Panel, Exhibit Explore Future of California’s Indigenous Peoples
Tribal leaders and the creators of extended reality app “OurWorlds” joined the Qualcomm Institute’s (QI) Gallery QI on Thursday, March 16 to exchange stories and discuss the role of technology in preserving and sharing California’s indigenous cultures. The discussion marked the closing night of Gallery QI’s exhibit “Beyond the Metaverse with OurWorlds: Indigenous Stories are All Around You.”
Founded during the COVID-19 pandemic by Pala businessman Kilma Lattin and designer and technologist Catherine Eng, “OurWorlds” uses geolocation and augmented reality technology to superimpose Native language and stories over historical tribal lands. Joining Lattin and Eng in Gallery QI’s panel discussion were tribal leaders Chris Devers, Ana Gloria “Martha” Rodriguez, and Eric Ortega. (Another leader, UC San Diego alumnus Stanley Rodriguez, was not able to attend.)
Panelists and audience members discussed the tensions, considerations and opportunities of bringing together emerging technologies and the desire to protect and preserve indigenous knowledge and heritage.
In the panelists’ own words:
“Imagine a world where education and entertainment unfold around you wherever you go. That future is here, and it’s only just beginning because we’re moving into a future where immersive content and immersive environments will become more prevalent. And I’m proud to say that we are pioneering in this space.” – Kilma Lattin, CEO “OurWorlds”
“We were really trying to find a way to create new types of recordings of people in the community who had wisdom to share, who were beloved in their communities and whose presence could really inspire generations in the future.” – Catherine Eng, CTO/COO “Our Worlds”
“Our greatest challenge is: How do we pass this knowledge on to our younger generations, but more importantly, how do we protect it? Because once we lose it, it’s gone. And I think that’s something that we’re going to have to work with.” – Chris Devers, former chairman of the Pauma Tribe
“I hope [our culture] can keep going for thousands and thousands of years. Technology is a great tool to keep the culture and language alive. And, like I say, I see the kids play games using the technology. We can put language into those apps to help the kids… I have recordings from years ago… The next generation, they can hear the recordings and watch videos and we can teach them how to make baskets or cook traditional foods.” – Ana Gloria “Martha” Rodriguez, Kumeyaay, San Jose de la Zorra artist, basket weaver and proprietor of the Kosay Kumeyaay Market in Old Town, San Diego
“How can I help bring [the app] to life without getting in the way, without putting myself before the culture? And I think that’s what this whole [event] is about. It’s really important.” – Dylan Luna, music composer and member of the Pala Tribe, on creating the score for “OurWorlds”
“I remember we were talking about emergency broadcasting and getting alerts out. Somebody mentioned that instead of using a ringing bell, we could use… the howl from a coyote. But… if we have any Navajos in the area, they wouldn’t like that. If we were to broadcast the howl of a coyote… in our culture, the coyote howl is a nice wake up call. In other cultures, it’s a very bad sign. So we have to be sensitive to other cultures as well.” – Eric Ortega, cultural leader of the Pala and Cupeño Tribes, elected member of the Bonsall School Board, and host of the podcast “Pala Life Past and Present”
“Thank you for choosing… to come here tonight and be present with us and learn about this and share it with your communities and your families back home. Eyaay ahan (thank you).” – Priscilla Ortiz-LaChappa, Ms. Kumeyaay Nation 2023
To learn more about OurWorlds, visit https://ourworlds.io/; the app is now available for download to Apple iOS devices. For more on QI, see qi.ucsd.edu. For more on the partnership between QI and “OurWorlds,” see a recording of the 2022 SXSW session “Beyond the Metaverse: the Evolution of Reality” with Lattin, Eng, Native Land Digital Executive Director Christine Luckasavitch and QI Research Scientist Dominique Rissolo.
Gallery QI’s next exhibition, “Biosphere Dreaming,” opens Thursday, April 27 at 5 p.m. in QI’s Atkinson Hall.
