Founder of Australia's first indigenous education technology company develops storytelling app for young people

A former forest ranger in Australia has developed a storytelling app to teach younger generations about the country's indigenous peoples.

Mikaela Jade, founder of Indigital, Australia's first indigenous education technology company, said it is fitting that the technology is being showcased at the Dubai World Expo 2020, with the theme 'Connecting Minds, Creating the Future'.

Jade, herself a Cabrogal from the Dharug-speaking nations of Sydney, said: "Looking at the knowledge we have in the past, looking at what our elders knew about our culture and projecting it into the future through technologies, and imagining what we can do with all that knowledge, is very exciting. And to have it at Expo 2020 with 192 countries thinking about the same thing is phenomenal."

She held a workshop to present the app at the Terra Auditorium in the Sustainability District at Expo Dubai. 

The startup was formed in 2014. It specialises in technology development and digital skills training in augmented and mixed realities, artificial intelligence, machine learning and Internet of Things, among others. The company aims to bridge the digital divide between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples by providing a pathway to the digital economy.

Jade, who worked as a ranger for 21 years on the Great Barrier Reef, Ningaloo and Kakadu National Parks, and in Canberra, said: "It seems like a good idea to be able to mix our ancient culture and our language and laws with technology like augmented and mixed reality".

Jade said that through the programme, which is linked to the Australian education curriculum, school children work with community elders who decide what stories from the past they want to share with the next generation.

Jade said: "... Language and history ... they share that with the children and then we use that history to create three-dimensional augmented reality characters to share their story. The school children are learning new digital skills, while learning about their culture and language."

She added that 7,500 students have benefited from the programme: "It's doing really well, so far. The students love it.

Jade said they are currently working with the Maori in New Zealand and the Saik'Uz in Canada to introduce the programme there.

Text, photos and video: Dubai Expo 2020.