Indigenous Communities

Solving for Indigenous communities in the US and Canada

Solve continues to hear from Indigenous leaders about the essential role culture and traditional knowledge systems must play in any business, nonprofit, or social enterprise designed for and with their communities. Whether working with mapping systems, data banks, financial institutions, agriculture, or energy, the time is past due for services and technologies that truly serve the interests of Indigenous peoples. 

imageedit_4_8847834817.jpg TheSTEAMConnection_Image3-(1).jpg Get involved
The-AI-for-Humanity-Prize-Patrick-J.-McGovern-Foundation,-Consultation-Corral--Elise-Blasingame-(1).jpg

“ There were few incubators or opportunities that aligned specifically with a concept-stage idea created specifically to support Tribal Sovereignty. MIT Solve has given me as a founder the structure, guidance, mentorship, and resources needed to move this from idea to prototype, and now to beta!”

– Elise Blasingame | Founder, Consultation Corral | 2024 Solver

Browse past indigenous communities challenges

Closed
20180514-AS-_S220971.JPG-0136.JPG
Indigenous Communities Fellowship

2025 Indigenous Communities Fellowship

How can Indigenous communities in the US and Canada build upon traditional knowledge and technology to meet their social, environmental, and economic goals?
Explore Challenge Explore Solutions
Closed
uploads/66192_solve-tulsa-preview-60 Large.jpeg
Indigenous Communities Fellowship

2024 Indigenous Communities Fellowship

How can Indigenous innovators in the US and Canada build upon traditional knowledge and technology to meet the social, environmental, and economic goals of their communities?
Explore Challenge Explore Solutions
Closed
uploads/57788_400Kb Rectangle (5).jpg
Indigenous Communities Fellowship

2023 Indigenous Communities Fellowship

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?
Explore Challenge Explore Solutions
Closed
uploads/50273_28560916858_4ac2fed296_k.jpg
Indigenous Communities Fellowship

2022 Indigenous Communities Fellowship

How can Native innovators in the US build upon traditional knowledge and technology to meet the social, environmental, and economic goals of their communities?
Explore Challenge Explore Solutions
Closed
uploads/26292_71571307_406030829970942_2217931557014863872_n.jpg
Indigenous Communities Fellowship

2021 Indigenous Communities Fellowship

How can Native innovators in the US use traditional knowledge and technology to meet the social, environmental, and economic goals of their communities?
Explore Challenge Explore Solutions
Closed
uploads/26292_71571307_406030829970942_2217931557014863872_n.jpg
Indigenous Communities Fellowship

2020 Indigenous Communities Fellowship

How can Native innovators in the US use traditional knowledge and technology to drive social, environmental, and economic impact in their communities?
Explore Challenge Explore Solutions
Closed
uploads/23585_Challenges-hero.jpg
Indigenous Communities Fellowship

2019 Indigenous Communities Fellowship

Native-led solutions that use traditional knowledge and technology to create sustainable and prosperous livelihoods for Indigenous communities
Explore Challenge Explore Solutions
See all challenges

Meet the Indigenous communities innovators

Our Indigenous communities fellows represent 34 unique Indigenous nations across the US and Canada.

Discover more
1755567976203.jpeg

Ag-based solutions

Empowering Navajo farmers and ranchers to obtain agricultural permits for sustainable land use and production

three-sisters-photos-10-(1).jpg

East Coast Seedkeeping

Seeds are the solution. Two Indigenous communities develop a multi-layered method to recover plant ancestors and grow them–and our communities–again.

Screenshot-2025-09-22-at-1.09.18 PM.png

Indigenize Toys

Community-led Indigenous language learning through reclaiming technology: toys and workshops that revive culture, one word at a time

Screenshot-2025-09-22-at-1.11.32 PM.png

Kumu Connect

An AI-powered platform that enables educators to generate culturally grounded, place-based computer science lessons in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.

Screenshot-2025-09-22-at-1.17.59 PM.png

Onvkuce: Voice Database

Revitalizing the Mvskoke language through an oral recording database powered by AI speech technology

Screenshot-2025-09-22-at-1.20.42 PM.png

Sisters of the Sea

Indigenous innovation restoring oceans, reviving ecosystems, and regenerating economies through sugar kelp

Solve for Indigenous sovereignty