OIATC Ontario Indigenous AI & Technology Council
Design system
Council

A council of two,
improving the systems
that serve First Nations.

Ontario Indigenous AI & Technology Council authors governance for Indigenous-led digital decisions and stewards the platforms that put it into use.

  • Governance before product
  • Ontario mandate
  • Platforms tied to protocol
01 · Premise

The systems meant to serve First Nations are rarely chosen by them.

First Nations are routinely handed digital systems — case-management tools, data platforms, AI — chosen by vendors or administrators without the communities those systems are meant to serve. The result is software that doesn't fit, data that flows to the wrong places, and services that suffer for it.

OIATC exists to change that. We are authoring a governance framework for Indigenous-led digital decisions and stewarding the platforms and practices that put it into use.

02 · What we're building

One governance framework. Two platforms.

Three pieces, built in order. Governance first — the platforms exist to put it into use.

Governance

Governance framework

A framework for how First Nations can evaluate, govern, and steward the digital systems that run community services. Protocol before product. Consent before architecture.

Platform

Waaseyaa

waaseyaa.org. A modular system where governance and access control are structural, not bolted on.

Community

Minoo

minoo.live. The first platform built on Waaseyaa — for Indigenous languages, teachings, and community continuity.

03 · Where we are

Early. We are not pretending otherwise.

OIATC is early. The council has two members today. The framework is in active drafting. The platforms are in active build.

We are looking for:

  • A Knowledge Keeper or Elder willing to sit on the council
  • A Nation interested in being a first partner
  • A legal or policy advisor with experience in Indigenous data governance
04 · Council members

Two seats, held with care.

The council today is deliberately small. Growth is gated on fit — not urgency.

Council member

Russell Jones

Ojibwe from Sagamok Anishnawbek · Founder · Full-stack developer

In 2023 Russell was contracted to implement a case-management system at a First Nations Child and Family Advocacy Unit, saw within weeks that it would not fit the community, and made the case for a Canadian-built alternative already in use at neighbouring Nations. The recommendation was shelved and the contract ended. OIATC is how that lesson becomes a practice.

Council member

Web Networks

Est. 1987 · One of Canada's first ISPs · Non-profit worker co-op · Canadian soil

A non-profit worker co-op whose clients have included the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut and Nunavut Public Library Services. Web Networks provides OIATC's hosting foundation and sits on the council as its second member.

05 · Contact

jonesrussell42@gmail.com

One seat is held by the founder. Writing to Russell is writing to OIATC.

Email Russell → Read the framework