By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
CNMI cultural practitioner Melvin L.O. Faisao is urging the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Administration for Native Americans to provide clear safeguards around data to protect Indigenous cultures from artificial intelligence.
As a former ANA grant reviewer, Faisao told ANA Division of Program Operations Director Carmelia Strickland in a letter on Tuesday that he appreciates the effort to strengthen economic development opportunities for native communities through initiatives such as the proposed EAGLE program and expanded technical assistance.
He said there is clear value in supporting workforce development, infrastructure, and long-term sustainability — areas our communities continue to face in real and immediate ways.
At the same time, Faisao offered several considerations based on the realities of Indigenous communities in the Pacific, including those in the CNMI.
He said that while the shift toward economic outcomes is understandable, it is important that cultural preservation and transmission are not treated as secondary or supporting components. He noted that in many communities, culture is not separate from development — it is the foundation of it.
He said programs that support intergenerational knowledge, traditional practices, and language are not only cultural in nature, “but directly tied to identity, stability, and community resilience.”
Faisao encouraged ANA to ensure that culturally centered projects remain competitive and are not disadvantaged by a narrow emphasis on economic metrics.
He stressed that the introduction of AI initiatives presents both opportunity and risk. While there is potential for innovation, “there must be clear safeguards around Indigenous data sovereignty. Communities should retain ownership, control, access, and authority over their data, cultural knowledge, and any systems developed using that information. Without these protections, there is a real concern that sensitive cultural knowledge could be misused, misinterpreted, or removed from its proper context.”
Faisao said flexibility in program design will be important for smaller and remote communities such as those in the CNMI. Capacity constraints, geographic isolation, and limited infrastructure require approaches that are adaptable and not overly rigid. He said one-size-fits-all requirements, particularly around sustainability models or technical benchmarks, may unintentionally exclude communities that would otherwise benefit.
He also said that the expansion of eligibility to include for-profit entities should be approached with care. He recognized that partnerships can be valuable, but “it is important that community-based organizations and traditional groups are not placed at a disadvantage when competing for limited resources. Safeguards or priority considerations may be needed to ensure funding reaches the communities we serve.”
Faisao encouraged ANA to continue meaningful engagement with Pacific Island communities as these policies are finalized. “The CNMI, Guam, and American Samoa have distinct cultural, legal, and geographic contexts that should be reflected in program implementation,” he said.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
