The Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system is a general knowledge organization tool that is represented by a number sequence that is continuously revised to keep pace with knowledge
OCLC owns all copyright rights in the Dewey Decimal Classification, and licenses the system for a variety of uses. https://www.oclc.org/en/dewey/features/summaries.html .
Unfortunately the Dewey Decimal classifcation is still controlled by dominate cultures that have ignored their Indigenous cultures rights and place within the world order, through making it a subsection in a countries colonial origin.
Oddly the DDC has a classification for Extraterrestrial aliens worlds as a classification, while not acknowledging the intricacy of Indigenous native nations as a DDC Classification.
This issue was brought to my attention because of observations performed by Public Librarians working in high-populated Indigenous communities
Public Librarians and Indigenous community libraries would place Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags on the spines of their books and place them on separate shelf for clients to easily access relevant books.
In a small library this is an acceptable solution, however in a larger state library that has Legal deposit and a historical library section, this solution would be a larger problem. Thus, the need to change the DDC was required, especially if including reference guides of original material collection items.
This was created as Indigenous material would be distributed to a variety of DDC, which was in contradiction to the underlining purpose of the classification.
Creating an Indigenous classification would solve this problem. But how would this work? I had to look at the more World Indigenous nations to see if the same transer of information into an Indigenous DDC could work.
Some research was required on what were the Indigenous people of the world Classification of their groups. .
Multitude of Indigenous people of the world such as America and New Zealand had a variety of subjection pertaining to their language and clan or tribes which also needed to be captured.
Thus adding an Indigenous classification would work. But what would we call it. I thought of the historical immigration of mankind as a title, but now think Indigenous historical groups might be more acceptable.
This should not be my decision, but a group discussion.
Classify the area was created by the Listing of Indigenous peopel of the world located on Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_indigenous_peoples
To place Indigenous people in an order I have used the principle of DNA immigration information. This is a changing subject so this order can change but for the purpose of progress it is easier to just stay with the classification allocated.
Today Indigenous Librarians need to see if this DDC will work, before rallying to be included to the Dewey Decimal Classification via OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
Australia would have it’s own classification under Indigenous Oceania. New Zealand would full in the Polynesia Classification and the Torres Strait Island would full under the Melanesia classification.
The first DDC Indigenous Australian classification can be used to position general information in accordance to topics if there is not location identifier.
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The Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies have made this process easier through automatically dividing Australia up in regions.
Now to use these regional areas in the DDC Indigenous classification.
With this regional DDC Indigenous classification Queensland would hold three major areas which are subdivided.
This allows relevant books to be placed on the shelf for clients to view. If you add reference tools such as created for Bwgcolman and original material snippets or pages from relevant books, this material accumulates into a lot of research that focuses on a specific group.
This Indigenous classification can clarify the Torres Strait islander in their own category within Australia. This is helpful as prior to being included into Queensland government control the Torres Strait Islander material was classified and shelved under Papua New Guinea .
Once the location is identified then the subject could be classified in the catalogue or the call number. eg 992.2101 / LANG to identify “Thanakupi’s Guide to Language and Culture” as a Torres Strait Islander Language resource.
The subject would focus heading used in the Dewey decimal classification eg PHIL=Philosophy; PSY= Psychology; REL = dreamtime; EDUC = Education; LANG = Language; NAT = Natural Science/ Culture; TEC = Technology & Tools; ART = Arts LIT = Literature or you could change the author identifier to subject eg 992.2101 / 400.[language].
