Metadata for Indigenous Peoples: The Culturally Responsive Metadata Framework

Project Title: Metadata for Indigenous Peoples: The Culturally Responsive Metadata Framework

Project Description: This was the final paper in my Knowledge Organization class that described a metadata framework that could potentially help remedy the problematic and inaccurate representation of indigenous communities through metadata. As the information field increasingly becomes more socially aware, catalogers must continue to seek ways to make metadata more inclusive. This essay examines what current issues there are within the default metadata frameworks and explores an alternative solution, the Culturally Responsive Metadata Framework.

Methods: This project began as a group project on the Knowledge Organization and the Marginalization of Indigenous Peoples. Each group member was responsible for a single metadata framework that could help rectify the discriminatory practices against Indigenous Peoples in cataloging. I first researched the current metadata standards and outlined why they are harmful, provided examples of problematic metadata concerning Indigenous Peoples, and discussed the difficulties of attempting to adapt current metadata practices to be more culturally responsive to Indigenous Peoples. I then defined and explored the Culturally Responsive Metadata Framework, which required in-depth research and analysis of how this metadata framework could be useful, and directly compared it to traditional Dublin Core metadata elements.

My Role: I am the single author of this work, however, this individual essay was a part of a group project on Knowledge Organization and the Marginalization of Indigenous Peoples. We covered 3 different possible knowledge organization structure solutions, and the Culturally Responsive Metadata Framework section was curated and presented solely by me.

Learning Outcome Achieved: Foundations of Library & Information Studies

Rationale: This project allowed me to garner a greater understanding of the core concepts and theories of information collection. I explored how Knowledge Organization practices are not objective, are rooted in historically racist practices, and that there are new and improved methods for cataloging that can help reimagine metadata structures to better represent communities that have historically been inaccurately represented in information collection, organization and access.