Harnessing the innovative power of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, Northern Indigenous youth artists and community researchers from Niriqatiginnga will soon be able to amplify their efforts with cutting-edge AI tools thanks to support from the OpenAI Researcher Access Program.
The news comes just a few days after announcement of the Arctic Buying Company Kivalliq’s selection as a recipient of 2024 Indigenous Intellectual Property Program funding, in partnership with “Niriqatiginnga.” The new project is brining increased attention to the critical role of technologies in safeguarding cultural heritage.
Niriqatiginnga’s acceptance from the OpenAI Researcher Access Program will provide additional momentum to the non-profit organization’s activities. As part of this program, the project team will gain access to OpenAI’s advanced artificial intelligence models, such as the GPT-4. The Youth, Arts and Media team will leverage this support in areas such as northern food insecurity, data sovereignty, and Indigenous cultural expressions.
The timing of these collaborations is particularly exciting, as it coincides with the launch of the Indigenous Intellectual Property Survey by the Youth, Arts, and Media Team. This survey aims to gather insights from businesses in Northern regions, highlighting the importance of inclusive and respectful business environments in upholding Indigenous rights.
#CIW24: Niriqatiginnga Youth, Arts and Media Team
This summer Niriqatiginnga is excited to launch an Introduction to Digital Marketing Internship Program for its growing Youth, Arts and Media Team. This new pilot program is designed to provide arts, cultural and food sector mentorship opportunities, foundational knowledge and hands-on experience. It’s going to be a fun and exciting way to introduce and explore career pathways in arts and food sector marketing, communications, media, and advertising skills development.
Another primary objective of this new mentorship program is to introduce emerging artists and cultural connectors to the fundamentals of digital marketing and to equip them with essential skills for success in the industry. Additionally, the program aims to provide real world internships with insights into various career pathways available in arts marketing, communications, media, and advertising fields.
Activities this summer will see youth arts entrepreneurs learning how to create targeted advertising campaigns using in-market audiences, custom intent audiences, demographic targeting, and remarketing lists. Through hands-on exercises and guided simulations, interns will gain practical experience in setting up targeting strategies and optimizing campaign targeting settings. The project team will also be introduced to the use of automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and related tools and technologies as part of their digital media and technology literacy skills development.
OpenAI Researcher Access Program to support Arctic Youth-led Project
OpenAI’s Researcher Access Program facilitates exploring the societal impacts of AI by tackling questions surrounding its measurement and its varying effects on different domains and demographics. At the same time, it emphasizes interdisciplinary research, exploring how insights from fields such as arts, philosophy, cognitive science, and sociolinguistics can enrich AI development, fostering a more comprehensive understanding of its implications and ensuring responsible technological advancement.
Youth, students and academics from Canada and the United States, with support from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design will be presenting and participating in multiple sessions for the 2024 Arctic Congress in Bodø, Norway later this month.
Combining AI-driven research with community-based participatory arts entrepreneurship, workshops, and educational initiatives, Niriqatiginnga plans to raise awareness about Indigenous Intellectual Property (IIP) rights and Indigenous Cultural Expressions (ICEs).
As well, the technological capabilities offered by OpenAI will greatly enhance Niriqatiginnga’s project’s ability to address pressing societal issues and community-identified challenges such as northern food insecurity, climate change adaptation and northern supply chain efficiencies. As a capacity building and sectoral development program, Niriqatiginnga supports self-determination through arts and cultural entrepreneurship, and broader goals of advancing economic reconciliation and empowerment for northern and Indigenous communities.
Join us as we continue to explore the impact of technology-enabled approaches to advancing northern food security, economic reconciliation and sectoral development. As this year’s project activities progress, the team will have regular project updates, survey results and upcoming initiatives posted on our Niriqatiginnga Food Sector News page.
Follow our project adventures at: https://niriqatiginnga.ca
Thanks and Acknowledgements:
We would like to thank OpenAI and their Researcher Access Program for supporting our Niriqatiginnga project activities. We also acknowledge funding and support from Manitoba Agriculture and the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership – Indigenous Food Systems program, the Arctic Buying Company Kivalliq and the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada Indigenous Intellectual Property Protection Program. The Niriqatiginnga Youth, Arts and Media Team is funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Program.
