Indigenous Innovation in Technology and the Future of Indigenous Economies

Exploring how Indigenous technologists like Carol Anne Hilton, Michael and Caroline Running Wolf, and others are blending tradition and technology to shape a new digital future.

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Yo, I’m Kris Krüg, just pulled into town for the Indigenomics Institute’s Indigenomics on BAY STREET, where a different kind of tech uprising is bubbling under the concrete jungle of Canada’s financial district. We’re talking a mix of old-school Indigenous wisdom meeting future-forward digital tech, flipping the script on how we think about the economy, culture, and innovation.

As we gear up for the event, I’m reflecting on the groundbreaking work of Indigenous tech leaders who who are each shaping the broader Indigenous tech movement in Canada. Through my work with Carol Anne and beyond, I’ve had the chance to witness firsthand how figures like Michael and Caroline Running Wolf, Ryan St. Germaine, Loretta Todd, and Josh Nilson are forging new paths breaking colonial shackles while leveraging the digital tools of tomorrow. Ready for the download?

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Indigenous Wisdom in the Digital Economy

Carol Anne Hilton and Indigenomics on Bay Street

As the founder and CEO of the Indigenomics Institute, Carol Anne Hilton has been a powerful advocate for building a $100 billion Indigenous economy. Her leadership comes into sharp focus at the Indigenomics on Bay Street event, where Indigenous economic sovereignty takes center stage in Canada’s financial hub. This event is is a platform and now is a pivotal moment where Indigenous-led economic initiatives meet the full force of global finance

At the heart of Indigenomics is the integration of Indigenous wisdom with modern financial systems and technology. Hilton’s vision goes far beyond economic participation laying the foundation for a new digital economy where Indigenous knowledge systems shape business practices as well as the technological innovation itself.

Indigenomics on Bay Street is a key step in this journey, bringing Indigenous voices and financial leaders together to collaborate on sustainable, future-forward economic models.

Global Indigenous Technology House: A New Frontier for Indigenous Tech

In tandem with her work on Bay Street, Hilton’s introduction of the Global Indigenous Technology House at SXSW 2024 signals an even broader vision. This initiative positions Indigenous knowledge as a core driver of technological development, ensuring that values like reciprocity, sustainability, and respect for the land become embedded in the tech we create.

The Technology House aims to create a global platform where Indigenous perspectives influence digital creation, innovation, and storytelling in transformative ways.

Global Indigenous Technology House

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By hosting Indigenomics on Bay Street, Hilton is ensuring that the dialogue around Indigenous economies takes place at the heart of global finance, with technology playing a crucial role. The Global Indigenous Technology House extends this vision into the digital realm, making Indigenous wisdom a foundational element of technological evolution. Together, these initiatives are reclaiming space for Indigenous voices in both economic and digital ecosystems.

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Michael and Caroline Running Wolf: Reclaiming Stories Through AI and XR

The Running Wolfs are on a mission to ensure Indigenous stories don’t just survive—they thrive in the digital future. Through their First Language as AI Reality Initiative, they’ve developed AI-powered platforms designed to empower learners of Indigenous languages, embedding these languages into XR environments where users can engage with their heritage in real-time.

Cultural Preservation Meets Digital Innovation

In my CBC interview with Michael emphasized how technology can be a powerful medium for cultural preservation when used intentionally. AI isn’t just a tool for data processing in their hands—it’s a bridge connecting Indigenous youth with the stories and languages of their ancestors.

Through AI, language revitalization is becoming an engaging, interactive experience for learners. Their work is creating a new generation of Indigenous storytellers, using tech to reinforce the intergenerational transmission of culture.

What sets Michael and Caroline apart is their commitment to Indigenous data sovereignty. In a world where Big Tech often treats data as currency, the Running Wolfs are ensuring that Indigenous communities retain full ownership over their cultural and linguistic data. This starts with inclusion in the tech world but ultimately about leading the charge, creating tech solutions that serve Indigenous communities while maintaining control over their own narratives.

They were recently recognized as 2024-25 AI for Good Laureates by The Tech Interactive for their pioneering work in using AI to reclaim and revitalize Indigenous languages. Through their First Languages AI Reality initiative, they’re creating immersive, tech-driven environments that empower Indigenous communities to reconnect with their linguistic heritage, all while ensuring Indigenous data sovereignty.

Their approach to storytelling expands the possibilities of how stories can be told and experienced. XR allows these narratives to unfold in immersive environments, providing users with an embodied experience of language, culture, and history. By merging the digital with the traditional, the Running Wolfs are ensuring that these stories are passed on as living, evolving cultural assets.

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Leading Canada’s Indigenous Tech Movement

Though not directly involved with Indigenomics on Bay Street, Ryan St. Germaine, Loretta Todd, and Josh Nilson are a few of the key figures in the broader Indigenous tech landscape I’ve had a chance to get to know. Their contributions are laying the groundwork for a new era of Indigenous-led innovation, creating momentum that aligns with the principles driving the Indigenomics Institute.

Ryan St. Germaine: Building the Indigenous Tech Circle

Ryan St. Germaine is a driving force behind the Indigenous Tech Circle, a fast-growing community connecting over 340 Indigenous founders, tech professionals, and changemakers. As a serial entrepreneur and marketplace expert, Ryan’s mission with the Tech Circle is to provide Indigenous tech talent with the connections, resources, and mentorship they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Under his leadership, the Circle has hosted more than 45 events, fostering collaboration and opportunity among Indigenous innovators.

While Ryan is also involved with Raven Indigenous Capital Partners, his work with the Indigenous Tech Circle is all about upskilling, network-building, and creating pathways for Indigenous leaders in tech. The Circle isn’t just about growing a network—it’s about building a supportive ecosystem that amplifies Indigenous voices in the tech world, ensuring they aren’t just present in the industry but leading the charge.

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Loretta Todd is a leader at the intersection of Indigenous storytelling and cutting-edge technology. As the creative force behind the IM4 Lab, Loretta is empowering Indigenous artists to harness the power of VR, AR, and XR technologies, creating immersive experiences that bring Indigenous narratives into the digital realm. Her mission is to preserve stories and ensure they evolve in innovative formats that resonate with modern audiences.

At IM4 Lab, Loretta is providing Indigenous creators with the tools, mentorship, and resources they need to thrive in the tech space. Her leadership is bridging the gap between technology and tradition, fostering a new generation of Indigenous technologists who are reimagining how culture can be experienced digitally. Through her work, Loretta is ensuring that Indigenous voices are central to the future of storytelling in virtual worlds.

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Mentoring the Next Generation of Indigenous Innovators

Josh Nilson, co-founder of East Side Games, is a driving force in the gaming industry, known for pushing boundaries with innovative, community-driven projects. While his stealth projects often fly under the radar, they’re paving the way for Indigenous tech ventures, particularly in gaming and digital storytelling. Josh’s work isn’t just about creating games—it’s about building an industry that reflects Indigenous values and ensures authentic representation.

Through his latest venture, Maskwa Investments, Josh is extending his commitment to early-stage investing and mentorship. Maskwa focuses on pre-seed investments, providing Indigenous entrepreneurs with the capital and support they need to launch and scale their ideas. By combining financial backing with hands-on mentorship, Josh is helping to cultivate a new generation of Indigenous talent, ensuring they have the resources to lead in both tech and gaming.

These leaders are driving the Indigenous tech movement it forward, ensuring that Indigenous voices are leading the charge in the rapidly evolving digital economy.

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Digital Sovereignty as Decolonization

Let’s unpack Digital Sovereignty. It’s the idea that Indigenous nations should control not just their physical land but also their digital spaces. This includes everything from language data to cultural archives, as well as the ways these assets are represented and shared. The traditional tech scene? It’s built on extraction—data mining, resource plundering, and, yes, cultural appropriation. But Indigenous-led tech initiatives flip that script.

The work of the Indigenomics Institute, along with leaders like Michael and Caroline Running Wolf, exemplifies this. Their initiatives ensure that economic growth and technological progress do not come at the expense of cultural erasure. Instead, these leaders are leveraging technology—whether through AI, blockchain, or immersive storytelling—to safeguard Indigenous knowledge systems while driving economic empowerment.

Projects like the Global Indigenous Technology House embody this movement. By equipping Indigenous communities with cutting-edge tools, such as AI, XR, and blockchain, the Technology House provides the platforms necessary for Indigenous peoples to own their digital futures. These tools allow for the protection of knowledge, the creation of new economic opportunities, and the advancement of cultural resilience on Indigenous terms.

The integration of Indigenous knowledge with modern technology ensures that tech serves a higher purpose—preserving culture, fostering sustainability, and respecting the land. Indigenous innovation is not just about using tech; it’s about transforming it, creating systems that align with values of reciprocity, intergenerational responsibility, and community.

This is the future of Indigenous tech—one where tradition fuels innovation and digital sovereignty reclaims space for Indigenous leadership in both economic and technological spheres.

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Looking Ahead: Indigenomics on Bay Street

So, what can we expect from Indigenomics on Bay Street? This is a powerful convergence of finance, tech, and Indigenous leadership. As the event unfolds, we’re going to see new partnerships emerge, new ventures take flight, and the continued development of Indigenous-led innovation.

It’s a space where the future is co-written, not dictated by legacy institutions. Bay Street’s sterile, high-finance world is about to get a soul upgrade, thanks to the transformative vision of Indigenous technologists and leaders.

And the stakes are high. The next steps in Indigenous tech innovation aren’t just about token inclusion; they’re about real systemic change. We’re talking about new markets, new governance models, and a whole new approach to what tech and finance can accomplish when driven by values of reciprocity, community, and respect for the earth.

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A Future Guided by Indigenous Tech Leaders

What’s clear is this: The future of tech doesn’t have to look like Silicon Valley’s past. It can be built on the wisdom of our ancestors, guided by the values of our communities.

And Indigenous technologists like Carol Anne Hilton, the Running Wolfs, Ryan St. Germaine, Loretta Todd, and Josh Nilson are lighting the way. They’re showing us that the future of digital innovation lies in collaboration, not competition. In respecting data, not exploiting it. In honoring the past while embracing the full potential of the future.

So, as we look ahead to a world where tech is woven into every aspect of life, let’s make sure that Indigenous voices are leading the conversation.

This is not just a moment. It’s a movement. And the revolution will not be colonized.