladders aims to show the growth and change of our current world and technologies going into the future.

- Jasmine

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Law, Technology, and Indigenous Perspectives to Facial Recognition Technologies in Australia

Email to Access

continue below to explore
key themes and stories

INDIGENOUS AUTONOMY

The concept of autonomy or self-determination enables Indigenous peoples to have meaningful control and ownership over
decisions that affect their lives.

"One of the things about colonisation is whole communities have felt a complete loss of control for quite a while - this informs their inability to trust in contemporary processes"

COMMUNITY

Community engenders a deep sense of belonging where all interactions and responsibilities are guided by deep
emotional, spiritual and social ties to others.

"The way Aboriginal communities work is very community oriented... Communities need face to face, a cup of tea, to build that trust, to understand who you are."

RELATIONALITY & LOCALITY

Concepts of relationality and locality ground an appreciation
of the symbiotic relationships which are inextricably linked to family, kin and Country.

"The Aboriginal world is all about connectivity - the individual's relationship with everything around that person, people, the land,
the kind of the universe."

DATA SOVEREIGNTY

Data sovereignty enables individuals to have meaningful control
over the collection, use and access and revocation of information
and data related about themselves.

"People talk about 'doors to the soul',
there are spiritual and cultural fears about what is being captured."”

SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTEXT

Technology must be understood within its social context, taking
into account factors such as access to technology, education,
politics and human demographics.

“"Sometimes there is one phone for twenty people and they aren't smartphones... how can we make tech an empowering rather than another colonising force when essential services demand that you have online access?"

INCLUSIVE DESIGN

Inclusive design presents a framework in which to approach technology in order to optimise for specific users with specific needs so that it may be accessible and beneficial.