Indic Oral Culture Wiki/Meetups

Orientation Meeting

The Orientation meeting for participants, held on 5th September 2024, served as an icebreaker where each participant introduced themselves, fostering a sense of community. The agenda covered key aspects of the project, such as its goals, expected impact on both participants and the broader oral culture preservation effort, and the timeline for key milestones. A detailed discussion on how the project would contribute to Creative Commons and open knowledge initiatives was also part of the conversation. Participants were given a sneak peek into the first training session, which was aimed at setting the foundation for future sessions, ensuring everyone understood the structure and what to expect. This meeting set the tone for collaborative work throughout the project.

First Training Session

In the First Training Session which was held on 13th September 2024, several important topics were covered to set the foundation for the project. The session began with an overview of the previous connect, ensuring all participants were up to date. It then delved into the idea, definition, and significance of oral culture, emphasizing its role in preserving intangible heritage. Techniques and methods for documenting oral culture were discussed, highlighting the importance of accuracy and preservation. Additionally, Creative Commons, open knowledge, and Wikimedia projects were introduced as key platforms for sharing and contributing to open resources. The session also outlined the schedule for future meetings with the organizers, followed by details about the next connect to keep participants engaged and informed.

Second Training Session

In the Second Training Session which was held on 25th September 2024, expectations from participants were clearly outlined, focusing on active engagement and contribution. Field experiences were shared by IOCP participants, including Kavitha ma'am, Sanjib Sir, and David Sir, providing practical insights into oral culture documentation. Topics like ownership and the use of a consent script were covered to ensure ethical documentation practices. Participants were introduced to the various types of Creative Commons (CC) licenses, their applications, and how they are used on Wikimedia Commons. They learned how to recognize oral culture content that needs documentation and were guided on what to avoid collecting. The attendance policy was emphasized, with a minimum of 60% attendance required for successful project contribution, which would also serve as a selection criterion for in-person meetups.

Third Training Session

In the Third Training Session held on 12th October 2024, participants were guided on the essential aspects of conducting fieldwork. The session covered key topics such as creating a checklist before heading to the field, how to find and approach participants or informants, and the importance of thorough research prior to departure. Emphasis was also placed on maintaining proper etiquette during field interactions, both on-camera and off-camera, ensuring respectful and ethical engagement. Participants were reminded of key things to remember before leaving and setting clear objectives. Finally, information regarding the upcoming sessions was provided to ensure participants are prepared for future activities.

Fourth Training Session

In the Fourth Training Session held on October 25, 2024, participants were guided on creating good quality audio-visuals with the resources available to them. The session covered key topics such as the importance of creating videos, achieving good lighting, effective framing, watchability and aesthetics, processing videos, utilizing tripods, and understanding video quality, including good versus bad framing for videos.
Finally, information regarding the upcoming sessions was provided to ensure participants are prepared for future activities, fostering an environment of continuous learning and improvement. Participants left feeling inspired and equipped with new skills to enhance their audio-visual projects.

Fifth Training Session

The Fifth Training Session, held on November 15, 2024, focused on several important topics related to oral culture. The agenda covered an in-depth exploration of oral culture categories quality and quantity expectations for each category, emphasizing the importance of balancing detailed, authentic documentation with sufficient data collection.
A walkthrough of the toolkit provided practical guidance on the tools and methods for recording, transcribing, and analyzing oral traditions. Finally, the session concluded with a motivating message from the project advisor, stressing the importance of preserving oral cultures for future generations. The session equipped attendees with both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary for their work.