Impact Evaluation of AI-Language Access Models for Indigenous Language Communities in the City of Los Angeles

Los Angeles (LA) City Council District 3's (CD3) implementation of AI-driven translation tools represents a critical step toward equitable language access for its indigenous language communities. This paper focuses on translation services for communities that speak Q'anjob'al, Ayuujk, Zapotec, Chinantec, and K‘iche’. Success of community-centered innovation depends on active indigenous community participation in preserving and translating their languages by combining AI with human expertise for efficiency and cultural accuracy. Long-term success requires robust data governance, clear accountability measures, and consistent funding streams. Our proposed AI solution for CD3 includes a set of ethical standards to create a model ensuring equitable city service access for every resident: (1) maintain community engagement, (2) invest in technology and human capital, (3) build strong partnerships with technology providers and indigenous organizations, and (4) evaluate and refine implementation strategies.