Press conference on First Nations activism in the technology age

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Indigenous Leaders Leverage Technology to Empower First Nations at Web Summit Vancouver 2025

At Web Summit Vancouver 2025, Mr. James Delorme, CEO of Indigelink and the Indigenous Infrastructure Fund, Ms. Carol Anne Hilton, CEO and Founder of the Indigenomics Institute, and Mr. Ethan Clark, CEO and Co-Founder of Nationsfirst Technologies, discussed the transformative role of technology in empowering First Nations communities.

Mr. Delorme emphasized the power of technology to transmit Indigenous stories, ceremonies, and teachings, enabling the expression of rights, values, and responsibilities. He highlighted the importance of technology infrastructure in activating self-determination for Indigenous peoples.

Mr. Clark discussed how technology offers a path towards autonomous change, enabling First Nations to develop their own financial systems, governing structures, and methodologies for interacting with their environments. He underscored the potential for Indigenous communities to become competitive in global markets by leveraging their strengths and addressing existing disparities.

The speakers acknowledged the challenges posed by historical legislation, but emphasized the opportunities presented by emerging technologies. They stressed the importance of collaboration, mentorship, and providing Indigenous entrepreneurs with the tools and capacity to build solutions for their communities.

Ms. Hilton showcased the Indigenomics AI platform and its potential to analyze media narratives and understand Indigenous economic perspectives. A live demonstration of the platform’s capabilities, including a chatbot feature, was attempted, but encountered technical difficulties due to internet connectivity issues.

The panel also addressed questions about protecting Indigenous technology spaces from inauthentic actors and emphasized the importance of cultural understanding, community connectivity, and giving back to the community as key determinants of Indigenous identity and business practices. Mr. Clark also mentioned his work with digital IDs as a potential solution to this challenge.

The press conference concluded with a discussion about data governance and the ethical considerations of using AI with culturally sensitive information. The speakers stressed the importance of human interaction and community involvement in developing appropriate protocols for data management.