Reading the e-book #DataBack: Asserting and supporting indigenous data sovereignty, really made me reconsider much of what I’ve thought about and known about AI technology. In doing so, I wanted to take a step back and look at the broader system and advancement of technology in general and see how this might impact Indigenous communities. Being completely honest, I feel like we live in a society where “new” is considered better, at least in terms of technology. Everyone wants the new iPhone, or to use new software, and I have to admit that I am part of this group of people always seeking new forms of technology. However, upon reading this e-book, it has really made me reconsider whether “new” is actually better. In the e-book, on page 37, the author states that “there are certain things that might be better served as physical records, or records kept in the minds of the People.” This sentence made me think back to the classes I took in 1L, specifically when we addressed issues between our legal system and Indigenous ways of being. Mainly, this made me think about how important oral traditions are to Indigenous peoples, and how passing down these oral stories and traditions is a significant feature of Indigenous communities. As put by the author of the e-book, digitizing everything and using technology simply because it’s “new or “innovative” does not automatically make it “better” or “more appropriate” for Indigenous peoples.
