Building Bridges Between Indigenous and Digital Networks

The Cross-Cultural Partnership brings together people from indigenous and electronic networks to envision legal and cultural frameworks for sharing connected knowledge in ways that are responsible, sustainable, and rooted in mutual respect.

Exploring Critical Questions

Our work addresses fundamental challenges in cross-cultural knowledge sharing

What do electronic and indigenous networks have in common?

Both rely on connected relationships, shared protocols, and sustainable practices to thrive.

What is "responsible re-use"?

Using knowledge in ways that honor its origins, maintain relationships, and benefit all partners.

How can we build networks of trust in the 21st century?

Through transparent agreements, ongoing dialogue, and frameworks that respect sovereignty.

Can democratic access be reconciled with the right to privacy?

Yes, through partnership agreements that balance openness with cultural protocols.

Our Four Core Goals

Guiding principles for ethical collaboration across cultural boundaries

Sustainability

Sustainability

Building persistent connections among people, knowledge, land, and all beings that sustain them.

Learn more →
Creativity

Creativity

Fostering connected creation that builds relations of kinship among people who make and behold.

Learn more →
Economy

Economy

Exploring cooperative economies based on proven engines of sustainable success.

Learn more →
Sovereignty

Sovereignty

Empowering groups to determine ethical frameworks through micro-treaties among sovereigns.

Learn more →

Partnership Template v0.3 Now Available

A practical framework for establishing ethical collaborations across cultural boundaries. The template draws on partnership law, indigenous protocols, and open licensing models to create agreements that honor all participants.

Flexible Framework

Adaptable to diverse collaboration contexts

Ethical Foundation

Built on principles of mutual respect and benefit

Legal Grounding

Rooted in partnership law and sovereignty

Connected Knowledge

Latest News & Updates

Stay informed about partnership developments and community activities

Tribal License v0.3

Tribal License Draft Reaches v0.3

Working group publishes the v0.3 draft and opens feedback for cross-cultural partners.

Read more →
Banff Archives

Banff Gathering Archives Published

Photos and notes from the Banff Connected Knowledge gathering are now accessible.

Read more →
Toolkit Beta

Connected Knowledge Toolkit Beta

A beta toolkit for sharing practices across indigenous and digital networks.

Read more →
Connected Knowledge Conference Participants

Connected Knowledge Conference Series

The Partnership has convened international gatherings bringing together indigenous leaders, digital rights advocates, artists, scholars, and activists to develop frameworks for ethical knowledge sharing.

  • Banff 2007: Connected Knowledge - Collaboration Across Boundaries
  • Cambridge 2008: Subversion, Conversion, Development
  • Lucerne 2006: Foundational gathering
Explore Conferences

Join the Conversation

Whether you're working in indigenous communities, digital networks, or bridging both worlds, the Cross-Cultural Partnership framework can help guide your collaborations.