Sunaŵi

"to think one's thoughts, to ponder, to think in existence" — Owens Valley Paiute

AI & Indigenous Language Revitalization Workshop

When
June 8–10, 2026
Where
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles
Supported by
National Science Foundation

About the Workshop

Sunawi brings together Indigenous language teachers, linguists, archivists, and AI researchers to explore how artificial intelligence can be developed and applied responsibly in endangered language contexts.

While AI tools have shown real promise for supporting language documentation and revitalization, they also raise important ethical and practical questions about consent, ownership, accuracy, and long-term accountability.

The goal of Sunawi is to create space for cross-disciplinary dialogue that surfaces shared concerns, highlights best practices, and helps define what responsible AI engagement should look like in this area.

Key Themes

  • Ethical AI development for endangered languages
  • Community data sovereignty and consent
  • Best practices for cross-disciplinary collaboration
  • Actionable recommendations for the field

Workshop Format

Three days of dialogue, discovery, and direction.

Talks & Tutorials

Presentations from researchers, practitioners, and community members sharing their experiences, challenges, and innovations at the intersection of AI and language revitalization.

Panels

Moderated discussions bringing together diverse perspectives — from computational linguists to community language teachers — to explore shared challenges and opportunities.

Breakout Sessions

Small-group working sessions where participants collaborate on developing actionable recommendations, guidelines, and other workshop output documents for the field.

Confirmed Participants

Amy Fountain
University of Arizona
Christian Efrain Maldonado Sifuentes
Instituto Politécnico Nacional
Christina Kracher
Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute
Erin Debenport
UCLA Anthropology
Helema Andrews
Salt River Pima-Maricopa
İlkay Altıntaş
San Diego Supercomputer Center
Jacqueline Brixey
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Jessica Krim
JSK Consulting
Kristine Hildebrandt
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Luis Barragan
Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Communities
Melissa Floca
San Diego Supercomputer Center
Rachel Theodore
University of Connecticut
Raina Heaton
Oklahoma University
Rolando Coto Solano
Dartmouth College
Tracy Canard Goodluck
Center for Native American Youth
Wilson de Lima Silva
University of Arizona / National Science Foundation

Organizing Committee

Jared Coleman
Chair
Loyola Marymount University
Tainã Coleman
San Diego Supercomputer Center
Bhaskar Krishnamachari
University of Southern California
Khalil Iskarous
University of Southern California
Glenn Nelson
Owens Valley Career Development Center

Contact

For inquiries about the workshop, participation, or any other questions, please reach out to the organizing committee.

Email: jared.coleman@lmu.edu