This social enterprise is building Indigenous ethical systems into digital tools — here’s what you can learn

Author Brennan Doherty
Indigenous Friends’ app is a tool for Indigenous youth to socialize and share traditional knowledge.

Why It Matters

Building Indigenous value systems into the bedrock of an app allows an Indigenous developer or online community to practice digital sovereignty — meaningful control over their digital space that allows them to safely share their culture, language, and practices.

var TRINITY_TTS_WP_CONFIG = {"cleanText":"This social enterprise is building Indigenous ethical systems into digital tools \u2014 here\u2019s what you can learn. \u201cWhat\u2019s the difference between you and a private Facebook group?\u201d is a question Alejandro Lakgaxixiwa Mayoral Ba\u00f1os frequently encounters when he brings up his organization\u2019s Indigenous-only app.\u00a0 The executive director of Indigenous Friends, a social enterprise focused on Indigenous digital education and autonomy, likens the app to a tipi \u2014 the traditional hide-and-wood dwellings of Indigenous communities on the Great Plains that serve as places of ceremony. Strict protocols govern conduct within a tipi. Anyone within a tipi is not allowed to repeat what was said inside when they leave. This ethos is the c

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