Strength in numbers
When we started chuchua.tech here in Chu Chua, we knew we couldn’t build the future of Indigenous technology in a vacuum. True digital sovereignty isn't just about one company or one community locking down its data. It is about building a massive, interconnected network of Indigenous innovators who can shield and support each other.
That is why we are incredibly proud to share that we are official members of the ID1N (Indigenous Digital Innovation Network).
Joining this network is a major milestone for us. It moves us out of our local silo and hooks us directly into a broader ecosystem of Indigenous technologists, creators, and leaders who share our exact values. It means we are no longer just building tools for the territory: we are helping build a digital shield for Nations across the country.
What is the ID1N and why does it matter?
The tech sector has historically been an extractive space for Indigenous people. External corporations often come into our communities, gather our data, extract our knowledge, and leave us with systems we do not own.
The ID1N is the direct answer to that legacy. It is a collective dedicated to reclaiming the digital landscape.
For us, membership means three critical things:
1. Collective Data Sovereignty When we fight for data sovereignty on our own, it can feel like a massive uphill battle against tech giants. But through the network, we are combining our knowledge and resources. We are setting standard protocols for how Indigenous data should be treated, stored, and protected globally.
2. Sharing the blueprint for Local AI As we continue to develop small language models (SLMs) and run local AI on our own hardware in Simpcw territory, the network allows us to open-source our successes. We can share our technical architecture with other Nations so they do not have to rebuild the wheel from scratch. If a tool works to protect our language here, we want a sister Nation to be able to use that same blueprint.
3. Amplifying our pipeline of people Our biggest passion will always be mentorship. Being part of a national network means the young people sitting next to us at our desks in Chu Chua are now connected to a vast web of Indigenous tech professionals. It proves to our youth that they aren't just learning to code in an isolated room: they are joining a massive movement of Indigenous tech leaders.
"Sovereignty isn't a declaration you make once. It is an ongoing practice supported by the alliances you choose to build."
Bringing the global network back to the kitchen table
When I was living in the UK, I saw how massive tech networks operate. They are usually built for hyper-efficiency, corporate scaling, and maximizing profit margins.
The ID1N operates on an entirely different frequency. It is built on relationship, trust, and reciprocity. It is technology anchored by traditional values.
As members, we bring our unique perspectives back to the network: our focus on Cultural Experience (CX), our commitment to building sustainable exit strategies for community software, and our deep roots in Simpcw territory. We are taking the massive, high-level innovations happening at the network level and making sure they pass the "kitchen table test" for our Elders and families back home.
We are stronger when we weave our efforts together. Together with our relatives in the network, we are building a digital future that belongs entirely to us.
Are you part of an Indigenous organization looking to connect with a broader digital ecosystem? We would love to talk about how our membership in the network can bring more resources, security, and sovereignty to your next project.
Reach out to us here or email us directly at hello@chuchua.tech.