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Research Data Management

New to the idea of Research Data Management? This guide will introduce you to the basics.

Indigenous Data Sovereignty

Many Indigenous communities have developed data governance frameworks to guide research data management. These frameworks respond to and stand against unethical, extractive, deficit-based and harmful research practices.  

“Ethical research is based fundamentally on the respect for the individuals who participate in the research project. Contrary to this, research that is conducted with First Nations has a history, an ongoing legacy of poor practice. There are fundamental flaws in research conducted to date with First Nations. Solutions to these flaws include a well designed, ethically conducted research which include protocols and codes of ethics. First Nations need to play an active role in the design of the research project. In order to achieve fundamental key principles to ethical research, IE obtaining prior informed consent, protection of privacy, confidentiality, and intellectual property.” 

 (Ethics in First Nations Research, Assembly of First Nations, 2009) 

Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDS) is how Indigenous Peoples exercise authority over their own data. Research conducted in partnership with Indigenous People must respect Indigenous Data Sovereignty, which can be reflected in the data management planning process. Researchers should ensure all data management plans are co-created with the Indigenous community they are working with, and may use an existing framework to guide practices to support IDS.

Indigenous Data Governance Frameworks

The OCAP® principles are a set of standards to guide Indigenous data governance.

OCAP® stands for ownership, control, access, and possession:    

  • Ownership: Indigenous communities own their information in the same way that an individual would own their personal information.  
  • Control: Indigenous communities and Nations can seek control over research data and its management at all stages of the research cycle.
  • Access: Indigenous communities and Nations must be able to access data about themselves and have the right to make or be involved in decisions regarding access to the data.
  • Possession: Physical control of the data should be with the First Nation or Indigenous-controlled steward, or otherwise with a third party data steward (decided upon by the Indigenous community or Nation) who will ensure the principles of ownership, control, and access are upheld. 

Principles of Ethical Métis Research (MC, 2011)

These principles should not be considered as rigid rules but as a starting point for ethical research with Métis communities

  • Reciprocal Relationships: Researchers should build equal partnerships with the Métis community, engage with community members, and ensure that responsibilities and benefits are shared.

  • Respect: Respect should be shown for individual and collective perspectives, community practices and protocols, confidentiality, autonomy, identity, and gender diversity.

  • Safe and Inclusive Environments: Research must be inclusive of various age groups, genders, sexual identities, and diverse concepts of Aboriginality, and should maintain inclusivity throughout the research process.

  • Diversity: Researchers should recognize and account for the diversity within Métis communities, including differences in beliefs, values, worldviews, and geographic locations.

  • Research Should Have Outcomes: Ethical research should have outcomes that are relevant to the Métis community, accurate, beneficial to all involved, responsible, and should acknowledge the contributions of participants and community partners.

  • Métis Context: Researchers should have a deep understanding of Métis history, values, knowledge, and context. They should also involve Métis experts and navigate the complexities of Métis worldviews and straddling of cultural perspectives.

National Inuit Strategy on Research (ITK, 2018)

The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami National Inuit Strategy on Research outlines several priority areas and objectives to advance research in the Inuit community:

  • Priority Area 1: Advance Inuit Governance in Research This area emphasizes the need for Inuit self-determination in research. Key objectives include achieving greater Inuit representation in research governance, reforming research-related legislative and policy mechanisms, and ensuring Inuit self-determination in research governance.
  • Priority Area 2: Enhance the Ethical Conduct of Research This priority focuses on improving the ethical conduct of research in Inuit communities. Objectives include regulating the ethical conduct of research, supporting Inuit-led research ethics review processes, and developing Inuit-specific ethics guidelines.
  • Priority Area 3: Align Funding with Inuit Research Priorities This area highlights the importance of aligning research funding with Inuit research priorities. Objectives include advancing Inuit self-determination in data collection, investing in Inuit-led data and information technology, and ensuring Inuit ownership of data.
  • Priority Area 4: Ensure Inuit Access, Ownership, and Control over Data and Information This priority emphasizes Inuit access, ownership, and control over data and information. Objectives include building human resource capacity in Inuit regions, establishing an Inuit Nunangat university, and enhancing research infrastructure in Inuit communities.
  • Priority Area 5: Build Capacity in Inuit Nunangat Research This priority focuses on building research capacity in Inuit Nunangat. Objectives include broadening research funding criteria to recognize Inuit research methodologies, investing in broadband access, building infrastructure in Inuit communities, and developing Inuit-specific training and education programs.

The CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance guide the use of Indigenous data and reflect the importance of data to Indigenous self-determination:

  • Collective Benefit: Indigenous Peoples should benefit from the data and the research aligns with the needs and goals of the community.
  • Authority to Control: Indigenous Peoples have agency to make decisions regarding data governance and how they are represented in the data. Indigenous data must be accessible to Indigenous communities.
  • Responsibility: Researchers are accountable to Indigenous communities and must be able to demonstrate how their use of Indigenous data benefits the Indigenous Peoples and their self-determination. Evidence of benefits must be shared and resources must be grounded in Indigenous language and worldviews.
  • Ethics: Indigenous rights and wellbeing are central during all stages of the data lifecycle. Risk assessments must be considered from an Indigenous perspective.