Indigenous Internet: Nuances Of Native American Internet Use

We investigate Internet traffic logs on rural Native American reservations in California served by a tribally-owned Internet provider. The anonymous user browsing traffic and device preferences create unique failure patterns that reveal where connectivity is not well-served by standard networking technology. Geographical and cultural marginalization has lead to distinctive Internet usage when connectivity is available. For instance, residents commonly visit websites that are not as popular in the wider United States; and mobile devices dominate web request traffic, often with content-heavy video and media downloads, despite sustaining a higher rate of failure than desktop devices. This statistical analysis of passive measurements avoids institutional and cultural biases and ensures continuing research will contribute to a decolonizing narrative of Native American informational practices and values. Based on our analysis, we propose follow-up research angles to better understand the technological and social drivers behind these findings in order to improve user experience in this, and similar, networks.