LibGuides: Native American and Indigenous Studies: Indigenous Data Sovereignty

Indigenous Data Sovereignty

What is Indigenous Data Sovereignty?

Indigenous Data Sovereignty is the ability for Indigenous peoples, communities and Nations to participate, steward and control data that is created with or about themselves. The term sovereignty refers to the fact that Indigenous Nations are sovereign in their governance and that extends to their data and Knowledges as well. It recognizes that Indigenous people are the ultimate authority in their data and Knowledges and aims to redefine Indigenous peoples' relationship to research from being participants or subjects to being meaningful partners and co-researchers.

What are Indigenous Data?

"In general, data are any quantitative or qualitative information about a specific topic that are collected through observation, surveys and reporting. For the purpose of this Protocol, Indigenous data is any information that is from or about any Indigenous person or their community, territory or nation, including but not limited to their languages, Knowledges, customs or traditions, intellectual property and ideas. Indigenous data are also relational and reciprocal, and need to reflect and be held by the community as a collective, and are equally as important to pass down through generations as a part of lifelong journeys of coming to be."

From Nindokiikayencikewin: to seek learning or Knowledges Indigenous Knowledges & Data Governance Protocol (pp. 10).

Resources on Indigenous Data Sovereignty

Indigenous Data Sovereignty: Toward an agenda by Edited by Tahu Kukutai, John Taylor
Publication Date: 2016
Online Open Access Book. The varied group of mostly indigenous contributors theorise and conceptualise this fast-emerging field and present case studies that illustrate the challenges and opportunities involved. These range from indigenous communities grappling with issues of identity, governance and development, to national governments and NGOs seeking to formulate a response to indigenous demands for data ownership.
Issues in Open Data - Indigenous Data Sovereignty by Rainie, S., Kukutai, T., Walter, M., Figueroa-Rodriguez, O., Walker, J., & Axelsson, P.
Publication Date: 2019
Part of a wider report about the state of open data, this chapter discusses the tension between the principles of open data and IDS. Describing open data for Indigenous Peoples as a double-edged sword, the authors note the potential of open data to help deliver on Indigenous aspirations for sustainable development.
Good Data Practices for Indigenous Data Sovereignty by Raymond Lovett, Vanessa Lee, Tahu Kukutai, Donna Cormack, Stephanie Carroll Rainie and Jennifer Walker
Publication Date: 2019
"This multi-authored chapter is the first in a volume the editors describe as born of frustration with dystopian “bad data” practices and devoted to the exploration of how data could be used “productively and justly to further social, economic, cultural and political goals.”

Indigenous Innovation: Decolonizing Digital: Contextualizing Indigenous Data Sovereignty
"This post is part of our Decolonizing Digital series where we explore the historical factors behind Indigenous Data Sovereignty. Today, we will examine early Settler-Indigenous relationships to provide a context for many of the systemic issues Indigenous Peoples still face today."
University of Arizona: Native Nations Institute Page on Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance
"Concerned by the current state of the data available for tribal and community decision making--including census, health, social services, and environment--and by Native nation’s limited control over their data, NNI researchers and a network of colleagues and collaborators are addressing the need for tribes to drive their data agendas through practicing Indigenous data sovereignty and governing their information."
Nindokiikayencikewin: to seek learning or Knowledges / Indigenous Knowledges & Data Governance Protocol (PDF)
"This Protocol is based on a comprehensive literature review and the Knowledges and teachings from the following Elders and Knowledge Keepers from across Canada."
CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance (PDF)
The RDA’s CARE principles propose an additional set of criteria that should be applied to open data in order to ensure that it respects Indigenous rights to self-determination. It argues the existing FAIR principles—that open data should be findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable—focus on data characteristics that facilitate increased sharing while ignoring historical context and power differentials.
My Tribal Area Data Tool
U.S. Census Bureau launched the My Tribal Area data tool that allows easy access to select demographic and economic statistics for each of the nation’s tribal areas. These U.S. Census bureau tool includes data from the 2011-2015 American Community Survey, including statistics on population, jobs, housing, economy, and education. Provides comprehensive maps, data profiles and downloadable features for each tribal area.

Organizations and Networks

United States Indigenous Data Sovereignty Network
The USIDSN helps ensure that data for and about Indigenous nations and peoples in the US (American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians) are utilized to advance Indigenous aspirations for collective and individual wellbeing.
Global Indigenous Data Alliance: Promoting Indigenous Control of Indigenous Data
The Global Indigenous Data Alliance (GIDA) is a network of Indigenous researchers, data practitioners, and policy activists advocating for Indigenous Data Sovereignty within their nation-states and at an international level.
Te Mana Rapaunga data Sovereignty Network
Our data, our sovereignty, our future. This vision drove the establishment of Te Mana Raraunga as the Māori Data Sovereignty Network. We advocate for Māori rights and interests in data to be protected as the world moves into an increasingly open data environment.
Native BioData Consortium: Research for Natives, by Natives
The Native BioData Consortium (NBDC) is the first 501(c)(3) nonprofit research institute led by Indigenous scientists and tribal members in the United States. As a biorepository (or “biobank”), we ensure that advances in genetics and health research benefit all Indigenous people.

Credit and See More

Thank you to Berkeley Library's Native American Studies: Indigenous Data Sovereignty guide.