Ancestral Seeds in a Digital Garden: Reviving and Preserving the Indigenous Heritage of the Canary Islands Through AI

Abstract

This chapter explores an experimental and reflective journey into the use of AI as a tool for the preservation, revival, and reimagination of Indigenous Canarian heritage. Through a collaborative, interdisciplinary effort between an intercultural scholar and an AI expert, the chapter introduces the concept of the “digital garden”-a metaphorical and technical space where ancestral knowledge is nurtured and cultivated through constantly evolving technologies. Drawing on historical records, oral histories and cultural practices, the project uses generative AI to reconstruct elements of Indigenous Canarian languages, visual culture and cosmologies, breathing new life into histories fragmented by colonisation. Central to the chapter is the ethical imperative of Indigenous data sovereignty, community-led innovation and the rejection of extractive or colonial approaches to technology. Rather than using AI as a “neutral” tool, the authors argue for its reframing as an intercultural medium capable of fostering decolonial futures. The chapter critically reflects on both the potential and limitations of AI in this context, emphasising that any technological engagement must be grounded in relationality, accountability and the leadership of Indigenous communities.