Reclaiming information authority: Putting respect into practice
Simple steps anyone can take to honor Indigenous data sovereignty
Greetings,
This is our third and last email in a mini-series about Data Sovereignty and our newsroom’s field guide for respectful data collection and use.
Over the last 3 weeks, we’ve shared our definitions of Data Sovereignty and some key reasons why we’ve chosen to write and follow this field guide. Today’s message is about how you can incorporate some of these respectful data practices in your field and in your day-to-day life.
How to respect Indigenous data rights
Recognize sovereignty first
Understand that tribal nations are sovereign governments — not simply community stakeholders or minority groups. Interactions should be conducted on a respectful nation-to-nation basis, acknowledging the tribe’s inherent authority.
Ask who owns the numbers
Confirm whether a dataset is generated or approved by the tribal nation it describes. If not, check for tribal consent statements or data-sharing agreements before using it.
Look for community protocols
Many tribes publish research guidelines or require Institutional Review Board approval. Follow those rules even if your work is based outside tribal jurisdiction.
Use CARE, not just FAIR
The CARE Principles — collective benefit, authority, responsibility and ethics — prioritize community welfare. This contrasts with technical standards like FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) that can promote open-by-default access. Align your project with CARE before you collect, store or share data.
Provide context, not just numbers
Work with the community to interpret findings and present them with the proper cultural and historical context. This guards against data being used to create a harmful or incomplete narrative.
Share results back
Return analysis, data and any tools you build to the tribe. This practice strengthens trust and allows the community to put its own information to work immediately.
Budget for capacity building
When possible, include funding or training that helps tribal staff manage and analyze their own data. Supporting local expertise is a tangible way to honor Indigenous data sovereignty.
As for finding more guidance, there are several organizations that publish practical resources on respectful data use. Key groups include the Global Indigenous Data Alliance, which stewards the CARE principles; the Collaboratory for Indigenous Data Governance, based at the University of Arizona; and the National Congress of American Indians Policy Research Center, which focuses on U.S. data policy. For a Canadian perspective, the First Nations Information Governance Centre is the leading authority.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read this message and for continuing to support our work. I’d love to hear your thoughts or any ways that you’ve begun asking critical questions of data and might begin incorporating some of these guidelines in your daily practices.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Sincerely,
Jodi Rave Spotted Bear