Due to the enduring impacts of settler colonialism, all six Indigenous languages in the Hodinohsó:ni Confederacy are threatened with extinction. Communities are losing fluent speakers daily, and Six Nations Polytechnic’s focus is to preserve these languages and the cultural traditions they carry before they are lost/become dormant. This is where technology could play a pivotal role.
Research focusing on the use of Adaptive Learning technologies powered by Artificial Intelligence is promising in Indigenous language learning. As an Indigenous Institute committed to language and cultural revitalization, Six Nations Polytechnic is actively exploring innovative technologies that could accelerate these efforts, recognizing that the transmission of language is in a race against time. As Elders and traditional Knowledge Keepers pass on, future generations are at risk of losing access to the cultural nuances and critical linguistic proficiency which may hinder the depth of future revitalization efforts.
While research is at the forefront of uncovering the potential implications of Generative AI for language learning especially as it pertains to data sovereignty and security, establishing how the content is selected to survey is arguably as important as the content itself. Johnston-Goodstar (2012) states:
“Indigenous values, protocols and epistemologies cannot be placed on the margins; they must be central to the evaluation process for authentic engagement and evaluation to occur” (p. 114).
To center First Peoples' voices in evaluating the climate for technological integration, the Decolonizing Evaluative Assessment Tool (DEAT) was developed. This tool guides research efforts with a view to authenticity, ensuring that the sources selected for review and analysis do not perpetuate colonial bias but serve to elevate Indigenous knowledge systems, intergenerational storytelling, and lived experiences.
Knowledge System Integration
The following guiding questions support the research team in evaluating each source, whether published, archived, or community-generated to ensure that the First Voice is recognized, respected, and prioritized.
- Whose knowledge systems are centered or marginalized?
- What power dynamics are present or absent?
- Are Indigenous methodologies used or only mentioned?
- Are Indigenous storytelling methods valued as legitimate research methodology?
- Is Indigenous knowledge woven throughout or added as an afterthought?
- Are Indigenous research protocols followed consistently?
- Is language learning separated from cultural practices and ceremonies?
- Do the research sources understand knowledge as relational rather than extractive?
- Does the research avoid commodifying sacred practices?
- Are the authors legitimate Indigenous People?
When contemplating these questions, there must be a deeper commitment to understanding the sacredness of Indigenous culture. The final question, for example, should not only signal acts of plagiarism and fraud, but demand recognition of the impact that theft has on communities living with intergenerational trauma, shaped by epistemic violence. By intentionally and fully engaging with each of the above questions, researchers can begin to critically assess their sources to ensure Indigenous voices are represented holistically—an essential practice for challenging colonial narratives while honoring the integrity of Indigenous Knowledge Systems.
Embedded in Six Nations Polytechnic’s logo is that of the Tree of Peace, a great White Pine planted when the Hodinohsó:ni Confederacy formed over 1,000 years ago. The ever-growing tree symbolizes that peace will never grow old if people continue to place an emphasis on maintaining a harmonious coexistence. Intertwined branches symbolize the strength of community leaders gathered to prevent the tree from falling. Woven within the white pine is a network of electrical circuitry, representing the digital infrastructure of AI, intimating the potential for alignment between traditional ways of knowing and emerging technologies. The White Pine is symbolically used for the DEAT Framework to capture the strength implicit in a collective, unifying and collaborative approach to research with Indigenous voices at the center and is broken down into the following metaphorical dimensions:
The Trunk: Core structural integrity assessment - evaluating the heartwood (foundational integrity), sapwood (knowledge flow), and bark (protective boundaries)
The Branches: Methodological reach and scope - assessing how research extends into different domains (AI, language learning, education) while maintaining connection to Indigenous roots
The Pine Needles: Detailed content analysis - examining each piece of information for its contribution to Indigenous language vitality and community goals
The Pinecones: Knowledge reproduction and future growth - evaluating how research builds Indigenous research capacity and generates sustainable knowledge systems
The Sun: External support and energy sources - assessing funding, institutional support, and the broader systems that enable or constrain research
The Environment: Broader context and ecosystem health - examining political, academic, and social conditions that affect research sustainability and impact
The DEAT framework provides assessment questions alongside evaluation criteria that research teams can apply consistently. Using the DEAT to check for viable research potential, researchers can assess each section of the “tree” for strength and integrity:
Evaluating Sources
- Check root system (Indigenous foundation)
- Assess trunk strength (research integrity)
- Note environmental conditions (context and support)
Detailed Evaluation
- Full branch survey (methodological assessment)
- Needle analysis (content examination)
- Cone production review (capacity building impact)
- Environmental assessment (sustainability factors)
In education, Generative AI can be viewed as either a canvas for creativity or a conduit for cognitive outsourcing. However, its profound impact now and for future learning and employment opportunities for students from humanities to engineering is undeniable.
Leveraging AI for Indigenous Language Learning, a project funded by HEQCO, has empowered Six Nations Polytechnic to delve deeper into these technologies and their potential implications for the reclamation and preservation of Indigenous language and culture. As a project grounded in and guided by community priorities, the DEAT Framework was intentionally designed with a good mind to center the First Voice in all research surrounding generative AI, to promote authenticity, and amplify community-led innovation for the next seven generations and beyond. The finalized framework will be shared at the conclusion of the project—stay tuned!
References
Johnston-Goodstar, K. (2012). Decolonizing evaluation: The necessity of evaluation advisory groups in Indigenous evaluation. In R. VeLure Roholt & M. L. Baizerman (Eds.), Evaluation advisory groups (New Directions for Evaluation, No. 136, pp. 109–117). Wiley Periodicals. https://doi.org/10.1002/ev.20038