Selected
2024 Indigenous Communities Fellowship

wâsikan kisewâtisiwin - AI with heart

wâsikan kisewâtisiwin is an AI system aimed at monitoring internet activity to combat hate speech towards Indigenous People.

Team Leader
Shani Gwin
wâsikan kisewâtisiwin is an AI system aimed at monitoring internet activity to combat hate speech towards Indigenous People.

Solution Pitch

The Problem

Over half of Indigenous Peoples in Canada (16-30) are targeted by hate speech online. Indigenous People are known for under-reporting hate speech and crimes to police. Now AI uses the data online to inform itself about Indigenous People. If AI is designed without Indigenous People, it will harm us.

The Solution

wâsikan kisewâtisiwin is an AI solution designed by Indigenous domain experts which uses advanced natural language processing algorithms, real-time monitoring, and a culturally sensitive approach to identifying bias and racism targeting Indigenous communities. The tool considers the cultural context and historical background of Indigenous communities to detect hidden meaning and implications in text.

Our solution has two approaches. The first is an AI plug-in addressing overt and covert racism on Indigenous users’ social media - it will hide harmful comments and give the option to delete, provide a customizable or canned response, and catalogue comments for easier reporting.

The second is an AI plug-in for non-Indigenous folks that flags bias in written materials, provides explanations and suggests appropriate solutions. It will prompt users to ask Indigenous People when appropriate - specifically around cultural and traditional information. Sacred information will not be provided and Indigenous People must be in the loop.

Stats

The AI solution will combat online hate speech against the 5.5+ million Indigenous people in the United States and Canada

What is the name of your organization?
pipikwan pêhtâkwan
What is the name of your solution?
wâsikan kisewâtisiwin - AI with heart
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
wâsikan kisewâtisiwin is an AI system aimed at monitoring internet activity to combat hate speech towards Indigenous People.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Edmonton
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Canada
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-Profit
Film your elevator pitch.
—
What specific problem are you solving?
Over half of Indigenous Peoples in Canada (16-30) are targeted by hate speech online. Indigenous People are known for under-reporting hate speech and crimes to police. Now AI uses the data online to inform itself about Indigenous People. If AI is designed without Indigenous People, it will harm us.
What is your solution?
wâsikan kisewâtisiwin is a martriarchal, Indigenous AI solution designed by Indigenous domain experts which uses advanced natural language processing algorithms, real-time monitoring, and a culturally sensitive approach to identifying bias and racism targeting Indigenous communities. The tool considers the cultural context and historical background of Indigenous communities to detect hidden meaning and implications in text. Our solution is an AI plug-in addressing overt and covert racism on Indigenous and non-Indigenous users' social media - it will hide harmful comments and give the option to delete, provide a customizable or canned response, and catalogue comments for easier reporting. It also flags bias in written materials, provides explanations and suggests appropriate solutions. It will prompt users to ask Indigenous People - specifically around cultural and traditional information. Sacred information will not be provided and Indigenous People must be in the loop. It will also have a chat option.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
wâsikan kisewâtisiwin primarily benefits Indigenous communities by supporting non-Indigenous users in their learning. The tool supports non-Indigenous users by addressing knowledge and awareness gaps about Indigenous Peoples in their writing while also protecting Indigenous users online. We prioritize culturally sensitive approaches and collaborative partnerships with Indigenous Peoples to ensure our solution reflects their voices and experiences. By leveraging advanced technology and culturally sensitive algorithms, the AI system identifies and flags instances of misinformation targeting Indigenous People. This proactive approach allows for swift intervention and removal of harmful content, creating safer online environments for Indigenous individuals. This provides an opportunity to take the emotional labour off of Indigenous community members by drafting explanations for users to customize for social media, reports or other written materials. Our initial focus is on North America for a solution that addresses specific challenges faced by Indigenous communities in this region.

Organization Type:

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

Headquarters:

Edmonton, Canada

Stage:

Prototype

Working In:

Canada

Current Full-Time Employees:

1

Website:

https://www.wasikankisewatisiwin.ca/

Solution Team:
Shani Gwin
Shani Gwin