Technology Workshops
The Indigenous Language Institute Technology workshops empower communities to create their own materials in their Native Language. For more information, contact the Workshop Coordinator at (505) 820-0311 or email at laura.benavidez@ilinative.org.
Ancient Voices, Modern Tools: Print Workshop
This four-day training workshop provides participants with computer skills to create printed materials in Native languages such as: storybooks/audio books, flash cards, brochures, calendars, newsletters, business cards, stationary, posters, flyers, visual aids for classrooms, etc.
Instructors provide hands on training on the following technology skills:
- Microsoft Publisher – to produce dynamic print materials
- Scanning technology to add locally created and culturally appropriate images (e.g. artwork, photos, drawings or illustrations) to accompany Native text and stories
- Audacity to create audio recording (CD’s) for “audio books” that accompany the print storybooks
- Photo editing software – GIMP
- Languagegeek Native language keyboards and fonts
Ancient Voices, Modern Tools: Digital Storytelling Workshop
“Digital Storytelling” is an emerging term, one that arises from a grassroots movement that uses new digital tools to help ordinary people tell their own ‘true stories’ in a compelling and emotionally engaging form. These stories usually take the form of a relatively short story (less than 8 minutes) and can involve interactivity.” — Wikipedia
Digital Storytelling is a modern way to express the ancient art of storytelling by weaving together your Native Language, images, voice narration and music.
This four-day training workshop provides participants with computer and multimedia technology skills to create short (3-5 minute) audiovisual stories in the Native languages using a computer. Workshops are offered in Windows platform for Movie Maker 2012 (part of Windows Essentials 2012 for Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10). Participants bring a story they want to tell incorporating visual materials (e.g. photos, artwork or small video clips) and audio materials in the Native Language (e.g. songs, music or narration). Teams of two are recommended: one who is tech savvy and the other, an elder, who knows the language.
Instructors provide hands on training on the following technology skills:
- Movie editing software – Movie Maker
- Photo editing software – GIMP
- Audio recording & editing software – Audacity
- How to easily convert files to MP4, MP3 and other formats
A Sample Digital Storytelling video from 2016 by workshop participant Ely Longboat.
Workshop History
ILI’s Technology Workshops were made possible thanks to our partnership with IBM which were held in different regions in the United States. IBM was instrumental in funding these Print & Digital Storytelling Workshops from 2005 to 2008.
To date, ILI’s Technology Workshops have been conducted in various Native communities throughout the United States & Canada. They have reached out to over 170 Native Language communities and over 2700 individuals.