How are Indigenous innovators in the US and Canada building upon traditional knowledge and technology to meet the social, environmental, and economic goals of their communities?

Challenge Overview

The Indigenous peoples of the United States and Canada developed sophisticated agricultural practices, traditional health systems and ceremonies, and vibrant economies and technologies that supported the flourishing of their peoples long before the arrival of European colonizers. This immense Indigenous wealth was not localized to any one community, but was shared across the continent and beyond through extensive networks promoting the exchange of goods, knowledge, and technology. These networks and traditional knowledge systems persist today, including through the continued exchange of Indigenous goods and wisdom across borders, and the numerous modern highways and railways that originated as Indigenous travel routes. 

Although the United States and Canada have unique legal relationships with the Indigenous peoples of North America, they have a shared history of colonization and modern oppression that has led to ongoing disparities in health, education, energy, incarceration, and economic opportunity. Despite such long-standing violent practices, Indigenous innovators continue to harness traditional knowledge and technology for the benefit of their communities and our shared earth, driving solutions to promote energy, food, and data sovereignty, climate resilience, Indigenous businesses, culturally grounded education, and positive physical and mental health outcomes. Whether working in their hometowns or across the medicine line, Indigenous innovators are building upon the legacy of exchanging resources, knowledge, and technology to address modern challenges with historic roots.

In recognition of this longstanding history, and those who continue its legacy, the 2023 Indigenous Communities Fellowship is open to all innovators supporting community-based solutions by and for Indigenous communities across the United States and Canada. To that end, Solve seeks solutions that:

• Strengthen sustainable energy sovereignty and support climate resilience initiatives by and for Indigenous peoples.

• Support the creation, growth, and success of Indigenous-owned businesses and promote economic opportunity in Indigenous communities.

• Drive positive outcomes for Indigenous learners of any age and context through culturally grounded educational opportunities. 

• Promote culturally informed mental and physical health and wellness services for Indigenous community members. 

Eligibility Clarifications:

• Solve welcomes applications focused on people Indigenous to anywhere within the United States and Canada, including territories. 

• Solutions do not need to be cross-border or international in scope and can focus on specific Indigenous communities in either country. 

• Unlike the Global Challenges, the Indigenous Communities Fellowship considers concept-stage solutions for potential selection as Fellows.

• The Fellowship is open to team leads who are non-Indigenous, though the application should show a clear connection to and buy-in from the community or communities. 

Prizes

MIT Solve - Solver Award

All Solver teams selected for Solve’s Global Challenges and the Indigenous Communities Fellowship will receive a $10,000 grant funded by Solve.

The GM Prize

The GM Prize is open to solutions that help create smart, safe, and sustainable communities around the world. The Prize is funded by General Motors, which is working toward becoming the most inclusive company in the world and is dedicated to making STEM education more accessible and equitable. Up to $150,000 will be awarded across up to six recipients from the Learning for Civic Action Challenge, the Climate Adaptation & Low-Carbon Housing Challenge, and the 2023 Indigenous Communities Fellowship.

The GSR Foundation Prize

GSR Foundation will award a prize to solutions that use innovative technology to address pressing issues in their communities and the world. Preference will be given to solutions that use blockchain to improve financial inclusion. The prize is funded by the GSR Foundation, an independent charity founded by GSR, a leading cryptocurrency trading firm. The Foundation seeks to advance education, promote equality of opportunity, and contribute to a sustainable world, emphasizing blockchain and innovative technology-powered solutions. Up to $200,000 will be awarded across several Solver teams from any of Solve's 2023 Global Challenges.

The AI for Humanity Prize

The AI for Humanity Prize is open to solutions leveraging data science, artificial intelligence, and/or machine learning to benefit humanity. The prize is made possible by The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, a philanthropy committed to advancing AI and data solutions to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all. Up to $150,000 in funding will be awarded across several Solver teams from any of Solve’s 2023 Global Challenges.

Prince Albert II of Monaco Ocean Innovation Prize

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Ocean Innovation Prize is open to solutions supporting innovation for coasts, oceans, and the broader blue economy. The prize is funded by Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, which is committed to protecting and progressing planetary health. Up to $100,000 will be awarded across up to two Solver teams from any of Solve's 2023 Global Challenges.

The HP Prize for Accelerating Digital Equity

The HP Prize for Accelerating Digital Equity is open to solutions that advance digital inclusion in education, healthcare, and economic opportunity in communities across the U.S. and globally, with a focus on teams benefiting marginalized groups. This prize is funded by HP, which is a global technology leader that is innovating with purpose and intention to go beyond short-term impact to drive positive, lasting change. Up to $100,000 will be awarded across up to four Solver teams from any of Solve's 2023 Global Challenges and Solve's existing portfolio of Solver teams.

The Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion

The Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion is open to solutions that advance the economic, financial, and political inclusion of refugees. The prize is funded by Andan Foundation, a Swiss non-profit foundation dedicated to supporting solutions that promote refugee resilience, self-reliance, and integration. Up to $50,000 will be granted across up to two Solver teams from the 2023 Global Challenges and Solve's existing portfolio of Solver teams.

About

Fellowship History

In 2017, the Water Protectors of Standing Rock came to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as finalists for the MIT Media Lab Disobedience Awards, which recognize individuals and groups who engage in ethical, nonviolent acts of disobedience in service of society.

The Water Protectors of Standing Rock were honored for bringing together the largest gathering of Native Tribes in more than a century to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.

In her acceptance speech, Water Protector Phyllis Young challenged MIT, saying “I know MIT is the brass ring of technology, and I’m seeking a partnership. I’m not content to go home with this [award] … The rhetoric is over in America; it’s time for action.”  

This call to action sparked the MIT Indigenous Communities Project led by MIT Solve and the Priscilla King Gray (PKG) public service center, in collaboration with shift7. In 2018, MIT Solve launched a pilot Fellowship with the Oceti Sakowin community focused on sustainability. Six Fellows were selected with projects ranging from renewable solar energy to community gardening courses. Fellows attended Solve’s flagship event, Solve at MIT, in Cambridge in May 2018 to share their work and network with potential partners across the Solve community.

Concurrently, the PKG center partnered with the MIT Terrascope Program, a first-year learning community, creating an indigenous-centered curriculum for student engagement, “Tradition, Technology and Transition: Water Security on the Navajo Nation.”

Utilizing these institute connections, MIT Solve was able to expand its Fellowship opportunity in 2019 to include Oceti Sakowin, Navajo Nation, and Hopi Tribe communities in the United States. In 2020, through a partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership (SIGP), Solve was able to expand the third year of the Fellowship across the entire US. 

First and foremost, Solve and our partners aim to establish a foundation of trust and partnership in the communities with which it works. Accordingly, each Fellowship theme must be informed by the communities it intends to support.

See the 2022 Fellowship

See the 2021 Fellowship

See the 2020 Fellowship

See the 2019 Fellowship

See the Oceti Sakowin Solve Fellowship

Application Clinics

Come join Solve staff to learn about the 2023 Indigenous Communities Fellowship! These sessions are your opportunity to learn more about: MIT Solve, the benefits of the Indigenous Communities Fellowship, commonly asked questions, Solve's selection criteria, and anything else that helps your application process.

Semifinalists