AI and Indigenous interests will never be a non-issue – Indigenous communities face ongoing threats to self-determination as data is extracted globally without consent, and participation in the AI landscape isn’t optional. This webinar examines both the serious risks and strategic opportunities within this reality. Drawing on experience in tribal planning and ongoing independent monitoring of AI developments, we’ll explore practical approaches Indigenous communities and institutions can take now: implementing safer data storage practices, developing offline models that maintain data sovereignty, and deploying specialized smaller language models built on clean, community-controlled datasets. Participants will learn methods for monitoring AI developments and receive actionable recommendations for making strategic choices that center Indigenous rights while navigating an AI landscape that won’t wait for permission.