August 9 every year commemorates the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. This date, adopted in December 1994 by UN General Assembly, marks the date of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights held in Geneva in 1982. This year heralds 31 years since the UN first declared an International Day in celebration and awareness of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, better known today as World Indigenous Peoples Day. Bit of a history buff?  Read more about the conception of IDoWIP here.

As with all well directed and planned UN World Day themes, the 2025 theme does not disappoint: “Indigenous Peoples and AI: Defending Rights, Shaping Futures”.

Let’s face it, AI has been getting a hammering in concept, expectation and deed lately, and some of those fears and expectations are pono – spot on, while other grand AI illusions and delusions could be viewed at best as sensationalism or at worst, dare we write it ‘fake news’.

There are always at least two sides to every argument, and this year’s World Indigenous Peoples Day theme certainly delivers a ‘for and against’ on the use of AI and Indigenous Peoples. But what of Catholic Social Teaching, you may ask. We’ll get to that too….

“I am…’

That I am, the door, the bread of life, the Resurrection, the way, the truth, the light of the world, the true vine…

I am.

By way of introduction, I recently began a Catholic Social Teachings (CST) workshop with these two little words taken from the Book of Exodus which I left to float on an otherwise blank screen, providing no further context or explanation. I then proceeded to fill in the blanks about myself: a bit of personal history, guiding philosophy, and years studying theology that bled into the who, what and why of the Justice & Peace Commission, Catholic Social Teaching and our everyday plight and battle for social justice. Yet, up until the moment before I opened my mouth to speak the first words of introduction, those two words held infinite possibility:

I am.

Human dignity, human rights, self-awareness, culture, identity all in a two-word package: I am (not God, in case you were wondering).

If you’re an avid reader or follower of news, no doubt you are aware of the uncomfortable juxtaposition between the use of AI in media and the appropriation of Māori identity, heritage and culture. Not familiar with this correlation? Let’s take a quick headline refresher:

1. 1. ‘This b***s*** has to stop’: Christian group uses AI to replace Māori head. Popular Māori photographer Te Rawhitiroa Bosch says he intends to take legal action.
   2. Act reconsiders ‘happy Māori’ AI image. After using AI-generated imagery, the Act Party says it has refined the filters it uses to select stock photos.
   3. Foodstuffs facial recognition trial: AI mistaking Māori woman as thief not surprising, experts say. [n.96]
   4. The mystery of the Goldie AI reproductions hanging in a Christchurch restaurant: Staff at Kokomo said the artworks came from a specific website. The site’s owners deny it. So where did the portraits come from – and what are the cultural consequences of displaying them?

What do you think?

Depending on your level of cultural awareness those headlines and articles read either like a comedy of errors, a tragedy or travesty. Either way, it certainly highlights the misuse, abuse and ignorance associated with the use of AI and Tangata Whenua.

But what of the Church on AI?

Yes. AI, the Popes, CST and ethics run deep. Let’s do another headline skim starting with the late Pope Francis and ending with our current Pope Leo XIV:

1. 1. Pope calls on G7 leaders to ban use of autonomous weapons: Pontiff says machines should never be able to decide whether human beings live or die.
   2. The unexpected visionary: Pope Francis on AI, humanity, and the future of work.
   3. New Vatican document examines potential and risks of AI.
   4. Pope Leo identifies AI as main challenge in first meeting with cardinals.
   5. Pope Leo’s Name Carries a Warning About the Rise of AI.
   6. Pope Leo XIV lays out vision of papacy and identifies AI as a main challenge for humanity.
   7. Why the Pope cares so much about AI
   8. Pope Leo: AI must help and not hinder children and young people’s development.
   9. Pope Leo calls for an ethical AI framework in a message to tech execs gathering at the Vatican.
   10. Human dignity must be protected from rise of AI, Pope says

Undoubtedly, providing new scope with AI challenges but not wholly unfamiliar ground in the ongoing pursuit of restoring, honouring or endorsing human dignity and the sanctity of human life through the application of CST.

And Tangata Whenua, where do they fit into this wonderful cacophony that is the artificial intelligence revolution?

Data sovereignty and Māori have been old friends and foes for at least the last few decades, stretching right back to turn of the current millennium. A brief timeline sees:

Early 2000s: Māori health researchers assemble and analyse data on health inequities to monitor the impact of state actions, policies, and programmes for Māori.

2015: The inaugural meeting on Māori Data Sovereignty [n.70, 77] was held at Hopuhopu, leading to the formation of Te Mana Raraunga.

2016: The seminal publication “Indigenous Data Sovereignty: Toward an agenda” marked a significant milestone, and Te Mana Raraunga finalised its charter.

Beyond 2016: Universities, government agencies, and corporate entities commit to align data policies with Māori data sovereignty principles.

2019: An international alliance is formed, bringing together groups like Maiam nayri Wingara Collective and Te Mana Raraunga.

Today: the fight for Māori data sovereignty continues, with ongoing efforts to develop policies, legislation, and frameworks that honour Treaty obligations and empower Māori self-determination in the realm of data.

Some may claim that data sovereignty is not the same as using or abusing AI. Whereas it is equally important to note that AI is not self-aware and therefore cannot think for itself but rather acts as a hunter-gatherer and reproducer of data and information that is readily available: for good or evil, correctly or incorrectly, garbled or coherently. AI must first have a data well from which to draw knowledge and that is where data sovereignty, self-determination and human dignity must be respected especially regarding indigenous identity, rights and culture.

‘To Thine Own Self Be True – Māori’[1]

It isn’t all bad press though, as this year’s World Indigenous People’s Day theme highlights. Used correctly and in the right context AI can help to shape our future. We need only ‘look up’ to the top of our country to see the good AI can bring to indigenous enterprise, awareness and education [n.87]:

One of such areas where AI may offer significant positive potential is in the revitalization of Indigenous languages, many of which are at risk of disappearing. AI can help to document Indigenous languages, create content that can help revive their use, and make information more accessible. Similarly, AI can also help document and preserve Indigenous Peoples cultural heritage and practices, as long it is done with the consent of the Indigenous Peoples concerned. This can help preserve and safeguard Indigenous Peoples’ cultural practices and knowledge for future generations.

In New Zealand, Te Hiku Media is using AI, including a natural language processing tool, to help revitalize and promote the Māori language. These are just some of several Indigenous-led innovations utilizing AI.

We made it into a UN document!

Our tiny Māori Tangata Whenua population (0.012% of the world’s population, and 17.3% of our nation’s population) are making international waves [n.101] thanks to the efforts of Te Hiku Media.

Te Hiku Media website blurb reads: is a charitable media organisation based in Kaitaia [of all places] and collectively belongs to the Far North iwi of Ngāti Kuri, Te Aupouri, Ngai Takoto, Te Rārawa and Ngāti Kahu. The station is an iwi communications hub for iwi radio, online TV and media services. Māori language revitalisation is a core focus of Te Hiku Media, as is archiving and training.

I am unbelievably proud of Te Hiku Media achievements, especially as my Grandparents whakapapa to 3 of the 5 mentioned Far North hapū. I am overjoyed even by distant association.

So, what have I learnt this World Indigenous People’s Day?

We can take the good with the bad.

I am… not AI, but I am of Māori descent who views and uses AI as a means to an end.

I do not believe AI is heralding the beginning of the end of humanity, human intellect or cultural values. I do believe AI can be utilised to enhance our humanity rather than reduce or erase our humanness – when used well.

I am not always right or correct or even intelligent, but I will always be human.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

And that for World Indigenous Peoples Day 2025, is more than enough.

🕊

Rangimarie – Kathleen

NB: As the 9th of August falls on a Saturday this year, the International Day of Indigenous People will be observed on Friday, 8 August 2025.

AI Generated Image. Generation commands used: ‘Modern Catholic Maori Design’. Love it? Hate it? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

[1] Apologies Shakespeare, I couldn’t help myself.