Indigenous Knowledge: The National
Recordal System & IKS Research Chairs
Biodiversity Economy Indaba
11 November 2013
Polokwane
Strategic Objective: Promote and develop research, development and innovation
(RDI) for the improved quality of life.
IKS Policy (2004) created the platform to recognise, affirm, develop, promote &
protect IKS.
• Interface Indigenous Knowledge Systems with other Knowledge Systems
- 3 Directorates: Advocacy & Policy Development, Knowledge Development
& Knowledge Management.
• Focus in Department are based -5 principle goals in developing the innovation
capacity of IKS in the NSI
- Enhancing knowledge generation capacity;
- Developing appropriate and unique human capital for IKS related field;
- Build world class infrastructure for recording & documentation of IKS;
- Building IKS laboratories to train the next generation of research;
- Enable technology transfer.
• The strategic objective of the IKS Chairs is to interface IKS with other knowledge systems with a special emphasis in research and development, innovation and knowledge production
• Over the past three years, two IKS Research Chairs: (i) Traditional Medicines at University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and (ii) Knowledge Systems Studies-Walter Sisulu University (WSU).
• The UKZN Chair established an African Traditional Medicines [ATM] Laboratory. Between the two Chairs, the following are key successes:
University Projects Students Publication Products
UKZN
HIV/AIDS 2 Post-Docs 2 Book Chapters 1 Diabetes
Prototype
Tuberculosis 6 PhD 10 Journal Articles 1 Infectious
Diseases
Diabetes Mellitus 5 Masters 7 Conference
Papers
2 HIV Prototypes
Cancer - Kaposi 3 BTech MRC Career Award
2 Assistantships
WSU
IKS Systematisation 4 Honours 4 Journal Articles
Vegetable &
Medicinal Plants
4 Masters 3 Conference
Papers
IKS Audit Report
IKS constitutes a nations patrimony and has massive potential for RDI and
social cohesion for the country.
IKS Audit (2008)
• Constitute a semantic web digital system, comprising of indigenous knowledge
networks, documentation centres and confidential local registers. It record of
unrecorded IK in various multi media formats and aims to promote community IK.
- It proposes both positive and defensive protection of IK and aims to collect grassroots
community experiences in local languages.
-Provides for documented data on indigenous knowledge associated with biological
resources linked to:
• Person
• Community
• Geographical area and
• Biological resources
-
RELEVANCE TO GOVERMENT POLICIES AND
LEGISLATION
• The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996
• National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004
• Public Finance Research Act, 2009
• Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000
• Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill
• Copyright Act, 1978
• Patent Act, 1976
• Plant Varieties and Farmers Act of 2001,
• Traditional Leadership Governance Framework
• Traditional Health Practitioners Act
Format of traditional/indigenous knowledge (i.e. documented, books etc) Function(s) of the implemented systems Supported languages Protection (defensive, positive etc)
BENCHMARKING & COMPARING NRS with
WORLDWIDE INITIATIVES
Name Format of original IK Protection Storage Aim/Function
National Recordal System Unrecorded oral Defensive and
positive
Distributive Promotion
Protection (prior art)
Preservation
IK Patent Development
Traditional Knowledge Digital
Library
Documented in books in
4 languages (Ayarveda,
Unani, Siddha and Yoga)
Defensive Centralised Protection (prior art)
Biozulua Documented in local
Venezuela languages
Defensive Decentralised Protection (prior art)
IK Patent Development
Honeybee Published community
newsletters
Defensive Localised Protection (prior art)
Promotion
NNATIONAL RECORDAL SYSTEM
NATIONAL RECORDAL SYSTEM
IKSDC:
LIMPOPO
PROVINCE
Muthale Sintamule Mphephu
Vuwan
i
DAC dti DEA
NIKMAS
PATENT OFFICES
DOH
SANBI CIPC
DAFF
CBD/WIPO/ FAO
DST
NSI
DRDLR
DTA
SABS
Indigenous Knowledge
Documentation Centres
(IKSDC)
Community
NRS Central Operations
supported by the National IK
Management System (NIKMAS)
Community
Pu
blic
acce
ss
Restr
icte
d a
cce
ss
Con
fide
ntial a
cce
ss
Co
mm
unity a
ccess Preservation
Promotion
Protection
Development
•Community members
•IK Holders
•General Public
•Learners
•Teachers
•IP offices
•Registered scientists &
researchers
•Approved and
registered scientists
Catalogue IK Recording Verification Quality Check Classification Scientific
Authentication
NRS Processes
NIKMAS Metadata
• To annotate recorded IK stories for enhanced exploration and discovery
• Standard used: Qualified Dublin Core
• Thematic metadata for specific themes: – African Traditional Medicine
– Food security
• Standardised controlled vocabularies – IPC codes (WIPO) for patent classification and utility
models
– ICD codes (WHO) for ailment classification
NIKMAS Metadata Conceptual Model
Metadata conceptual model
IK Product (IF/ATM)
Ingredients
Object (plants/animals/mineral)
Use
Preparation Method
Additives
Byproducts
Parts
Shelf life
Conservation/Propagation
Habitat
Location
Harvesting/Gathering
Scientific name
Vernacular name(s)
IK recording
• Community identify IK claims to be recorded in detail • IK recorders visit IK holders • Sign legal agreements (Prior Informed Consent, Non-Disclosure,
Information transfer agreement) • IK recording interview (in local language)
– Video of story – Exploration with questionnaire – Photos, videos, GPS locations
• IK Recorder transcribes information into structured format and translates into English
• IK Recorder verifies transcribed report & media with IK holder • Recorded IK replicated to Community laptop • Recorded IK verified by community (if community the owner) • Verified information replicated to IKSDC system and central system
NRS supported processes
Quality Editing and Scientific
verification NRS Processes
IK Holder Cataloging
IK Recording
Quality editing Scientific
verification Community Engagement
Dissemination
Quality editing and scientific verification
• On central system
– Quality editing (Curator)
• Language
• Media editing
• Classification (e.g. IPC and ICD codes)
– Scientific authentication (SANBI)
• Botanical classification
• Public domain information search
• Confirm access level (open or confidential)
NRS supported processes
Dissemination
NRS Processes
IK Holder Cataloging
IK Recording
Quality editing
Scientific verification
Community Engagement
Dissemination
Dissemination: Access levels
Open access IK
Confidential IK
Dissemination: General public
Open access IK
Confidential IK
General public /
Unauthenticate
d user
All open access information
Dissemination: General public
Open access IK
Confidential IK
Communit
y member
All open access information
All open access IK submitted by
community
Dissemination: General public
Open access IK
Confidential IK
Authenticate
d
IK Holder
All open access information
All open access IK submitted by
community
All confidential IK submitted by him/her
Dissemination: General public
Open access IK
Confidential IK
Authenticate
d community
coordinator
All open access information
All open access IK submitted by
community
All confidential IK submitted by the
community
Dissemination: Scientists
Open access IK
Confidential IK
Scientist /
Researcher
All open access information
All open access IK submitted by
community
Restricted info on
confidential IK
Restricted access
application process
Confidential info
on selected IK
entries
Confidential access
application process
Restricted
detail
Confidential detail
Confidential
detail
Dissemination
• Scientific searches • IP searches • Theme based views • Intelligent, semantic based querying • others.....