TK Labels

The TK and BC Labels are an initiative for Indigenous communities and local organizations. Developed through sustained partnership and testing within Indigenous communities across multiple countries, the Labels allow communities to express local and specific conditions for sharing and engaging in future research and relationships in ways that are consistent with already existing community rules, governance and protocols for using, sharing and circulating knowledge and data. Communities customize their TK & BC Labels. To do this you will need to use the Local Contexts Hub which allows community control over customization and delivery to institutions, data repositories and other organizations.

The TK Labels support the inclusion of local protocols for access and use to cultural heritage that is digitally circulating outside community contexts. The TK Labels identify and clarify community-specific rules and responsibilities regarding access and future use of traditional knowledge. This includes sacred and/or ceremonial material, material that has gender restrictions, seasonal conditions of use and/or materials specifically designed for outreach purposes. 

The TK Label text is intended to be customized by each community – giving the Labels specificity and context. The title of each TK Label can be translated into one or more languages and displayed in addition to the default Label title. The TK Label icons are not to be altered.  This is to ensure national and international recognition and integrity across content and collection management systems, online repositories, websites, and physical exhibits.

For more information on implementing and displaying the TK Labels, please contact the Local Contexts team.

Click on a TK Label below to learn more about its usage.

Provenance Labels

Provenance Labels identify the group or sub-group which is the primary cultural authority for the material, and/or recognizes other interest in the materials.

TK Attribution

(TK A)

TK Clan

(TK CL)

TK Family

(TK F)

TK Multiple Communities

(TK MC)

TK Community Voice

(TK CV)

TK Creative

(TK CR)

Protocol Labels

Protocol Labels outline traditional protocols associated with access to this material and invite viewers to respect community protocols.

TK Verified

(TK V)

TK Non-Verified

(TK NV)

TK Seasonal

(TK S)

TK Women General

(TK WG)

TK Men General

(TK MG)

TK Men Restricted

(TK MR)

TK Women Restricted

(TK WR)

TK Culturally Sensitive

(TK CS)

TK Secret / Sacred

(TK SS)

Permission Labels

Permission Labels indicate what activities the community has approved as generally acceptable. Other uses require direct engagement with primary cultural authorities.

TK Open to Commercialization

(TK OC)

TK Non-Commercial

(TK NC)

TK Community Use Only

(TK CO)

TK Outreach

(TK O)

TK Open to Collaboration

(TK CB)