Identifying Useful Approaches to the Governance of Indigenous Data
Open accessAbstract
Questions of data governance occur in all contexts. Arguably, they become especially pressing for data concerning Indigenous people. Long-standing colonial relationships, experiences of vulnerability to decision-makers, claims of jurisdiction, and concerns about collective privacy become significant in considering how and by whom data concerning Indigenous people should be governed. Also significant is the on going need on the part of governments to access and use such data to plan, monitor, and account for programs involving Indigenous people. This exploratory policy article seeks to inform efforts to improve the governance of data between governments and Indigenous organizations and communities – especially the federal government and First Nations in Canada. It describes a spectrum of models arising from the growing literature on data governance in the corporate and public sectors as well as overarching approaches articulated by Indigenous organizations. After outlining certain practical considerations in negotiating data sharing agreements, the article presents a selection of promising initiatives in indigenous data governance undertaken in Canada, the United States, and Australia.
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The use of self-reports of tribal affiliation rather than tribal enrollment information or tribally designed specifications inadequately characterizes populations and insufficiently informs policy and resource allocation decisions.
“This inadequately characterizes populations and insufficiently informs policy and resource allocation decisions (Bruhn, 2014;Cross et al., 2004;DeWeaver, 2010DeWeaver, , 2013;;Freemantle et al., 2015;Red Star Innovations, 2013;Rodriguez-Lonebear, 2016;Snipp, 2016;Todd, 2012;Westat, 2007).”
From Data as a Strategic Resource: Self-determination, Governance, and the Data Challenge for Indigenous Nations in the United States (2017) · cites this paper as Bruhn, 2014
In “The Lingering Effects of Colonialism” (page unavailable), Bruhn says externally imposed data can be of limited use for First Nations and government administrators and may not reflect community priorities. The discussion of the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (page unavailable) also says incomplete or inaccurate tribe-specific data hindered health-service decisions. The copy does not establish the claimed comparison between self-reported tribal affiliation, tribal enrollment information, and tribally designed specifications. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredResearchers, local, state, and federal governments, as well as for-profit and non-profit entities, create data about U.S. Indigenous nations and peoples.
“Researchers, local, state, and federal governments, as well as for and non-profit entities, create data about U.S. Indigenous nations and peoples (Bruhn, 2014;DeWeaver, 2010;Freemantle et al., 2015;Red Star Innovations, 2015;Rodriguez-Lonebear, 2016;Snipp, 2016;Tribal Epidemiology Centers, 2013).”
From Data as a Strategic Resource: Self-determination, Governance, and the Data Challenge for Indigenous Nations in the United States (2017) · cites this paper as Bruhn, 2014
The Other Jurisdictions section describes researchers and tribal governments collecting data in a U.S. community, and the section on the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board describes a tribal organization generating data about U.S. Indigenous peoples (pages not provided). The copy does not establish the claim’s full list of data creators—particularly U.S. local, state, and federal governments and for-profit entities. (LLM, conf=0.83)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIndigenous nation data governance represents the comprehensive process by which tribes address the collection, ownership, control, and application of their data.
“Indigenous nation data governance represents the comprehensive process by which tribes address the collection, ownership, control, and application of their data (Bruhn, 2014).”
From Data as a Strategic Resource: Self-determination, Governance, and the Data Challenge for Indigenous Nations in the United States (2017) · cites this paper as Bruhn, 2014
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- Authors
- Bruhn, J.
- Corresponding author
- Bruhn, Jodi
- Venue
- International Indigenous Policy Journal
- Published
- 2014-04-07
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 2
- ISSN
- 1916-5781 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W82439242
- Cited by
- 42
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 35.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- International Indigenous Policy Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Scholarship@Western (Western University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- Health Canada
- Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Law › Indigenous Peoples' Rights and Law
- Social Sciences › Health › Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Ethics and Social Impacts of AI
- Keywords
- Indigenous data governance, data governance, indigenous peoples, First Nations, data sharing agreements, colonialism, collective privacy, jurisdiction, Indigenous data sovereignty, Canada, United States, Australia
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