This year's International Day for Indigenous Peoples of the World focuses on the impact of artificial intelligence on Indigenous rights, identity, and cultural and linguistic identities. AI is essentially a set of regulated algorithms, dominated by global power structures and colonial heritage. As a result, existing AI models tend to ambiguously or misrepresent the knowledge and voice of Indigenous communities. As a result, such discriminatory AI models contribute to the alienation and confiscation of Indigenous societies.
Dr. Maneesha Perera et al. (2025) reviewed research on Indigenous Knowledge and AI published between 2012 and 2023. At the same time, promising and ambitious research on AI has also been published. However, the way in which these two studies intersect is not discussed anywhere.
Follow Daily Star's Google News channel for all the latest news. AI can play an important role in the development of indigenous knowledge. However, potential risks to Indigenous knowledge systems must also be considered. AI technology contributes to the elimination of Indigenous cultural knowledge, violates biologicalization and violates the fundamental principles of Indigenous data sovereignty. The expansion of AI technology could exacerbate existing knowledge base inequality and structural discrimination.
In his speech at the AI Action Summit 2025, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “AI has shifted from science fiction to a powerful force that is changing our world. But he warned that there is a significant risk because of this incredible possibility. “It (artificial intelligence) must accelerate sustainable development, not certain inequality,” he warned.
Colonial plunder and biologicalization
Indigenous communities are essential to almost every geographic identifier and element of Bangladesh's national pride. However, their contributions remain a largely invisible other dependency in the national narrative and consciousness.
For example, Muslin and Jamdani, a signature fabric from Bangladeshi, were previously woven using Phuti Karpascotton variety cultivated by indigenous communities in Bawar and Madhupur region. Kushtia sesame molasses comes from indigenous jhum cultivation in the Hills of Chittagong (CHT). Even the inflated rice used to weave tangail sarees came from indigenous villages along the Sherpur-Jamalpur border. Indigenous communities suffer from colonial plunder and biologicalization, often in the name of control, governance, research, development, or management.
Indigenous people are undoubtedly the most studied population in the world. Today, in the name of scientific research, “bioprocesses” and genetic research, traditional knowledge systems linked to those biological resources and these resources are being allocated and stolen. Indigenous communities and their biological resources are the main targets of biocolonialism. These resources were acquired without consent and have become patented commercial products.
Sporadic discussions revealed how indigenous data and knowledge can be integrated, expressed and utilized within the broader AI ecosystem. The Indigenous movement of information sovereignty has been going on for years, highlighting the right to own, control and control of your own data. However, strong states and businesses are guiding the direction of AI to incorporate Indigenous knowledge without actively including Indigenous communities in decision-making and governance. This obvious absence brings a serious crisis and undermines the free flow of indigenous information and commitment to prior informed consent. In particular, the use of Indigenous knowledge, data, images, or identities in AI frameworks creates a disconnect between Indigenous people and technology in development, except for consent or conditional participation.
Therefore, it is essential to ensure that indigenous people are included with positive and respectfulness at all levels of AI development. If there is a content conflict, you can first flag such complexity to resolve.
Decisions and governance and wild food sources regarding how AI models incorporate genetic and cultural information for Indigenous Jhum crops must be consistent with traditional Indigenous systems. Otherwise there is a risk of unilateral commercial exploitation of these traditional knowledge systems.
Alienation, discrimination, and universal human rights
During the first wave of the Covid pandemic, racism against the country, particularly indigenous communities, which have surged on social media, was spreading in speculation about the virus that stems from the “wildlife market” of Chinese war campers. Digital technology has not been able to prevent racism targeting them. Current AI frameworks do not set compelling examples of eliminating discrimination or protecting Indigenous rights. In March 2024, the UN General Assembly raised the caution that AI must respect, protect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms. Respecting Indigenous rights serves as a powerful opportunity for AI technology to curb widespread inequality and risk. Without comprehensive safety measures, AI technology is more likely to deepen digital inequality than creating positive opportunities for Indigenous people. The 24th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Affairs in 2021, a resolution was adopted to ensure meaningful inclusion of Indigenous peoples in all aspects of AI development, applications and governance.
In Bangladesh, the discussion of AI technology must adequately value the knowledge, values and rights of Indigenous peoples. Countries must adopt AI governance policies consistent with the UN Declaration on Indigenous rights, global AI principles, and values set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Such a framework must ensure that Indigenous people are not limited to digital boundaries. Or they must be subjected to new oppression through neocolonies or binary systems imposed on them.
Neoliberal AI commerce and amazing environmental issues
Environmental issues have emerged as a central concern in the field of AI. Large data centers needed to research, develop and expand AI models require enormous amounts of energy. Evidence suggests that fossil fuels, raw materials for energy production – are often extracted from indigenous territories, putting the entire ecosystem at risk. Multinational mining operations associated with AI technology have left Chile extinct and the territory of the devastated indigenous Atameno. Lithium and Copper – The key minerals used in digital hardware and power systems are extracted from these indigenous territories. The report shows that data centers release huge amounts of mercury, lead and other toxic materials, pose serious public health risks.
Bangladesh's indigenous communities live under severe environmental stress. The people of the hill grew up with the wounds caused by the Kaptai Hydropower Development Project. From Purbari to Rama to Rama to Baghda Farm, indigenous houses and their lives, nature, environment and ecology are undermined by so-called development projects. Natural forests are settled in Indigenous regions to plant active monoculture plantations. These regions are constantly targeted for commercial extraction, putting infestational villages from Sherpur to Murbibazaar at risk.
To protect the environment and ecosystem, UNESCO recommendations on AI (2021) ethics encourage member states and business communities to consider the direct and indirect environmental impacts of AI technologies at all levels. Large-scale carbon emissions and energy consumption related to AI development, data infrastructure, and governance must be assessed to understand the environmental impact. We hope that Bangladesh will place issues of life, nature and environment at the heart of its AI governance strategy.
Global and National Policy: The Message of Indigenous Peoples
The theme of the International Day of Indigenous Peoples of the World 2025 is “Indigenous Peoples and AI: Defense Rights, Formation of the Future.” UNESCO believes that AI technology can be used in multiple ways to support Indigenous peoples and will serve as a tool for positive change. They are especially useful in revitalizing the native language of endangered and invading indigenous peoples.
How do indigenous communities in Bangladesh engage with AI? Will the narratives of colonialism, entrenched binary, nationalism, and authoritarianism remain silent in this context? Certainly not. Decisions regarding the adoption or rejection of AI must emerge through the collective consent, management and decision-making of Indigenous communities. AI technology can play an important role in protecting Indigenous rights and reducing binary division and inequality, particularly through the preservation and expansion of Indigenous languages. However, AI technology must evolve through ongoing critique and diverse dialogue to truly gain the resilience and legitimacy it needs.
In 2010, the Ethnic Minority Cultural Organization Act is a legal commitment to preserving the language, culture and heritage of Bangladesh's indigenous peoples. Meanwhile, in 2018, one of the 12 objectives of national innovation and intellectual property policy is to “give, be aware and skilled by the citizens of the country more information about intellectual property.” Bangladesh must decide to officially recognize the self-identity of Indigenous peoples. At the same time, multifaceted engagement with Indigenous communities must take place in the realm of local knowledge, natural resource rights, intellectual property, as well as digital technology and AI. Before a decision is made, Indigenous communities should introduce basic concepts such as global power structure, AI politics, algorithmic bias, open and joint use of AI technology, and digital colonialism. Decisions made without prior learning risks promote both alienation and intense forfeiture.
This article has been translated from Bangla.
Pavel ParthaEcology and Biodiversity Conservation Researcher is Director (Barcik) for Resource Centre in Bangladesh. He can reach with [email protected].
The views expressed in this article are those of the authors themselves.
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