These days, it feels like you can’t turn around without encountering some new artificial intelligence (AI) tool designed to make things “easier”, “faster”, or “better”. Everyone’s talking about AI, but are we discussing the right things? Are we asking ourselves the right questions? Our colleagues in CTLT and LTIC are working hard to support UBC’s teaching and learning community with the influx of Generative AI (GenAI) tools, including holding a regular studio and workshops that cover a range of topics, contributing to the creation of guidelines for GenAI use in teaching and learning, and sharing a list of UBC-approved tools, to name just a few initiatives. We want to add to this work by highlighting Indigenous perspectives, voices, and values as we consider integrating AI into our daily lives, and particularly into academia.
We’ve compiled a few of our favourite resources that centre Indigenous perspectives on AI and included reflection questions you can use for your own learning or to bring into your classroom to encourage discussion. Something we want to highlight is that there is no singular “Indigenous perspective” on AI. There are as many, if not more differing opinions and perspectives, as there are a diversity of Indigenous peoples and communities. We encourage you to learn from different people in different places, with different views, and encourage your colleagues and students to do the same.
Reflection Questions
- Why are we surrounded with stories of AI bringing an end to the world, but very few imagine a future where AI brings an end to colonialism? (Question adapted from Indigenous Action Media via Jennafer Shae Roberts)
- Can you find an example of an AI tool built for purpose by/for an Indigenous community? How is it similar or different to some of the most widely used large language models (LLM)? What are some things that might be needed to build an AI that is in alignment with a Nation’s sovereignty?
- After reviewing some of these resources, have you changed your perspective on your use of some of these tools? Why or why not?
- “How do we imagine a future with AI that contributes to the flourishing of all humans and non-humans?” –Indigenous Protocol and Artificial Intelligence Position Paper
Resources
#DataBack Vol 2: Truth Before “Indigenous AI” Understanding and Resisting Generative AI
- Creator: Animikii
- Link: Download PDF
- Published: 2024
- Type: E-Book
- This eBook was created by Animikii, an Indigenous-led technology organization, to introduce people working with Indigenous data and in Indigenous contexts to some of the risks and considerations when using GenAI tools. Written in 2024 amidst the growing AI hype, the authors intended this book to be an antidote to some of the marketing strategies employed by Big Tech; with this context in mind, the book is largely critical of GenAI and the industry that is pushing increasing use of these tools. We like #DataBack Vol 2 because it serves as an accessible overview of some of the major concerns people have with the use of GenAI in Indigenous contexts including the risks and potential harms, its problematic foundations, how accurate versus error prone the tools are, and environmental impacts.
Abundant intelligences: placing AI within Indigenous knowledge frameworks
- Creators: Jason Edward Lewis, Hēmi Whaanga & Ceyda Yolgörmez
- Link: Article
- Published: 2024
- Type: Journal Article (Open Access)
- This article provides an overview of the work of the Abundant Intelligences research project, which builds off the work of the group that created the Indigenous Protocol and Artificial Intelligence Position Paper (another resource we love). The authors start the article with a provocative statement: “The artificial intelligence (AI) industry–academic complex does not have an ethics problem, it does, however, have an epistemology problem,” (p. 2141) which serves as the basis of their argument in the article. The authors make the case for the re-imagining of AI development and governance; building from the ground up with Indigenous epistemologies at the centre, and integrating AI into Indigenous knowledge frameworks (instead of the inverse).
Necessary Tomorrows: “Almost Real” & “Indigenous AI”
- Creator: Quelemia Sparrow (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm)
- Links: 1 – Almost Real, 2 – Indigenous AI
- Published: January 2024
- Type: Podcast
- These two podcast episodes were created by writer, actor and director Quelemia Sparrow. We encourage you to listen closely to the stories being shared, as you will find yourself jumping between the 2020s and the 2060s. The first episode imagines a future where the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) nation has trained an AI on their knowledge. She (the AI) is stolen and forced to become part of an attraction in a theme park until agents from the Confederacy of Unceded Indigenous Nations initiate a daring plan to bring her home. In the second episode Quelemia Sparrow reflects on what Indigenous AI could be. She is joined by guests including Archer Pechawis, co-author of Making Kin With Machines. The episode touches on themes such as; data sovereignty, language revitalization, colonialism, and many more.
Can AI Save Indigenous Languages? With Michael Running Wolf
- Creator: Michael Running Wolf (Northern Cheyenne) & Baratunde Thurston
- Link: YouTube Video
- Published: June 2025
- Type: Video, Podcast
- This video presents Michael Running Wolf in conversation with Baratunde Thurston. Michael shares about the work he is doing in collaboration with Indigenous Nations and communities, using AI as part of language revitalization efforts. Although this episode is steeped in optimism for the future, it does not shy away from the dangers that AI could bring, particularly if it repeats patterns of colonialism.
The real cost of AI is being paid in deserts far from Silicon Valley
- Creator: Karen Hao & Sonia Ramos
- Link: Article
- Published: May 2025
- Type: Book Extract
- Through this section of her book Karen Hao introduces us to Sonia Ramos, an Indigenous activist in Chile. She shares how the AI boom is repeating previous patterns of colonialism and extractivism, accelerating the mining of copper and lithium to build data centres and the energy infrastructure required to power them. Sonia shares how AI has added fuel to the expansion of mining in the land she and her community call home, destroying the ecosystem. Despite the many barriers they face many are fighting back, organizing protests, forming advocacy groups, taking governments and companies to court and more. Their story is a reminder of the very tangible impacts AI has on the environment.
*Please reach out if you have any additional resources we should highlight in the future, thank you! (emily.bridge@ubc.ca, carissa.block@ubc.ca)
Positionality Reflection
As two non-Indigenous people sharing resources about this topic, we believe that it is important to acknowledge our positionality. We come to this work from our roles on the Indigenous Initiatives (II) team and our shared interest in supporting Indigenous data sovereignty and ethical engagement with technology. We are very grateful for the guidance and feedback of our II team members and CTLT colleagues.