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Data management

Data management, governance and sovereignty for Indigenous research.

Indigenous Community data management frameworks

A data management plan is essential in Indigenous research for both primary and secondary data. The researcher, along with their community or organization partner, work together to create a management plan for the data.

The data management plan is also typically outlined within the project’s collaborative research agreement. Principles such as OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession) and CARE (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility and Ethics), along with many other resources provide guidance and support for this process. 

The First Nations Principles of OCAP ®

The First Nations principles of ownership, control, access, and possession – more commonly known as OCAP® – assert that First Nations have control over data collection processes, and that they own and control how this information can be used.

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami

The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami has developed a National Inuit Strategy on Research. Priority Area 4: Ensure access, ownership and control over data and information.

Dal Research Library Guide

The Dal Research Library Guide provides a broad range of tools and resources to build a data management plan. Researchers can access examples, tutorials, templates, repository options, copyright information, citations instructions and style guides. 

Global Indigenous Data Alliance

The Global Indigenous Data Alliance promotes Indigenous control of Indigenous data through the CARE Principles of Indigenous Governance. 

The Information Governance & Data Projects (IGDP)

The Information Governance & Data Projects (IGDP) office, which is housed at the Union of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq (UNSM), administers data related projects on behalf of all thirteen Nova Scotia First Nation Communities, the two Prince Edward Island First Nation Communities, one First Nation in New Brunswick, and the only land based First Nation Community in Newfoundland. 

The Fundamentals of OCAP®

The First Nations Indigenous Governance Centre (FNIGC) – in partnership with Algonquin College Corporate Training, offers an online course called The Fundamentals of OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession).

Take the course

Additional resources

The presentation Be FAIR and CARE: The CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance presented by EarthCube NSF (2021) features speaker Dr. Lydia Jennings, University of Arizona.