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TribalDAOs Use Cases

Now that you understand what TribalDAOs are and why they matter, let’s explore how they’re being used (or could be used) in real-world situations.

Whether you're part of a land trust, whānau trust, kaupapa Māori project, or any other collective — these examples will help you imagine how TribalDAOs can support your mahi.

1. Land and Resource Governance​

Many Māori and Indigenous communities manage shared whenua, water, forests, and other taonga. TribalDAOs offer a way to make collective decisions about these resources — with transparency and accountability.

Example Use-Cases:​

  • Whenua Governance: A land trust creates a TribalDAO to vote on leasing, conservation, or housing proposals.
  • Shared Resource Decisions: Hapū members vote on access to natural resources like fisheries, rivers, or forest blocks.

Actionable Step:​

🔍 Reflect: Does your community manage land or other shared taonga? What decisions could be made more inclusive and accountable with a TribalDAO?

2. Whānau Trusts and Inherited Assets​

As shares in Māori land and taonga become increasingly fragmented, whānau need tools to manage inherited assets collectively. TribalDAOs offer a way to bring together hundreds of descendants and co-owners into one digital space.

Example Use-Cases:​

  • Whānau Trust DAO: A whānau uses a DAO to track ownership, vote on whānau events or investments, and share updates.
  • Succession Planning: DAOs can store records and automate whānau processes like succession or funding approvals.

Actionable Step:​

🔍 Consider: How could your whānau use a TribalDAO to strengthen connection, transparency, or decision-making around inherited responsibilities?

3. Cultural Initiatives and Revitalisation Projects​

TribalDAOs can help fund, manage, and govern kaupapa that aim to revive language, stories, ceremony, and knowledge systems.

Example Use-Cases:​

  • Language Revitalisation DAO: Hapū members collectively fund and oversee a reo initiative.
  • Archiving and Access Governance: A DAO governs digital archives, controlling who can access, edit, or contribute to cultural repositories.

Actionable Step:​

🔍 Explore: Are there cultural revitalisation efforts in your community that would benefit from collective funding or shared governance?

4. Economic Collectives and Community Enterprises​

TribalDAOs can serve as the foundation for launching and running economic ventures — making sure profits and decisions stay in the hands of the community.

Example Use-Cases:​

  • Whānau Business DAO: A DAO helps a whānau manage their tourism venture or online shop — voting on big decisions and tracking profit sharing.
  • Community Investment Fund: Members contribute pūtea into a shared DAO treasury, and vote on how it’s invested or distributed.

Actionable Step:​

🔍 Reflect: What kind of businesses, side projects, or ventures could your community co-run using a DAO?

5. Governance of Marae, Hapū, and Community Groups​

Marae committees and hapū groups often face challenges with turnout, transparency, and inclusive decision-making. TribalDAOs offer a new layer of governance tools to support these structures.

Example Use-Cases:​

  • Marae DAO: A marae creates a DAO to manage funding, maintenance decisions, and whānau engagement.
  • Hapū Communications DAO: A hapū sets up a DAO to coordinate across whānau lines, vote on projects, and stay updated.

Actionable Step:​

🔍 Think: How could a DAO support your marae, hapū, or community group to make more inclusive and informed decisions?

6. Environmental Stewardship and Regenerative Projects​

Kaitiakitanga can be expressed digitally through DAOs that manage conservation efforts, track data, and fund regenerative initiatives.

Example Use-Cases:​

  • Conservation DAO: A collective monitors and protects a natural site using sensors and DAO-governed funding.
  • Tree Planting DAO: The community votes on planting locations, timelines, and measures impact over time.

Actionable Step:​

🔍 Consider: Is there an environmental kaupapa in your region that could benefit from collective tracking, funding, or decision-making?

7. Global Alliances and Inter-Indigenous Cooperation​

TribalDAOs can also be used to build alliances across Indigenous nations and collectives globally — creating solidarity, mutual aid, and shared governance.

Example Use-Cases:​

  • Inter-Indigenous Fund DAO: Groups from different countries contribute to and co-govern a global Indigenous development fund.
  • Pan-Indigenous Advocacy DAO: Communities collaborate on international advocacy, backed by a shared decision-making platform.

Actionable Step:​

🔍 Imagine: What partnerships or movements could be strengthened with a DAO shared across iwi, nations, or continents?