Indigenous Data Sovereignty

Indigenous Data Sovereignty is a global decolonial movement and network led by Indigenous academics, activists, and knowledge holders that responds to the discriminatory and oppressive conditions of Indigenous data collection and management. Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDS) goes beyond the concept of ‘ownership’ over data, such as a proprietary rights, and extends to:

“the right of Indigenous peoples and nations to decide what data development occurs and the controls over the collection, governance, ownership, and application of data about their peoples, territories, lifeways and natural resources”
(Lovett et al. 2019, 26).

IDS derives from “the inherent rights of self-determination as described in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)” (Walter et al. 2020, 4). The 2007 UNDRIP contains multiple articles pertaining to IDS, showing how Indigenous Data Sovereignty is integral to human rights. These include:

• Indigenous peoples have the right to the dignity and diversity of their cultures, traditions, histories and aspirations which shall be appropriately reflected in education and public information
  (Article 15.1).

• Indigenous peoples have the right, without discrimination, to the improvement of their economic and social conditions
  (Article 21).

• Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, as well as the manifestations of their sciences, technologies and cultures […] They also have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their intellectual property over such cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions
  (Article 31).

IDS is also informed by Canadian First Nations OCAP principles (Ownership, Control, Access, Possession) and the 2015 workshop “Data Sovereignty for Indigenous Peoples: Current Practices and Future Needs held at the Australian National University” (Walter et al 2020, 4). For a list of IDS’ foundational documents from differing Indigenous peoples see the paper ‘CARE Principles (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, and Ethics) for Indigenous data governance’ (Carroll et al. 2020).

The exact nature of Indigenous Data Sovereignty Principles varies between Indigenous nations. However, these sovereignties are not in competition. Unlike State sovereignties, Indigenous sovereignties are not sovereignty replacing, or instead of, others (Moreton-Robinson 2021).

For examples of Indigenous Data Sovereignty principles please see the section below.

The transition to an IDS model of data governance is vital for the health and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples. IDS would create consistent investment in the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, unlike Australian governments that:

“have disbanded advisory bodies when politically convenient (for example, abolishing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission in 2005), and effective programmes have had funding slashed on political whim—for example, $A500m (£260m; €300m; $330m) was cut from Indigenous health funding in 2014”
(Chamberlain et al. 2024, 1).

Yes! We are all impacted by discriminatory, hierarchical, profit-driven data systems.

The solidarity of a mass network of disparate communities is needed for systemic transformations of imperialist Big Tech and governments.