Indigenous Data Sovereignty: A Conversation About Ethical Research on Dec. 13
The fourth and final talk in the Native Nations Institute's International Indigenous Data Sovereignty Speaker Series in partnership with the BIO5 Institute is scheduled for Tuesday, December 13 at 1 p.m.
The talk, titled "Indigenous Data Sovereignty: principles and practice in the US experience" will be given by Associate Director of the Native Nations Institute and Director of the Collaboratory for Indigenous Data Governance, Dr. Stephanie Russo Carroll (Ahtna – Native Village of Kluti-Kaah) and Native Nations Institute Senior Researcher and Assistant Research Professor at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health Ibrahim Garba (Karai-Karai).
Moving from 'FAIR' data to data that 'CAREs'
In addition to the FAIR principles published in the journal Scientific Data in 2016 which held that data should be made Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable, the NNI team published their CARE principles for Indigenous data governance in the Data Science Journal in 2020.
According to that paper, on top of making data more researcher friendly – which, ostensibly, was the purpose behind creating the FAIR principles – the CARE principles hold that researchers should also provide Collective benefit to the subjects in question, subjects should have the Authority to control their own data, and that data should be gathered and managed Responsibly and Ethically.
Few project review boards outside of those created by Tribal governments currently incorporate CARE principles as a standard for approving research projects that intend to examine Indigenous human subjects, however, meaning that it’s left to individual researchers to ensure that their work meets this ethical standard.
Indigenous Data Sovereignty Speaker Series
To help researchers better understand the role they play in the ethical management of Indigenous data today, and to offer a glimpse at the path to ensuring all research projects involving Indigenous human subjects meet the standards outlined by the CARE principles, the Udall Center’s Native Nations Institute partnered with the University of Arizona’s BIO5 Institute this year to host a series of talks featuring international thought leaders in the field of Indigenous Data Sovereignty.
The first three presentations in that series included a conversation about data ownership and the ethical use of data by Katharina Ruckstahl, a look at the importance and process of standard setting for ethical research at the highest levels with University of Tasmania Distinguished Professor Emerita Dr. Maggie Walter (Palawa from Lutruwita/Tasmania), and a close examination of one project that meets the CARE principle standard – the Mayi Kuwayu Study – by Australian social epidemiologist Dr. Ray Lovett (Wongaibon) and his research team.
The fourth and final presentation in the series will take place on Tuesday, December 13 at the BIO5 Institute. During that talk, titled "Indigenous Data Sovereignty: principles and practice in the US experience," Drs. Stephanie Russo Carroll and Ibrahim Garba from the Native Nations Institute will further unpack themes from the previous three events by addressing challenges and opportunities for institutional change in the US context.
Attending the event is a great way for researchers interested in pursuing projects that might involve Indigenous human subjects and nations to gain familiarity with this emerging field and to ensure that they are holding themselves to the highest ethical standards in their work with Indigenous data and knowledge.
The event will feature both in-person and remote registration options.
You can learn more about the talk and register to attend here.