Respecting Data, Reviving Culture: How AI Can Work With Indigenous Communities

By: Ali Abdiaziz 
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing how we live—from communication and education to environmental protection. But for Indigenous Peoples, AI is a double-edged sword. It can be used to continue harmful colonial practices, or it can support language, land, and cultural preservation. The impact depends on who is in control, and whether Indigenous rights are respected.

The Risk: Digital Colonialism and Bias
One major issue is data colonialism. Many AI systems are trained using data taken from the internet, archives, and public sources—often including Indigenous stories, images, languages, and land information—without consent. This is a digital form of exploitation, where outsiders use Indigenous knowledge for research or profit, while communities get little say or benefit.

Facial recognition is another example.
A 2018 study by Buolamwini and Gebru found that these systems often misidentify people of color. For Indigenous people, who already face over-policing in countries like Canada and Australia, this technology can increase the risk of surveillance and criminalization.

AI is also used in environmental mapping and planning, often by companies looking to extract resources. When these tools ignore Indigenous land rights or traditional knowledge, it can lead to displacement and environmental damage (Mohawk & Smith, 2021). These technologies, though advanced, still carry the same old patterns of exclusion.

The Opportunity: Language and Land Protection
Despite these risks, Indigenous communities are using AI in powerful ways. Language revitalization is one key area. Many Indigenous languages are endangered, but AI can help document and teach them.
For example, the First Voices project in British Columbia uses digital tools to preserve and share Indigenous languages online. These efforts are led by communities and help keep cultural identity strong for future generations (First Peoples’ Cultural Council, 2022).

AI is also helping protect land. In the Amazon, Indigenous groups are using satellite images and machine learning to monitor illegal logging in real time (BenYishay et al., 2021). This combination of tech and traditional land knowledge shows how AI can support environmental justice when used ethically.

The Solution: Indigenous Data Sovereignty
To make AI work for Indigenous Peoples, their data rights must be respected. This is known as Indigenous data sovereignty—the right of Indigenous nations to control their data. The CARE Principles were created to support this:
Collective Benefit Authority to Control Responsibility Ethics (Carroll et al., 2020)

These principles remind researchers and developers to prioritize Indigenous leadership, consent, and values when working with data or technology.

A Shared Future
AI is not neutral. It reflects the priorities of the people who create it. If Indigenous Peoples are included—and respected—AI can become a tool for healing and empowerment. The future of technology must be built with Indigenous voices at the center, not the margins.

References

• BenYishay, A., Heuser, S., Runfola, D., & Trichler, R. (2021). Indigenous forest monitoring in the Amazon. Journal of Environmental Management, 287, 112281.
• Buolamwini, J., & Gebru, T. (2018). Gender shades. Proceedings of Machine Learning Research, 81, 1–15.
• Carroll, S. R., et al. (2020). The CARE Principles. Data Science Journal, 19(1), 43.
• First Peoples’ Cultural Council. (2022). Using Technology to Support Indigenous Language Revitalization. https://fpcc.ca
• Mohawk, M., & Smith, L. T. (2021). Decolonizing AI. Indigenous AI Working Group.

Bio: Ali Abdiaziz is a student passionate about Art, technology, and Indigenous rights.