Skip to main content

Why Digital Resilience Matters for Indigenous Communities

Today
Dr. Jason Bruce
Digital Resilience

The Indigenous Resilience Hub has added a new Digital Resilience category to its research section, expanding the Hub’s focus to include the growing impacts of large-scale digital infrastructure on communities and the environment.

As artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cryptocurrency continue to expand, so does the demand for massive data centers. These facilities are often presented as symbols of economic growth and technological progress, but they can also place significant pressure on local power grids, water supplies, land use, and air quality. In many regions, communities are beginning to ask important questions about who truly benefits from these projects and how they align with long-term sustainability and self-determination.

The new Digital Resilience category brings together research and policy resources that explore the environmental, economic, and public health impacts of rapid data center expansion. Many of the materials examine:

  • The environmental and public health impacts of data center growth
  • Rising electricity demand and its effects on local utility rates
  • Water consumption in drought-prone or resource-limited regions
  • Land use, housing, and infrastructure pressures
  • The long-term costs and benefits of data center development for communities
  • Community-led policy responses, regulations, and planning approaches

By curating these resources in one place, the Hub aims to support Indigenous leaders, planners, and advocates who want to better understand the implications of digital infrastructure projects in their territories. The intent is to provide clear, accessible information that helps communities make informed choices about data centers, connectivity projects, and emerging technologies.

As digital systems become more deeply embedded in everyday life, resilience must also extend into the digital realm. This includes balancing innovation with environmental stewardship, community wellbeing, and Indigenous data sovereignty.

You can explore the new Digital Resilience resources at ireshub.org in the research section.