AI integration in Indigenous education: bridging systems, not replacing traditions
Original framing: “AI set to reshape Indigenous Ranger education” — Phys.org
Indigenous students, educators, and knowledge holders must be central to the design and implementation of AI in education. Without their active participation, AI risks becoming another tool of exclusion rather than inclusion.
The integration of AI in Indigenous education must be approached with deep epistemological humility and a commitment to Indigenous sovereignty.
While AI can support environmental monitoring and knowledge integration, it must not replicate the assimilationist patterns of past educational systems. Drawing from cross-cultural models like Māori digital sovereignty and Indigenous-led AI frameworks, the solution lies in centering Indigenous knowledge systems as equal partners in education. This requires not only technological innovation but also a radical rethinking of power, pedagogy, and purpose in learning. Only through community-led design, ethical data governance, and the inclusion of Indigenous epistemologies can AI become a tool of empowerment rather than erasure.