Dissertation Defence: ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐤ ᒫᒥᑐᓀᔨᐦᒋᑲᓂᐦᑳᐣ ᐃᑖᑎᓯᐏᐣ nehiyaw mâmitoneyihcikanihkânitâtisiwin Ancestral Code: Grounding Indigenous Computing in nehiyaw Epistemology
February 27 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Jon Corbett, supervised by Drs. Karis Shearer and Christine Schreyer, will defend their dissertation titled “ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐤ ᒫᒥᑐᓀᔨᐦᒋᑲᓂᐦᑳᐣ ᐃᑖᑎᓯᐏᐣ nehiyaw mâmitoneyihcikanihkânitâtisiwin Ancestral Code: Grounding Indigenous Computing in nehiyaw Epistemology” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies – Digital Arts and Humanities theme.
An abstract for Jon Corbett’s dissertation is included below.
Examinations are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Registration is not required for in-person exams.
ABSTRACT
This dissertation explores the intersection of Indigenous knowledge and modern computing practices. The author uses a nehiyaw (Plains Cree) perspective to develop innovative software and hardware designs that incorporate Indigenous cultural values and epistemologies. The research begins with an examination of the historical context of computing and establishes a theoretical framework rooted in nehiyaw storytelling and epistemology. It then explores the development of Indigenous-informed software, including a syllabic programming typeface, an integrated development environment, and a nehiyaw-based programming language.
The dissertation also explores Indigenous hardware design, focusing on keyboard arrangements for Romanized nehiyawewin as well as the creation of a syllabic keyboard based on the nehiyaw syllabic star chart.
Tying together both of these areas of computing – software and hardware, the author proposes an Indigenous computing framework that aims to bridge the gap between Indigenous culture and modern digital practices. This framework opens up new avenues for research and offers a unique perspective on the future of computing.
The dissertation concludes by summarizing the key findings, discussing the implications of the research, and outlining potential future directions.
