Abundant Intelligences

08/14/2026

Following the Indigenous AI Gathering, Robert Marinov (Research Assistant, HQ) elaborated his concerns about the Federal “AI for All” strategy in an essay, “Reflections from the Indigenous AI Gathering 2026: a Lesson for Policy-makers on ‘AI for All’”:

“Touting work towards Canadian digital sovereignty, northern and Arctic development, dual-use technologies (i.e., technology with both military and civilian uses), and the benefits of innovation, the Ministers emphasized – with little critical regard for the growing backlash across the country and especially by Indigenous nations – how Canada “will have to build” the data centres and infrastructures necessary to benefit from the current AI moment.

If I may permit myself to be frank: at an event such as this, these talking points stood out as decidedly hollow and tone-deaf. Perhaps there is a need to build, but how and who gets to build for AI futures is what’s really at stake.”

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲: https://abundant-intelligences.net/blogs/reflections-from-the-indigenous-ai-gathering-2026-a-lesson-for-policy-makers-on-ai-for-all/

08/11/2026

“AI for all sounds wonderful, but what if we don’t all want it?” - Tegan Maharaj (AIAI Lab Advisory Board Member, Core Academic Member with Mila, and Assistant Professor in Machine Learning, HEC Montréal, Department of Decision Science) in response to the Canadian Federal Government’s “AI for all” strategy

08/10/2026

08/10/2026

Last week, Mila co-hosted the second edition of the Indigenous AI Gathering with Abundant Intelligences. Over two inspiring days, more than 45 speakers, 230 in-person participants and 600+ online attendees came together to explore AI through the lens of Indigenous knowledge systems, values and lived experiences.

Missed the gathering? Read our recap article to discover the key takeaways, highlights from the event and the winning projects from the 2026 Indigenous Pathfinders in AI program. You can also watch the recordings from both days to hear directly from the speakers and revisit the discussions that made this year's gathering so impactful. https://mila.quebec/en/news/building-on-year-one-indigenous-ai-gathering-returns-more-impactful-than-ever

08/06/2026

Congratulations to Haudenosaunee Pod Projects Coordinator, Cassie Packham, and Assistant Pod Coordinator, Emelie Robertson, for successfully defending their MFA Masters theses! Cassie will be starting a PhD in Studio Art at Western University this fall.

Cassie’s thesis exhibition, 𝘓𝘶𝘸𝘢 𝘞𝘪𝘩𝘦 | 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, dwells in the space between two worlds that were never built to meet—the physical and the virtual, the human and what is not—and in the slow exchange of gifts that passes between Cassie Packham and space/opal. What is given is never what comes back. The passage changes it. To learn more, visit https://akimbo.ca/listings/luwa-wihe-she-gives-it-to-them/

Emelie’s thesis exhibition, 𝘚𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴, explores how memory is tied to material expression. Interested in the perception of place through memory, Robertson’s paintings simulate the emotional and optic experience of feeling connected and disconnected in nature. To learn more, visit https://www.gibsongallery.com/news/congratulations-emelie-robertson/

08/04/2026

⚡ We’re hiring! - Network Project Manager! ⚡

Abundant Intelligences is seeking a Network Project Manager to support the day-to-day project management and coordination of three cross-network research initiatives that bring together researchers, community partners, and Indigenous Knowledge holders across the project. The Network Project Manager will help connect research activities taking place within individual Pods with broader network-wide projects, supporting communication, knowledge sharing, and ongoing feedback between teams.

𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: Sunday, August 16, 2026

For full details and to apply, visit https://www.ifrc.ca/opportunities

08/03/2026

We're proud to share that Abundant Intelligences was represented by two contributions at this year's HCI International 2026 conference:

📌 Poster Presentation
Charting Pathways to Success in Fourth Wave HCI: Place-based Methods for Technology Design from Abundant Intelligences
Presented by: Robert Marinov, Orus Mateo Castaño-Suárez, Ceyda Yolgormez, Jason Lewis, and Sara Diamond.

📌 Panel Presentation
Collaborative Design Methodologies for Weaving Culturally Grounded Visual Identities for Technology Development
Presented by: Kimiora Whaanga, Tarcisio Caldeira, and Julia Fortin, with co-authors Renee Waiwiri, Johnson Witehira, and Jason Lewis.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to and supported this work.

Congratulations to all the authors and presenters! 🎉

07/20/2026

07/13/2026

First Nations University of Canada is honoured that President Dr. Jacqueline Ottmann will be part of the programming at the Indigenous AI Gathering 2026, hosted by Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute and Abundant Intelligences.

From engaging panel discussions to collaborative workshops, this gathering brings together diverse perspectives to help shape the future of technology. We're proud to see Dr. Ottmann representing FNUniv and contributing to these important conversations.

Follow Mila - Institut québécois d'intelligence artificielle and Abundant Intelligences for event updates, and be sure to tune into the livestream to support Dr. Ottmann's session! The livestream link will be shared ahead of the gathering.