Indigenous Data Sovereignty
This resource delves into the principles and practices of data sovereignty within Indigenous communities. It highlights the First Nations Information Governance Centre’s Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP) training, research, and frameworks that promote the right of Indigenous peoples to control, manage, and protect their data. Learn about ongoing efforts and strategies, like OCAP, to empower Native nations to govern their digital futures.
First Nations Principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP) Training
Canada's First Nations OCAP (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession) training focuses on empowering Indigenous communities by teaching them how to manage and protect their data. The training emphasizes the principles of OCAP, ensuring that First Nations have the authority to control the collection, use, and sharing of their data in a way that respects their cultural values and sovereignty. This training supports First Nations in making informed decisions about their data and advancing their rights in research and policy-making.
Read More
Indigenous AI
Our position paper on Indigenous Protocol (IP) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides a starting point for designing AI systems that center Indigenous perspectives and ethics. It emphasizes the importance of engaging directly with Indigenous communities, as each has its own unique approach to these issues. The paper reflects a diverse range of voices and perspectives from across Aotearoa, Australia, North America, and the Pacific, including design guidelines, essays, artworks, and technology prototypes. It aims to highlight the multiplicity of Indigenous knowledge systems and the need for these perspectives in AI development.
Take a Look
Introduction to Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP)
This introduction emphasizes the importance of First Nations maintaining control over all information related to their communities, traditional knowledge, culture, and research. The principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP) support self-determination, allowing First Nations to manage how research is conducted, how data is used, where it is stored, and who can access it. This framework was developed under the guidance of the First Nations Information Governance Committee (FNIGC) and the First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey (RHS).
Take a Look
OCAP Fact Sheet
This document outlines the OCAP® principles (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession), developed in 1998 to help First Nations assert control over their data and cultural knowledge. Stewarded by the FNIGC since 2010, these principles affirm First Nations' rights to manage how their information is collected, used, and shared. OCAP® supports data sovereignty and provides a framework for ethical engagement with First Nations’ data, benefiting both communities and researchers.
Take a Look
Considerations and Practices for Ethical Research Practices
This document, Considerations and Templates for Ethical Research Practices, outlines the OCAP® principles (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession), developed in 1998 to empower First Nations in managing their data and cultural knowledge. Stewarded by the First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC) since 2010, OCAP® asserts First Nations' rights to control the collection, access, and use of their information. It provides ethical guidance for research practices, ensuring data sovereignty for First Nations and offering a framework for respectful collaboration between communities and researchers.
Take a Look