Building Digital Skills for the Pueblo of Jemez: Respecting Tradition While Embracing Technology

For people deeply rooted in ancestral practices, sustainability is key to the Jemez Pueblo way of life. When the Pueblo was selected in 2022 to host a Digital Navigator program, it was clear the initiative would need to be thoughtfully integrated into the community’s culture to succeed. That’s when Angela Diahkah, Program Director at Jemez Pueblo Tribal Network (JNET), turned to two of Jemez-raised community members to serve as trusted guides for technology, digital skills, and internet adoption. JNET, a Tribally-owned and operated internet service provider established in 2020, was created to improve broadband communications for students and the broader community. Through its participation in the National Digital Navigator Corp program, made possible by NDIA and funding from Google.org, JNET hired community-based Digital Navigators to bridge the technology gap.