Seattle U Law to host Indigenous perspectives on AI conference

By AI, Created 4:38 AM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Seattle University School of Law will hold its 9th Annual Innovation and Technology Law Conference online June 5, 2026, focusing on how artificial intelligence intersects with Indigenous sovereignty, data governance, ethics and innovation. The free public event will bring together scholars, lawyers, technologists and Indigenous leaders to discuss regulation, cultural appropriation and Indigenous-led approaches to AI.

Why it matters: - Artificial intelligence is creating new legal and ethical questions around Indigenous rights, cultural use and control of data. - The conference is designed to put Indigenous sovereignty and Indigenous knowledge systems into the AI policy conversation. - The event may help shape how lawyers, technologists and policymakers think about regulation, ethics and innovation in AI.

What happened: - Seattle University School of Law will host its 9th Annual Innovation and Technology Law Conference on Friday, June 5, 2026. - The virtual event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PDT and is free and open to the public. - The conference theme is “Indigenous Perspectives on AI: Appropriation, Regulation, and Innovation.” - Seattle University School of Law is presenting the event through the Technology, Innovation Law, and Ethics (TILE) Institute and the SITIE Initiative. - The conference is co-sponsored by the Northwest Center for Indigenous Law, the Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental & Innovation Law (SJTEIL), and the American Indian Law Journal.

The details: - Sessions will examine cultural appropriation in AI systems, Indigenous data sovereignty, ethical natural resource use, tribal sovereignty and regulation, and Indigenous-led approaches to technological innovation. - Featured speakers include Abigail Echo-Hawk of the Seattle Indian Health Board, Rebecca Tsosie of the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, Trevor Reed of UC Irvine School of Law, Krystal Two Bulls of Honor the Earth, and Jeff Ward of Animikii. - Registration is required. - Registered attendees will receive Zoom access details about 24 hours before the event. - The school’s social links include LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, X, and Facebook.

Between the lines: - The conference reflects a broader push to include communities that are often left out of mainstream AI governance debates. - Seattle University School of Law is framing AI not just as a technical issue, but as a question of law, power and sovereignty. - The event also signals continuing interest in AI ethics after earlier conferences focused on blockchain, fintech, data justice, generative AI, innovation and regulation, and AI governance.

What’s next: - Registration remains open ahead of the June 5 event. - Attendees who sign up should expect Zoom access information roughly one day before the conference. - The law school is likely to continue using the annual conference to spotlight emerging technology policy issues.

The bottom line: - Seattle University School of Law is putting Indigenous perspectives at the center of a timely AI policy debate, with an open virtual conference aimed at legal, ethical and governance questions.