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May 28, 2025

Shifting power, honouring Indigenous sovereignty and digital self-determination.

Also - Thunderbirds flying to a gathering near you?

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Boozhoo News River Readers,

It’s an event-full week here at Animikii so we’re sharing five interesting stories below and then be on our way ;)

In future newsletters we’ll share a recap post from:

  • Jeff Ward who’s currently speaking on a GPAI panel in Tokyo

  • Thunderbirds who are attending Web Summit in Vancouver

  • more Thunderbirds heading to IHHG in Winnipeg next week too!


Quick Feature:

Artist’s Statement: The Diné are a matriarchal society that lives with a philosophy known as “Hózhó.” This translates to “living in balance” and includes practices for daily life that prioritize harmony, beauty, and interconnectedness with the natural world and its communities. In this illustration, Janene, the author of this column, is centered in her existence, offering prayers to all that sustains her, and surrounded by symbols of protection: a rainbow, arrowheads, blue birds. and medicinal plants.
Illustration by JayCee Beyale

“Indigenous Peoples have always known we are up against a global oligarchy that we must resist—not assimilate into. Now is the moment for everyone to recognize how much is at stake and decide how to move accordingly.”

Janene Yazzie, director of policy and advocacy at NDN Collective.

Self-Determined: Solidarity in Sovereignty

Less than four months into the second Trump presidency, we’ve witnessed a barrage of destructive policies, aggressive actions, and increasingly alarming rhetoric driven by greed and authoritarian ambition. While I am appalled by this, what unsettles me more is the collective response of quiet compliance. It is deeply troubling to witness how quickly so many have chosen to keep their heads down, clinging to the hope that we can simply white-knuckle it through the next four years until another election offers another hollow chance at change. 


Curated Articles:

AI threatens Indigenous data sovereignty and digital self-determination

Building ethical AI requires shifting power to Indigenous communities – in data control, design, and governance. Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are rapidly transforming our world, but the critical issues of the sovereignty of Indigenous data and Indigenous digital self-determination remain under-addressed. For Indigenous communities around the world, AI is not merely a technological development. It is a potential new form of colonization – one that risks marginalizing their languages, cultures and agency unless meaningful safeguards are established. Indigenous communities must be seen not as mere beneficiaries of digital policy, but also as rightful leaders in shaping it.

University of Toronto's Dr. Lindsay Montgomery Advocates for Integrating Indigenous & Descendant Communities into Archaeology

Central to Dr. Montgomery's mission is the principle of Indigenous data sovereignty - the right of Indigenous Peoples to govern the collection, ownership, and application of data about their communities, histories, and lands. Historically, data collected through archaeological projects have been housed in distant universities, disconnected from the communities to which they pertain. Dr. Montgomery is working to reverse this trend by enacting research models that ensure communities maintain control over archaeological findings. This includes how they are stored, interpreted, and even who has access to them. In her presentations at the Canadian Archaeological Association and Society for American Archaeology, she has outlined the importance of embedding data sovereignty into all stages of research - from grant writing to fieldwork to final publication.

The Sierra Fund rebranded as Indigenous Futures Society, installs Indigenous-majority board

In September 2024, our organization formally transitioned to Indigenous leadership with the appointment of Brian Wallace (Washoe/Nisenan) as CEO. This marked a historic turning point: the organization’s Board of Directors unanimously and voluntarily voted off 5 of its members, and voted on a 75% Indigenous-majority board, and its strategic direction was re-centered around Indigenous values, governance, and knowledge systems. A re-grounding of our work in the land, languages, and leadership of Native peoples.

Unique partnership creates inclusive digital space

Queen's National Scholar; Chair in Indigenous Knowledges and Perspectives Danielle Lussier (Languages, Literatures, and Cultures) worked with four students from the School of Computing to create The Bead Hive, a website that aims to bridge traditional Indigenous knowledge systems with contemporary digital access methods, specifically focusing on Indigenous beadwork. It provides an inclusive space for artists to showcase, preserve, and share their artwork, empowering them to maintain ownership of their cultural creations while educating users about the significance embedded within the beadwork.

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