19th session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Item 8 - Concept note Panel discussion on Indigenous Peoples and Artificial Intelligence.
Statement Norway
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14 July 2026
Chair,
It is a privilege to address EMRIP on artificial intelligence and Indigenous Peoples rights —an area where technological development and human rights are increasingly interconnected.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how information is produced, shared, and used. It shapes access to knowledge, public services, and decision-making processes. While this creates opportunities, it also raises significant human rights concerns.
If AI systems are developed without the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples’ languages, knowledge, data and perspectives, they risk reinforcing exclusion. AI is not neutral if it does not reflect the diversity of the societies it serves.
This makes inclusion a matter of fundamental rights. Indigenous peoples must be meaningfully involved in the development, deployment and governance of AI systems. This is essential to ensure participation, accountability, and respect for self-determination.
Indigenous-led initiatives show how AI can strengthen languages and support digital participation on Indigenous Peoples’ own terms.
In Norway, cooperation with the Sámi Parliament and Sámi institutions, such as Divvun at The Arctic University of Norway (UiT) and Sámi AI Lab at the Sámi University of Applied Sciences, highlights that digital participation is a core democratic issue.
Rights-based AI governance must respect Indigenous data sovereignty, and EMRIP provides an important forum for addressing this issue collectively. The challenges and opportunities posed by AI are inherently transnational and require strengthened international cooperation to safeguard the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Thank you.