The Project aims to use Wikimedia tools and platforms to build an open access indigenous audiovisual archive to preserve, protect and revitalize indigenous languages in Cambodia, by providing training to 30 indigenous youth from different indigenous communities of Ratanakiri, Cambodia, on documentary filmmaking from theory to practice.
The collaborative project between the Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center and UNESCO on “Building Indigenous Audiovisual Archives through Wiki tools in Cambodia” took place from July 2021 until June 2022, under the organizational grant of the Wikimedia Foundation.
The Project used Wikimedia tools and platforms to build an open access Indigenous audiovisual archive to preserve, protect and revitalize indigenous languages in Cambodia. The Indigenous youth learned the whole process of documentary film production (pre-production, production and post-production) so that they were able to produce audiovisual materials in their own languages, about the lives and culture of their community.
The Indigenous youth participants were also trained to use Wiki-tools. The audiovisual contents are currently stored on the databases of UNESCO and Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center, and were compiled to make an online audiovisual archive with all content uploaded on Wikimedia Commons.
The Project contributed to the development of high-quality content in Indigenous languages and Khmer, as well as on Indigenous cultures of Cambodia on Wikimedia platforms. In view of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL) 2022-2032, this project could serve as a good example for UNESCO's Member States or partners to launch similar projects in collaboration with Wikimedia communities, as well as engaging more Indigenous peoples to become Wiki-Users and continue to contribute to improving content in Indigenous languages, preserving and revitalizing indigenous languages throughout the Decade.
