On December 6-16, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will organize a Virtual Training Program on Cultural Documentation and Intellectual Property Management for Indigenous Peoples from the Arctic Region.
Organizers: WIPO in cooperation with the Arctic Council Russia’s Chairmanship, the Arctic Council Indigenous Peoples’ Secretariat, the Association of World Reindeer Herders, and the M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk.
Cultural heritage is being documented on an unprecedented scale, thanks notably to new technologies and increased awareness at the international level of the importance of preserving and safeguarding culture. For example, the Arctic Council is supporting project initiatives from indigenous peoples of the Arctic to digitalize their linguistic and cultural heritage, with the objective of preserving and developing indigenous languages, traditional knowledge (TK), and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs) of the Arctic Indigenous peoples.
The objectives of the Training will be to impart basic knowledge of the main principles, systems, and tools of the intellectual property (IP) system and how they relate to indigenous peoples and local communities, emphasizing both the potential value that IP could bring in support of TK and TCEs protection, as well as the challenges; and enhance the capacity to understand and use the IP principles, systems and tools for the protection of TK and TCEs among individuals involved in cultural documentation, from indigenous peoples, local communities and cultural institutions.
You can find out how to apply for the Training here.
BACKGROUND
The training program is carried out following the results of the International seminar called "Intellectual Property Rights of Indigenous Peoples to Knowledge, Cultures, and Languages in the Times of Digitalization" within the framework of the III Northern Sustainable Development Forum in Yakutsk on September 27-30, 2021. The seminar was attended by representatives and organizations of indigenous peoples, representatives of the Permanent Participants and Observers of the Arctic Council, scientific and educational organizations, experts in the field of intellectual property. The total number of participants was more than 60 people from countries such as Russia, Norway, Finland, France, Switzerland, the Philippines, the USA, and Canada.
The workshop highlighted the need for Indigenous Peoples’ Guidelines in the Arctic related to the digitalization of traditional knowledge, culture, and languages. The discussion set the stage for the development of key principles for the protection of Indigenous intellectual property rights. Current issues and challenges related to the intellectual property of indigenous peoples were discussed. As a result of the seminar, the way forward was developed, in particular protection of Indigenous intellectual property rights and knowledge co-production in the Arctic.
Below you can find the recommendations of the international seminar proposed to be included in the resolution of the III Northern Sustainable Development Forum.
RECOMMENDATIONS
developed at the International seminar
Intellectual Property Rights of Indigenous Peoples to Knowledge, Cultures, and Languages in the Times of Digitalization
for inclusion in the Resolution of the Northern Sustainable Development Forum
September 27-30, 2021, Yakutsk
Participants of the International seminar "Intellectual Property Rights of Indigenous Peoples to Knowledge, Cultures, and Languages in the Times of Digitalization", organized within the framework of the Northern Sustainable Development Forum on September 27, 2021, supported the ongoing work to protect the intellectual property of indigenous peoples and the initiative of the project "Digitalization of Linguistic and Cultural Heritage of the Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic ”. Taking into account Article 31 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the General Assembly resolution 61/295 of September 13, 2007, the participants of the seminar recommend:
1) to the Arctic Council to promote closer cooperation of all Permanent Participants on indigenous peoples' intellectual property issues;
2) to develop more specific international legal norms regarding intellectual property, protection of the use of traditional knowledge and other elements of culture, taking into account the specifics of the indigenous peoples' knowledge;
3) to the scientific community, when documenting the traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples, obtain the prior and informed consent of native speakers of the language and culture, which reflects a specific intention to use the materials received;
4) to conduct workshops on the protection of intellectual property rights of indigenous peoples with the support of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
