Telus and Indigenomics announced Tuesday a partnership supporting indigenous economic advancement and innovation, which will see Indigenomics leverage Telus’s Sovereign AI Factory in Rimouski, Quebec, to accelerate the development of its indigenous economic intelligence platform, IndigenomicsAI.
Through access to Telus’s high-performance AI compute power at its Rimouski facility, “Indigenomics will leverage the advanced GPU technology to train AI models, conduct research on the sizing of the Indigenous economy and develop AI-driven economic development tools that elevate Indigenous voices and perspectives in business and leadership,” reads a Telus press release.
“Supporting Indigenous economic advancement through our sovereign AI infrastructure is one example of TELUS’ reconciliation strategy and commitment to responsible AI in action. This partnership propels us toward the future we’re building at TELUS — one where cutting-edge technology serves all communities across Canada, while upholding our digital independence and cultural values,” said Hesham Fahmy, chief information officer at Telus, in the press release.
“Our Sovereign AI Factory provides Indigenomics with the same world-class AI capabilities used by leading global organizations, while ensuring Indigenomics retains control over its intellectual property and data. This technology supports Indigenous Nations and businesses to build value-driven AI solutions and create lasting prosperity,” Fahmy added.
“This partnership is a catalyst for the next generation of Indigenous economic leadership, unlocking the data intelligence, visibility and systems design needed to lead a thriving Indigenous economy well beyond the $100-billion Indigenous economic target,” said Carol Anne Hilton, founder and CEO of Indigenomics, in a statement. “By providing dedicated infrastructure to support Indigenous economic growth, TELUS is helping to strengthen Indigenous capacity for economic self-determination in an increasingly digital world. It is imperative that Indigenous voices help shape how digital systems are built, governed and deployed in Canada, and this partnership is a meaningful step toward that goal.”
This collaboration builds on Telus’s multi-year partnership with Indigenomics and its longstanding commitment to advancing reconciliation spanning digital connectivity, economic reconciliation, positive social outcomes and cultural respect, Telus said in its press release. Through the partnership, Indigenous Nations, organizations and businesses will be able to develop and deploy AI models and agentic applications on their own terms, Telus said.
The high-performance, GPU-accelerated Telus Sovereign AI Factory runs on 99-per-cent renewable energy and uses less electricity for AI computing than the industry average, aligning with Telus’s broader commitment to environmental stewardship, according to Telus’s press release.
