Unavailability or low number of interpreters and translators of indigenous or local languages, high translation costs and issues of logistics, planning, policymaking, accessibility and workforce training in providing language related services to speakers of indigenous or local languages may result in imposition of deprivation or discrimination on indigenous or local communities. Language rescue attempts aiming to save endangered or near-extinction languages, or to make records of such languages, often face serious challenges and seem unpromising. Realization of sustainable development goals (SDGs) requires effective human communication and interaction which is only possible through functions of human languages. For indigenous and local communities, fulfillment of SDGs necessarily and inevitably involves various and diverse forms of communication and interaction through language, which are critical to cooperation and collaboration on development and management of resources and solutions. To address the challenges of serving the language needs of indigenous and local communities, we suggest establishing and developing a special strategic and technical ecosystem where higher education sector and academia lead goal-oriented enterprises that develop specialized AI- powered solutions and systems for interpreting and translation, provide smart and intelligent systems for language services through application of AI models and NLP, systematically incorporate volunteering and crowdsourcing in AI-enabled solutions and systems, particularly by indigenous students, and in which initiatives for serving indigenous communities, SDG actions, language rescue attempts, voluntary work, crowdsourcing and sophisticated AI-based smart and intelligent systems are integrated in partnership with governments, NGOs and the private sector. In joint ventures and alliances with the public and private sectors, universities, institutions of higher education and research centers can lead the endeavors and efforts in provision and procurement of language-related services for indigenous communities. A hybrid model and combination of volunteering, crowdsourcing, AI technology and involvement of members of indigenous communities led by higher education institutions could significantly contribute to empowering indigenous communities, serving their language-related needs, assisting their progress toward fulfillment of SDGs and helping governments and authorities effectively communicate with and serve indigenous and local communities.
