Digital Natives Academy is excited to be partnering with the Alan Turing Institute, to help gather feedback from Māori developers, policymakers and communities about data and it’s use in Artificial Intelligence and machine learning.
In 2021, a call-out was made to the global data community by the Alan Turing Institute to find research partners who could interview and gather feedback on data issues from the perspective of marginalised and minority communities, with the overall purpose being the creation of 3 guides that could help developers, policy makers and communities navigate the emerging data landscape.
At Digital Natives Academy (DNA), our work in the areas of Māori innovation, indigenous creativity and whānau digital literacy led to being contacted by a member of the research project and invited to join as a partner. After a series of emails, our application to join was successful, and today, we would like to outline the mahi ahead and the reasons for our participation.
“Māori have a unique insight into data and we look forward to sharing our findings.”
Potaua Biasiny-Tule – DNA Founder
This AI Research project is led by the Alan Turing Institute (ATI), which is based in the UK, and has 12 partner organisations across the globe. Our team at DNA team facilitated the project in Aotearoa and the aim is to invite, interview and gather feedback from Māori data/AI practitioners, policymakers and community leaders, in a series of online wānanga.
Due to the complex nature of this subject DNA requested the support of an Advisory Group who understood the complex nature of the project, could provide a data science perspective and AI insight as well as understanding the the importance of developing our own indigenous frameworks and help ensure the level of cultural protection required for a project of this magnitude.
DNA invited a small team of five leaders in their fields, to support our efforts as a Māori Advisory Group, Te Roopu Whakahaere Māori:
- Dr Karaitiana Taiuru (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Rārua; Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Hikairo Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Hauiti, Ngāti Whitikaupeka, Pākehā), expert in Mātauranga with Science, Intellectual Property Rights, Digital & Data
- Sara Cole Stratton (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kahu), Founder of Māori Lab, Indigenous AI Ethics Expert
- Caleb Moses (Ngāpuhi), Data Scientist at Dragonfly Data Science
- Te Aroha Grace (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei), Chief Relationship Officer at Figure Group
- Dr Daniel Wilson (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pikiao), Professional Teaching Fellow (Data Science) at the University of Auckland
The report will be published later in the year and we will provide links once available.