Session
Theater
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: We are planning to have a panel of experts on Indigenous Peoples Languages and language technolog / AI.
Indigenous language technologies already exist, and their combination with AI holds significant promise for addressing a critical challenge faced by Indigenous communities: the shortage of specialists across various fields who possess both cultural and linguistic expertise. However, non-technical barriers continue, and are likely to continue, to limit the meaningful uptake and integration of these technologies. This session explores key obstacles, including the dominance of closed, proprietary platforms that prevent Indigenous communities from using their own languages in digital spaces. We also examine how strong data protection laws, though essential, can unintentionally hinder the development and deployment of AI applications for Indigenous peoples. Finally, we address broader ethical and political challenges, such as cultural appropriation and the responsible use of Indigenous data and knowledge in technology development. This panel is organized as part of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL) 2022-2032.
Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development
The Sami Parliament The National Task Force of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages
UNESCO
Opening and closing remarks:
- Kjersti Stenseng, Minister the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development
- Tawfik Jelassi - UNESCO’s Assistant Director General for Communication and Information
- Ole-Henrik Bjørkmo Lifjell, Member of the Governing Council of the Sámi Parliament
Panel:
- Sjur Nørstebø Moshagen, head of the Divvun group and a chief engineer at the Department of Language and Culture at UiT The Arctic University of Norway
- Aili Keskitalo, political advisor for Amnesty International Norway
- Lars Ailo Bongo, professor at Sámi AI Lab and UiT The Arctic University of Norway
- Kevin Chan, Senior Director at Meta (participating online)
- Valts Ernštreits, Director at the UL Livonian Institute
- Dr. Outi Kaarina Laiti, Senior Advisor at the National Audiovisual Institute for the Finnish Government
10.3
Targets: For a language to thrive, it must be an active part of daily life. Today, this means being seamlessly integrated into screens, keyboards, video platforms, and speech-based systems. Younger generations, in particular, rely on digital platforms for communication. To revitalize, preserve, and strengthen Indingeous Peoples Languages, they must be fully usable in these spaces. If we do not ensure that the Indigenous Peoples languages are included in technological advancements, we risk streamlining the process of cultural assimilation.