Digital Stewardship in Indigenous Education: Teaching AI, Safety and Responsibility Through Community Values

Presented by James Hayes

Children don’t leave their values behind when they go online.

That idea became central to the Indigenous Education Program we developed at Cyber Legends. Instead of beginning digital literacy with passwords, threats and lists of rules, the program begins with concepts children already understand through their families and communities; respect, care, honesty, responsibility and relationships.

In this session, I’ll show how those ideas grow from Grades 1 through 8. A young learner starts by asking who they can trust and what information should remain private. A middle-years learner explores consent, cyberbullying, privacy and AI bias. By Grades 7 and 8, students are examining misinformation, online exploitation and questions such as whose knowledge and perspectives artificial intelligence reflects.

I’ll demonstrate one activity educators can immediately take back to their classrooms and show how digital safety and AI literacy can be taught not simply as technical skills, but as responsibilities to ourselves, the people around us and our communities. My goal is for Educators to leave with a repeatable framework, a classroom-ready activity and practical ideas for connecting digital safety and AI literacy with the values, relationships and priorities of the communities they serve.

At Cyber Legends we believe a Childs future success in life is dependent on their digital safety.  With this in mind we hope to be able to share with you educators’ ways to keep Indigenous children safe when introducing technology within the classroom. I’ve attached the presentation deck that I would like to utilize if given the opportunity to present.  In addition, I have attached three curriculum other views developed with our Advisory Circle covering grades 1-3, 4-6 and 7&8.

I would also like to share the amazing partners that are contributors to our Advisory Circle and the creation of the resources that will be shared in the presentation.

• Katie Wilhelm, Indigenous Consultant from Chippewas of Nawash First Nation
• Crystal Loft – Mohawk Traditional Knowledge Sharer from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory
• Mandy Smart – Mohawk Traditional Knowledge Sharer from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory
• Matthew Gallina, Indigenous Ally (Skills and Employment Program Manager at Indigenous Peoples Alliance of Manitoba)
• Tyler Waddilove, Munsee-Delaware Nation