How is AI being used to tell the story of Sacajawea?

AI is being used to create an "AI-enhanced drama series" about Sacajawea, the Shoshone woman who guided the Lewis and Clark expedition, combining still and moving images in a magical realism style.

What are some of the potential benefits of AI for Native American communities?

Tribes see AI as a way to preserve endangered languages, keep oral histories alive, and share their own stories and histories from their perspectives. AI could also help tribes develop emergency management plans and potentially exercise greater sovereignty.

What are the concerns that Native American communities have about using AI?

Tribes worry about AI bias, data exploitation by corporations, and the potential for AI to misrepresent or distort Indigenous histories and cultures, similar to how past anthropologists have done.

Home / Technology / AI-Powered Storytelling Revives Sacajawea's Legacy

AI-Powered Storytelling Revives Sacajawea's Legacy

10 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Filmmaker Lynn Rogoff creates AI-enhanced drama series on Sacajawea
Tribes discuss AI's potential to preserve languages and share Indigenous histories
Concerns over AI bias and data exploitation by corporations

AI-Powered Storytelling Revives Sacajawea's Legacy

In November 2025, filmmaker Lynn Rogoff is making strides in reviving the legacy of Sacajawea, the Shoshone woman who famously guided the Lewis and Clark expedition in the early 19th century. Rogoff has created an "AI-enhanced drama series" titled "Bird Woman, Sacajawea" that combines still and moving images in a magical realism style to bring Sacajawea's story to life.

Alongside the drama series, Rogoff has also developed interactive AI-powered chatbots that allow young people to engage with Sacajawea as if speaking to her directly. This innovative approach aims to preserve Native languages and keep oral histories alive through modern, accessible formats.

Rogoff's efforts are part of a broader discussion among tribal governments and Indigenous influencers about the potential benefits and risks of AI technology. While some see amazing opportunities to tell their own stories and safeguard cultural heritage, others express concerns over AI bias and the potential for corporations to exploit tribal data and misrepresent Indigenous histories.