Mission

To increase the number of Indigenous Computer Science students and instructors in the fields of Data Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and beyond by providing access to learning opportunities, tools, resources, mentorship, and support.

Vision

We envision an ecosystem of Indigenous AI and CS excellence through advanced AI research to act as a NorthStar for Indigenous AI research and code camps that inspire youth to pursue computer science, data science, and related careers.

Values

Community
Culture
Sovereignty

Reciprocity
Trust
Respect

Our History

IndigiGenius originated from a collaboration between the NeurIPS affinity group, Indigenous in AI, and the nonprofit organization, Natives in Tech, after they produced a summer program in 2022 called the Lakota AI Code Camp. This summer program was the catalyst that justified the need for a standalone organization to house the Lakota AI Code Camp in order to scale, but not just the camps were catalyzed. The increased demand for AI Code Camps exacerbated the need to increase the number of Indigenous instructors needed to scale camps to more Indigenous communities.

On October 21, 2022, IndigiGenius began as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in the state of Washington. The Lakota AI Code Camp’s original team of six now serve as the board of directors and Executive Director. LAICC was held for a second year in June 2023 and is considered the pilot program that brought this nonprofit organization recognition and success before inception. More programs, projects, participants, and partnerships will come from these program implementations.