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.

Gila River Indian Community member Leonard Bruce is excited about AI's potential for "remembrance and memory work," but worries about the "danger of sharing information that goes into black-box algorithms owned by corporations." Similarly, legal scholar Adam Crepelle cautions that tribes need to be involved in developing AI to ensure their interests are represented, rather than being "on the menu."

Despite these challenges, experts believe tribes can leverage AI to preserve endangered languages, develop emergency management plans, and even exercise greater sovereignty. As tribal cultures have adapted to new technologies in the past, they are poised to do so with AI as well.