In honour of Indigenous History Month, here are some inspiring Indigenous technology and computing heroes.
Jeff Ward
In the Anishinaabemowin, Animikii (ah-nih-mih-key) means Thunderbird. This spiritual being is one of the most powerful and respected in the Anishinaabe culture that protects the Anishinaabe people. … When the founder of Animikii, Jeff Ward, named his company the name, he was also extending a part of his spiritual existence as Animikii Gwewinzenhs, meaning Thunderbird Boy, to its brand and logo.
Jeff Ward is an Ojibway and Métis founder of Animikii Indigenous Technology. It is an Indigenous-owned technology-based company that works with leading, Indigenous-focused organizations from all industries to drive positive change for Indigenous Peoples.
His initiatives are directed toward empowering his communities and Indigenous peoples, and the foundation of Animikii is built on Anishinaabe values.
He is an experienced web designer with over 20 years of experience. He is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Animikii, founded in 2003 and has been managing its growth ever since.
– Jeff Ward: Owning a Techno-Business Rooted In Indigeneity
Find out more: About Animikii
#DataBack: Asserting and Supporting Indigenous Data Sovereignty
Tabitha Curley and Jessica Hunt
When they couldn’t find stock images of Indigenous people in image libraries, Tabitha Curley and Jessica Hunt from the Six Nations (Haudenosaunee) set out to create their own library of images for the community to use, with the help of photographer Mark Burnham. Tabitha Curley is also the owner of Fluid Consulting, an Indigenous Communications, Public Relations and Strategic Planning company servicing organizations seeking meaningful engagement with Indigenous people.
Jessica Kolopenuk
Jessica Kolopenuk, of the Peguis First Nation, earned her PhD at the University of Victoria. As an assistant professor in the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta, she co-founded and co-led the Indigenous Science, Technology, and Society research and training program, and the Summer Internship Program for Indigenous Peoples in Genomics Canada. The programs ensure that Indigenous peoples participate in scientific research while governing its process and ends. Like those successful programs, Kolopenuk’s work is based on the contention that science is not neutral and objective. Rather, the political power relationship between Indigenous peoples and the Canadian state has always affected the manner in which research has been done and the conclusions reached. Research related to science and technology must be decolonized. Cree concepts of the theory of science, technology and society, for example, must be a fundamental part of ethically based research involving Cree peoples.
– Canadian Encyclopedia
Find out more: Jessica Kolopenuk’s website
Indigenous people in STEM
- IndigiGenius is an Indigenous-led nonprofit working to increase the representation of Indigenous people in computer science and emerging technologies through culturally informed curriculum, programs, and initiatives.
- 4 Indigenous Tech Leaders You Should Know About (2025)
- 7 Indigenous People in STEM You Should Know
- Indigitize Computer Science activates and equips youth, families, & educators in Indigenous communities with the literacy and tools to shape emerging technologies in service of their communities.
- Remarkable Indigenous Scientists and Researchers in Canada – Canadian Encyclopedia
- Celebrating Indigenous Tech
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