Washington, DC, March 30, 2001. For many years there have been warnings about the growing technology gap, also called the "Digital Divide," between mainstream U. S. society and its minority communities.

Last month, in the nation's capital, member of the federal government, industry, academia and various communities came together to discuss the economic, political, social, and cultural barriers that prevent the adoption and use of information technologies in minority communities and institutions.

Two members of the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management were among the planners and presenters at the Howard University conference on "Closing the Achievement and Technology Gaps: Opportunities for Reform and Partnerships."

Institute President, Mervyn Tano, and former Institute intern, Jessica Alcorn were on the planning committee for the conference along with representatives of Howard University, NAFEO, Benton Foundation, Fairfax County, Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture and other agencies, organizations and institutions .

Tano also participated in two of the conference panels. On the first panel, which dealt with cultural diversity issues, Tano addressed the implications of bridging the digital divide. In his presentation, Tano pointed out the tensions between the culture of cyberspace and that of Native American peoples and communities.

"For example, said Tano, "there are competing notions of universal access to information vs. clan or gender-specific information. Some stories can be told and songs sung only at certain times and at certain places. Furthermore, the notion of stories or songs as merely information ignores all of the mutual obligations that go into establishing the relationship the sotryteller and his audience. " Tano suggested that cultural impact studies be done when new technologies are introduced.

On a panel that addressed the issue of online content and intellectual property entitled "Intellectual Property Issues Related to Traditional Knowledge," Tano described the problems inherent in characterizing traditional knowledge as property and the inability of the international intellectual property rights regime to protect traditional knowledge.

Tano told the group that the Institute is currently researching the possibility of characterizing traditional knowledge as a cultural or human right rather than property.

Other panels included Ms. Chic Smith of the Benton Foundation and Shelita Smith of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.