Open Recognition Mythology

Abstract

The Open Recognition Mythology project by Simone Ravaioli provides a possible "mythology" to underpin the principles of the Paris Declaration on the Equality of Recognitions. The primary intent was to take the flat declaration and add layers of meaning and expressiveness. 

The work, presented as an AIrt Installation/poster session at ePIC2025, was inspired by Indigenous ways of knowing (IKS) and a personal "shamanic recognition" experience. The realization guiding the project is that when recognition shifts from awarding to belonging, the fundamental question changes from "What does it measure?" to "What does it ask of me?". 

The installation featured seven posters, with the creation process for each principle following the pathway: principle → story → symbol. Each principle was translated into a tiny, IKS-inspired story—a "micro-myth"—that an elder might share in a circle, and then distilled into a symbolic image. 

To embody a personal commitment rather than a trophy, each panel included an NFC tag that issued a Parchment Digital Badge. The "tiny hesitation" as people tapped, read, paused, and claimed the badge was described as the ceremony where policy meets conscience. This framing of the badge as a vow shifts the energy of recognition from compliance to care. 

The badges have been compiled into a Pathway  

Key learnings highlighted the power of these non-policy elements: 

• Symbols travel faster than policies: The symbols, such as the Spiral, Feather, Web, and Stones, sparked honest, jargon-free conversations about trust and quality. 

• Tension is flow: The gap between Indigenous Knowledge Systems and formal quality assurance/accreditation generated momentum. 

• Recognition is a social practice: Stories and symbols are crucial infrastructure for trust, reinforcing that recognition is not only a human right. 

• A compass, not a checklist: The seven principles guide what to recognize and what to leave to community judgment. 

• Ceremony matters: For recognition to be equitable, portable, and human, it must also be memorable. 

The project aims to continue as a 7-badge pathway for teams to run as a shared commitment circle. The core takeaway word carried from the experience is UBUNTU: "I am because we are". 

Keywords: open recognition; equality of recognition; Indigenous Knowledge Systems; digital badges; symbolic storytelling; social practice of recognition.