In this first episode, we yarn with Susan Beetson. 

I'm Susan Beetson, Ngemba Computer Science researcher and educator of interactive technologies at UQ. I grew up on my Country in very remote Australia. 

I research alongside Ngemba, Ballardong and Whadjuk communities to digitally translate Knowledges into Culture Hubs—e-commerce entrepreneurial platforms. Culture hubs are culturally co-designed and co-developed alongside community on Country, on Aboriginal archival systems, underpinned by knowledge sovereignty, and community's determination to be independent from Government, and to be financially self-reliant. 

Using emerging technologies, such as non-fungible tokens, Culture Hubs allow us to retain our Indigenous cultural intellectual property, which facilitates perpetual royalties. Culture Hubs are an opportunity to upskill Aboriginal peoples, from Elders, Adults through to youth in geo-mapping, e-commerce information systems, entrepreneurship, education and training, governance and community development, and improve health and wellbeing, economic status, digital skills, and education—all the close the gap targets.

These are a catalyst, for Aboriginal peoples, to continue ancestral knowledges, and consolidate contemporary knowledges, in the protection, rehabilitation, and restoration, of cultural artefacts, environment, and ecological communities. A digital view of our County, community, people, and Knowledges, allows us to think about and understand deeply, broadly, and differently than previously. We choose our partnerships and determine the terms of those partnerships. We lead the process of thinking about our Knowledges in contemporary ways alongside Western Science—relating local, national and global innovations. Children learn culture on Country and immersed in new and emerging technologies, such as drones and geo-mapping and respecting and valuing their Elders, culture, and kinships.