“…An assertion of the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples in relation to data about them, their territories, and their ways of life” [2]
“Indigenous data governance is the act of harnessing tribal cultures, values, principles, and mechanisms…and applying them to the management and control of Indigenous nation’s data ecosystem” [1]
Communities have led monitoring of Land [3], including species, ecosystem services, climate, since time immemorial [4]
These observations (data) are place-based and often require protocol (cultural and ecological) to become knowledge
“…The question is not ‘what can I do with this data?’ but ‘to whom am I obliged with this data? What does this data and its data holder owe to community and Land, and how do I best meet those obligations in how this data is stored, shared (or not) and interpreted?’” [5]
Data relationships and practices cannot be simple checkboxes. This can repeat or exacerbate remainders of colonialism
“…Indigenous communities must [often] forgo having access to certain types of information about themselves or must rely on outsiders with the requisite resources to obtain this information” [6]
Use definitions from within Indigenous communities to monitor Indigenous Land
“The Kichwa ethnoichthyological classification is multidimensional. The most common classification criteria are morphological attributes, but other biological, ecological and gastronomical characteristics are also considered” [9]
Does resolution and sampling match community needs?
Indigenous peoples and communities must be recognized as rightsholders, not stakeholders, in Data Management Plans (DMP) to exercise sovereignty:
“Our cross-cultural partnership approach—called the Sikumiut-SmartICE model—focuses on developing the skills of young Inuit to create the maps, while non-Indigenous partners provide mentorship, tools, and training” [14]
Local Contexts provide a series of labels and notices that communicate permissions and support ethical use of data