Wingellina (Irrunytju) makes its mark at the auIGF!
I was recently given the opportunity to moderate a panel at the Australian Internet Governance Forum in Melbourne and I have to say some of the discussions were very insightful. This years theme was how the internet is transforming Australian society and the organisers thought it would be wonderful if we could share how the internet is transforming Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples society.
Our topic, "Internet and Indigenous Communities - The Inclusivity and Engagement Divide" focused on how access and affordability are crucial barriers to digital inclusivity particularly in regional and remote areas of Australia.
The panel was made up of a great mix of views from Professor Irabinna Rigney, Anne-Marie Elias, Bonnie Levi and Benson Saulo and they definitely covered a broad spectrum of views from academia, social change, Indigenous youth and real first-hand in the community experience.
The one thing I learnt was how important people like Bonnie Levi have helped remote communities like Irrunytju feel connected. Irrunytju is a remote town that sits on the Western Australian side of the tri-state border, four hours drive west of Yulara and is home to between 80 and 150 people. They speak three local languages and english. They continue to practice traditional hunting and gathering as well as traditional arts, crafts and ceremonies. They also enjoy modern day facilities such as a high speed internet connection and have had access for eight years.
Bonnie is reasonably digitally savvy and has an open, helpful and caring personality and is also an Indigenous Support Officer, Community Worker and Mentor who lives and works in Irrunytju. During the two day forum I was able to listen to Bonnie's trials and tribulations of how Irrunytju uses its modern day technologies and her view on things that could be trailed and perhaps even improved.
Bonnie recalls a time just recently when the line did go down and it was chaos. People were not able to contact friends and family to see if they were safe or to withdraw money from the local ATM to pay for groceries. That outage lasted approximately 16 hours, but they made do.
Bonnie laughs as we share a moment with Irabinna as he recalls the kids from Pipalyatjara running up the hill to get the reception from the Irrunytju tower so that they can send messages to friends on social media. It just goes to show that remote Australia wants to be socially included, all be it inventively. I wonder if the kids scientifically figured this out for themselves?
Whilst Bonnie did not grow up in the area she has come to understand how the internet and telecommunications are roadways to bigger and better things. The locals regularly call on her to help with their banking, welfare and medicare but the demand is increasing for other things. Things like, improving their confidence in using the internet for themselves so that they can pursue their interests and registering with social networks so that they can write to friends and family.
Bonnie is doing great work in the bush and it is great to see that little by little remote Australia is starting to feel more connected. Improving digital skills, self-education and social engagement are growing in Irunnju and I can't wait for the first online business to start out there and I wonder what that will be.