Sovereignty in the Age of AI

In this episode, Rock The Native Vote takes a closer look at a critical and often misunderstood issue: what Tribal IDs actually prove and what they do not. Joined by legal expert Emily Eleftherakis (Cherokee), executive director of the Tribal Sovereignty Institute at OCU School of Law, and Comanche Nation Enrollment Director JD Wauqua, we unpack the reality that Tribal IDs do not verify U.S. citizenship, despite widespread assumptions in our communities.We also explore the potential impact of the SAVE Act on voter registration, particularly for Native voters, and discuss the broader challenges Tribal citizens may face when navigating identification requirements.

From deepfakes and election manipulation to micro-targeted disinformation and algorithm-driven social media feeds, AI is quietly influencing democracy, culture, and community trust. In this episode, Anneshia Hardy, cultural narrative strategist and Executive Director of Alabama Values, joins Ginny Underwood and the Rock The Native Vote team to unpack how AI reflects the values of its creators, impacts land and environment, spreads confusion, and distorts political reality. The conversation centers on why human context, trusted relationships, and community leadership—especially from Black and Indigenous communities—are essential to protecting self-determination in the age of artificial intelligence.