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AIPI Blog

Building a community

Welcome to the ASU American Indian Policy Institute's Official Blog.  The purpose of this blog is to provide an immediate way to get vital information out to Tribal Nations, to provide a more interactive space for information to get out to those working with Native Nations and to provide a more personal space for stories related. This is an educational space. Therefore, all writing is done by AIPI staff, will be vetted by leadership, and will have links or documentation to support concepts, ideas, and topics. If you have any concerns or suggestions about the blog please contact us directly.
Explainer

How are Tribal Nations preparing for rapid changes in federal policy?

  /  Kennedy Satterfield

On paper, a recent wave of federal legislation aimed at Tribal Nations suggests unprecedented attention to Indigenous issues. On the ground, Tribal…

Legislation

Report

Avoiding the Next Digital Divide: Defining Digital Sovereignty for Tribal Nations in the AI Age

  /  Morgan Gray, Kennedy Satterfield, Traci Morris, and Nicol Turner Lee

Abstract Artificial intelligence (AI) presents a unique opportunity to transform core governmental functions in the face of constrained…

Artificial Intelligence  Tribal Digital Sovereignty  Digital Divide

Explainer

Proactive Solutions in Implementing Tribal Digital Sovereignty

  /  Stacy Leeds, Samantha Phillips, Mikaela Bledsoe Downes

AbstractThis article argues that Tribal Nations must move rapidly from ad hoc digital practices to comprehensive legal and governance frameworks that…

Digital Divide  Tribal Digital Sovereignty  Broadband

Explainer

Defining and Putting into Practice Tribal Digital Sovereignty

  /  Dr. Traci Morris

AbstractThis article advances the concept of Tribal Digital Sovereignty (TDS) as a critical framework for understanding and governing the digital…

Digital Divide  Tribal Digital Sovereignty  Broadband

Explainer

An Examination of Federal Tribal Broadband Funding Post-COVID

  /  EJ John

AbstractThis article examines federal investment in Tribal broadband deployment, from the COVID-19 era to the present day. It discusses how…

Digital Divide  Tribal Digital Sovereignty  Broadband

Explainer

History of Advocacy in Tribal Telephony and Telecommunications, 1980–2020

  /  Dr. Traci Morris

AbstractThe history of Tribal advocacy in telecommunications policy is remarkable, yet many people are unaware of it. On Tribal lands, the…

Tribal Digital Sovereignty  Digital Divide  Broadband

Explainer

Journal of Community Informatics Special Issue: Charting Sovereignty in the Digital Age: Tribal Leadership, Broadband, and the Rise of Tribal Digital Sovereignty

  /  Dr. Traci Morris

Abstract This special issue of the Journal of Community Informatics presents a collection of articles exploring the historical trajectory and…

Tribal Digital Sovereignty  Digital Divide  Broadband

Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet: NTIA Issues Press Release Announcing Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program Reforms

  /  Morgan Gray

The National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) issued a new press release on November 12, 2025 announcing reforms to the…

Broadband  Tribal Digital Sovereignty  Spectrum Sovereignty

Report

Tribal Digital Sovereignty Guidebook

  /  Kennedy Satterfield

This guidebook is designed to provide a strong foundation for understanding digital sovereignty and Tribal Nations in the United States. It…

Tribal Digital Sovereignty  Spectrum Sovereignty  Sovereignty  Broadband