What Indigenous Organizations Should Know Before Hiring a Web Design Agency

A Website Is Infrastructure, Not Just Branding

For many Indigenous organizations, a website serves as an official communication channel, a public record, and a way for people to access programs, services, and information.

Unlike private businesses, Indigenous organizations cannot think only about launch day. Websites need to work over the long term, often with limited internal capacity and changing leadership. This makes web design an infrastructure decision rather than a purely visual or marketing one.

Ownership Matters More Than Design

One of the most common problems Indigenous organizations face is discovering they do not actually own their own website.

Before hiring an agency, it is essential to clarify who owns the domain name, who controls the hosting account, and who owns the website files and content. Organizations should also confirm that they can access everything independently.

If ownership is unclear, organizations risk losing access to their own digital assets when contracts end or vendors change. Long-term control should always remain with the Indigenous organization, not the agency.

Hosting and Data Location Are Governance Questions

Website hosting is often treated as a technical detail, but it has real governance implications.

Hosting choices determine where data is stored, which laws apply to that data, and who can legally access it. Many common platforms default to infrastructure located outside Canada. For Indigenous organizations, these decisions are often connected to broader conversations about digital sovereignty and long-term accountability.

A responsible web design partner should be able to explain hosting options clearly and support informed decision making.

Balancing Data Sovereignty With Practical Realities

Many Indigenous organizations are actively thinking about data sovereignty and digital governance. At the same time, the reality is that full digital sovereignty is often difficult to achieve with today’s tools.

Websites frequently rely on third-party platforms, global infrastructure, and services that may be based outside Canada. Budget constraints, staffing capacity, and project scope can limit what is possible, particularly for smaller organizations and Indigenous businesses.

Because of this, data sovereignty is not something that can be applied uniformly to every project. Instead, it should be approached as a set of best practices and considerations that organizations can work toward over time, based on their priorities and resources.

For organizations with the capacity and budget to pursue stronger data sovereignty measures, this may include more control over hosting, reduced reliance on third-party tools, and clearer governance over digital data. For others, taking smaller steps, such as maintaining ownership of domains and website files, improving transparency about data storage, and planning for future improvements, can still meaningfully strengthen accountability.

Being realistic about constraints does not mean abandoning sovereignty. It means making informed choices and building toward better outcomes as capacity allows.

Cultural Context Is Not Optional

Generic web design approaches often fail Indigenous organizations.

Without cultural and governance context, websites can misrepresent values, use inappropriate imagery or language, or ignore Indigenous decision-making structures. In some cases, they create barriers rather than improving access.

Indigenous web design requires more than good visuals. It requires listening, respect, and an understanding of Indigenous governance, history, and lived realities.

A distinctions-based approach is also important. Indigenous Nations and communities are not the same, and effective web design requires understanding the specific Nation, governance structure, language, and community context, as well as engaging with community members where appropriate, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all solution.

Accessibility and Use Must Come First

Indigenous organization websites must serve a wide range of users, including Elders, youth, remote and rural members, mobile-only users, and language learners.

This means prioritizing clear and plain-language content, mobile-friendly design, accessibility standards, and simple update processes for non-technical staff. A website should support access rather than assume high bandwidth or constant technical support.

Indigenous-Led Web Design Reduces Risk

Indigenous-led web design brings lived understanding to digital work.

It means working with people who understand Indigenous governance and accountability, organizational timelines and capacity, and the importance of ownership and control. It also means recognizing the responsibility that comes with working with Indigenous data and stories.

For many organizations, Indigenous web design is not just about representation. It is about reducing risk and building digital systems that can last.