Digital sovereignty is an expansive governance model that encompasses the full digital ecosystem, including infrastructure, software, regulatory codes and the human expertise required to manage digital life. In practice, this means building and managing Tribal broadband networks that ensure reliable internet connectivity for communities; developing enforceable Tribal codes that regulate data privacy, cybersecurity, spectrum management and intellectual property; and creating frameworks for responsible use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and that preserve and enhance community well-being. These measures also safeguard cultural and linguistic data, promote digital equity and ensure that the benefits of connectivity align with community values. Tribal Digital Sovereignty (TDS) thus provides an integrative framework for Tribal governance in the digital age, linking sovereignty, technology and cultural stewardship. By grounding this framework in established principles of Tribal sovereignty and the federal trust relationship, Tribal Nations can bridge historical governance with emerging digital realities. In doing so, digital infrastructure—such as broadband networks, cloud storage systems and AI governance protocols—shifts from a site of dependency to an instrument of sovereignty, enabling Tribal Nations to define, protect and govern their digital territories according to their own laws, values and visions for the future. For Tribal Nations in the United States, sovereignty has always signified more than legal status; for Tribes it is a lived reality that is rooted in self-governance, territorial authority and the preservation of culture. A defining principle in Indian Country and other Tribal communities is that federally recognized Tribes are political nations. This distinction anchors Tribal governance and jurisdiction, enabling Nations to exercise self-determination in every arena of life: land, education, healthcare and increasingly, the digital world. According to the American Indian Policy Institute’s Dr. Traci Morris, “Tribal Digital Sovereignty (TDS) is an umbrella term that refers to the ability of Tribal Nations to control and manage digital infrastructure, data and technologies in ways that support self-determination and protect community interests. Digital sovereignty is a Tribe’s right to govern their own data, digital networks, spectrum airwaves and infrastructure, asserting control over the way it is collected, stored, managed and shared.” Today sovereignty extends beyond land 4 Understanding Tribal Digital Sovereignty What is Tribal Digital Sovereignty (TDS)? What is TDS in practice?
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