Ojibwe Youth Embrace Robotics to Preserve Language

Holden Hoy is creating a robot to aid his learning of Anishinaabemowin, an endangered Native American language. Guided by Danielle Boyer, Hoy is acquiring skills in coding and electrical circuitry.

Inspiration struck Boyer at a toy store. Reflecting on Tickle Me Elmo, she thought, “There are toys that teach us in English, but not in Anishinaabemowin. I wanted to change that.” Anishinaabemowin encompasses Potawatomi, Odawa, and Ojibwe languages. Fewer than 10,000 people in the U.S. speak it, with around 25,000 in Canada. Many Native languages have dwindling numbers of fluent speakers.

Boyer’s grandmother is among the last fluent speakers of their dialect. “Losing your language is devastating,” said Boyer, a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. “It’s losing a crucial part of your identity.” U.S. Indian boarding schools contributed to language loss by preventing children from speaking their native tongues.

Today, some young Native Americans learn their languages in schools, though many view it as another task. Boyer’s creation, the SkoBot, aims to change this. It’s a toy robot designed to engage Indigenous children in language learning. SkoBots utilize AI to speak Indigenous languages and are small enough to wear on the shoulder. The robots resemble woodland creatures and feature Native American designs.

Boyer, through her nonprofit founded at age 18, has mentored hundreds of Native children to build their own SkoBots. Twelve-year-old Hoy, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is one such student. “I’ve always been passionate about robotics and my heritage,” he said.

Hoy presented his SkoBot at JKL Bahweting Anishinaabe School in Sault Ste. Marie, where he programmed it to answer specific questions. His SkoBot responded with prerecorded messages to avoid AI inaccuracies. Hoy named his SkoBot “Sabe,” meaning Bigfoot in Anishinaabemowin, which symbolizes honesty in Ojibwe culture.

Sabe’s design features a sensor to detect movement and play audio files, ensuring it uses genuine language resources. Hoy emphasized the importance of avoiding generative AI to maintain the language’s integrity.

Boyer’s goal is not to replace human interaction but to spark interest in languages and STEM fields while teaching ethical AI use. Misinformation from chatbots can harm language preservation efforts.

Jocelyn Hoy, Holden’s mother, appreciates her son’s cultural engagement and admits learning from him. She believes SkoBots can help many reconnect with their heritage.

Holden Hoy stressed the connection between language and culture, noting, “Language is the culture. Protecting it is vital for preserving a way of life.”