On July 15, 2025, the 21 participants of the second Indigenous Pathfinders in AI cohort presented at Mila the eight AI prototypes they developed throughout their curriculum, addressing priority areas for Indigenous communities, such as education, health and wellbeing, the environment, food sovereignty, language and culture, and data sovereignty.
Delivered in partnership with Indspire, the program equips Inuit, Métis, and First Nations participants from across Canada with the tools and knowledge to learn, innovate, and lead in the AI space, while tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing Indigenous communities today.
Discover the impact-driven projects created by the second cohort:
Buffalo in Motion (Winning Project)
An Indigenous-led AI initiative dedicated to food sovereignty through buffalo restoration. Combining AI, GPS tracking, drones, and soil sampling, the project supports buffalo herd resurgence while promoting cultural revitalization, land stewardship, and biodiversity. This approach strengthens inter-nation diplomacy and moves toward a sustainable, culturally grounded food system. The team behind this winning project will have the opportunity to further develop their prototype during a residency at Mila.
Participants: Rune Hartgerink, Matthew Sanspareil.
g(AI)m: Gaming with AI and Mohawk (Runner-up Project)
A youth-led AI platform that revitalizes the Mohawk language through interactive gameplay. By blending natural language processing with storytelling and game design, g(AI)m creates an engaging, culturally resonant space for language learning and connecting youth to their identity, while building future-ready tech skills.
Participants: Jacob Seguin, Daniel Foreman, Francis Arquette, Justin Almazan.
Aignite Culture
An AI-powered wildfire mitigation platform that integrates cultural knowledge and revitalizes traditional fire stewardship practices. Using environmental datasets and advanced modelling, the tool produces probabilistic wildfire risk maps overlaid with key indicators to identify where cultural burning is most needed. Communities can customize the platform with local GIS data and traditional ecological knowledge, ensuring decision-making remains grounded in Indigenous sovereignty and OCAP® principles.
Participants: Jacqueline Duttenhoffer, Jason Kicknosway, Brandon Wright.
7GenAI: Indigenous Legal Services
A generative AI platform that reduces legal and consultancy costs for Indigenous communities, enabling them to reinvest in priorities such as language revitalization, education, and healthcare.
Participant: Noah Favel.
Knowledge Guardians
A secure database platform that empowers Indigenous communities to locate, organize, and protect publicly sourced data in alignment with their own cultural protocols. By enforcing Indigenous Data Sovereignty Principles, Knowledge Guardians ensures that communities retain full control over how their knowledge is accessed and shared.
Participants: Mick Elliott, Taylor Sparklingeyes.
Our Way
An Indigenous AI-powered community wellness platform that blends traditional ways with new technologies for culturally grounded, self-determined wellness journeys. Guided by community protocols and built with Indigenous data sovereignty at its core, Our Way connects users to Elders, land-based programs, traditional wellness resources, and health services that match their unique needs and goals.
Participants: Ryan Kirk, Trisha Wellman, Allesandro Galasso.
PATH for AI
A community-led initiative that equips First Nations to steer their digital and AI futures through three integrated paths: Connectivity (supporting broadband ownership), Governance (ensuring AI tools meet Indigenous-led standards), and Skills & Workforce (building local AI talent pipelines). The model is designed to be scalable and adaptable to any Indigenous community.
Participant: Olivia Cragg.
Roots & Routes
A land-based learning app designed to support Indigenous cultural revitalization and preservation through technology. The platform combines plant identification, guided walking maps, and pinpoint mapping, with future expansions to include waterways, animals, languages, and global Indigenous knowledge systems. Rooted in ethics and responsibility, Roots & Routes follows sacred protocols, safeguards community-owned data, and fosters intergenerational learning and Nation-to-Nation partnerships. By integrating land-based and classroom education, the app promotes holistic health, wellness, and reconnection to the land.
Participants: Shann Contois, Susan Champagne Shaprio, Colton Bryce Pelletier, Xavier Desroches Borelly.
This second cohort reflects the diversity, creativity, and leadership of Indigenous innovators in AI—each project deeply rooted in community values, cultural resilience, and a shared vision for a sovereign digital future. Congratulations to all participants on their remarkable achievements and the meaningful impact they are creating in their communities and beyond.
