Cherokee Nation builds AI systems that prioritize culture over efficiency

The Cherokee Nation is pioneering a sovereignty-first approach to artificial intelligence governance that prioritizes cultural values and citizen trust over traditional efficiency metrics. At the Ai4 2025 conference, Chief Information Officer Paula Starr outlined how the Nation’s 480,000 citizens are served by AI systems designed to strengthen rather than compromise Cherokee traditions and legal autonomy.

What you should know: The Cherokee Nation has flipped the typical AI adoption framework, measuring success through cultural preservation and sovereignty reinforcement rather than cost savings.

• “AI must serve the collective good and uphold Cherokee values,” Starr told the audience. “If a tool compromises that, it doesn’t belong in our Nation’s systems.”
• The baseline metric for AI procurement is trust, with citizen data treated with the same protection as physical sovereignty.
• Key evaluation questions include whether citizens are more confident engaging with tribal services, whether AI strengthens traditions and language, and whether technology reinforces tribal governance authority.

AI in action: The Nation has deployed several culturally-grounded AI initiatives that extend tradition into the digital domain.

• The Gadugi Portal, named after the Cherokee value of working together, uses Salesforce with AI augmentation to provide authenticated access to tribal services while serving more citizens without expanding staffing.
• A Legal Agent developed in Microsoft Copilot Studio consolidates treaty law, tribal codes, executive orders, and court rulings into a single AI-driven research system that accelerates legal decision-making.
• The Cherokee.gov AI Agent launches this year as part of a website refresh, helping citizens navigate services with expected results of higher completion rates and 24/7 accessibility for rural citizens.
• AI-driven scanning is being used to replicate turtle shells traditionally used in ceremonies, creating 3D printed alternatives without harming wildlife.

Governance framework: Unlike many enterprises that implemented AI before establishing governance, the Cherokee Nation prioritized policy development first.

• In October 2024, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. issued an Executive Order on Data Sovereignty and Self-Governance, creating the AI, Data Sovereignty, and Cybersecurity Task Force chaired by Starr.
• The task force’s comprehensive roadmap recommends adopting the NIST AI Risk Management Framework and creating dedicated AI and Data Governance Committees.
• An AI Questionnaire evaluates generative AI tools covering oversight, data privacy, bias mitigation, and risk scenarios.
• Additional recommendations include standardizing Cherokee Citizen ID across all data systems and expanding data literacy programs.

Cultural values as guardrails: Cherokee Community Values are embedded directly into AI implementation and usage decisions.

• “Detsadasinasdi itsehesdi” (live skillfully and resourcefully) aims to engage with new technologies to augment talents and skills.
• “Detsadageyusesdi” (protect each other as a mother with child) focuses on protecting citizen data as they would protect their existence.
• “Detsadanvwidisgesdi” (encourage and instruct one another in a gentle and thoughtful way) emphasizes meeting future challenges while staying forever resilient.

Community reception: Cherokee citizens show conditional openness to AI adoption when aligned with their values.

• While 74% of Cherokee citizens said they had limited AI understanding, 70% were open to AI adoption if it aligned with cultural and ethical standards.
• This conditional acceptance demonstrates that governance frameworks grounded in culture may be more effective than those based solely on regulation.

Global context: The Cherokee approach contributes to a growing international movement of Indigenous digital sovereignty.

• In Canada, the Indigenous Digital Sovereignty Initiative seeks to give First Nations control over data infrastructure and governance.
• In New Zealand, the Māori Data Sovereignty Network asserts that data about Māori people should be subject to Māori governance.
• As Starr explained: “AI is a tool. But it’s our people, our values, and our policy that give it direction.”

Why this matters: The Cherokee Nation’s sovereignty-driven AI governance model offers a sustainable alternative to corporate approaches that prioritize shareholder returns over long-term community well-being, potentially providing a reference point for governments worldwide struggling with digital ethics questions.