Rethinking archival data management for indigenous communities: lessons learned from the Moklen community digital repository

Purpose Documentation of language and traditional knowledge is a way to safeguard the continued existence of indigenous communities' endangered cultural heritage in the contemporary world. This research aims to develop a digital repository for Moklen language and cultural documentation. The paper will reflect on experiences gained from data management throughout the digital life cycle and engagement with the communities for potential further development. Design/methodology/approach Action research in interviewing communities' needs, developing metadata and repository interface, archival data collection and making policies for disseminating archival data. Findings The researchers found gaps in their data management and ethics framework that attempts to ensure ethical documentation practice in the fieldwork that made it and inadequate fit for marginalised, indigenous communities. Examples include the offering of consent forms, which led to unnatural interactions, and academic data and knowledge transfer to the communities that was of questionable help to them with daily-life problems. Meanwhile, the researchers also observed ways in which the digital environment contributed to the documentation and use of intangible cultural heritage. Originality/value The article invites consideration of ways to collect and maintain community knowledge more sustainably to enable communities to use this data as living heritage in a digital heritage environment.