Research Data Management at TRU

Indigenous Data: Refers to any kind of information collected by, with, or about Indigenous people. This can come in forms such as text, numbers, symbols, images, videos, etc. The data can be about their land, water, or culture. (NCRIS, 2022)

Dealing with Indigenous Data in your research will require additional responsibilites. Some notable guiding principles and resources include:

• OCAP, a set of principles set forth by the First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC) which asserts the need for First Nations communities to have ownership, control, access, and possession of data involving them. Not all nations will choose it as a framework for the management of their data. Connecting with Indigenous communities and consulting resources early will help to ensure your project incorporates best practices relating to Indigenous data sovereignty from the start. 
• OCAS, principles endorsed by the Manitoba Métis Federation, which asserts ownership, control, access, and stewardship for research data.
• Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ (Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami) National Inuit Strategy on Research which ensures Inuit access, ownership, and control over data and information.
• CARE, an overarching set of principles highlighting the need for research involving Indigenous communities to have collective benefit. The communities themselves have the authority to control their data, with the goal of conducting responsible and ethical research. 

The above is copied from https://rdm.mcmaster.ca/secure#tab-human-participant-data on February 24, 2025.

Research engaging with or involving Indigenous communities in any way has specific responsibilities. Primarily, data sovereignty is determined by a First Nations, Inuit, or Métis community first. You also have obligations under policy and ethical guidelines, including best practices and requirements for conducting Indigenous research as outlined by Tri-Agency frameworks and, as applicable, institutional policies. 

Thus, a data management plan should be co-developed with the Indigenous communities that your research involves or created by the researcher for approval by the community. Some communities have their own data management protocols that a researcher must complete. If you are creating a DMP for an Indigenous research project or working with Indigenous data, some questions to ask yourself are:

• How will we maintain Indigenous data sovereignty and keep sensitive information safe?
• Are there other things like the law or intellectual property which impact data?
• Are there other documents that will help us, and future participants, understand what we have collected?
• How do we make sure what we’ve gathered is accessible to the community? 

For additional guidance, check out the following resources:

• Recording of a 2023 event: The National Dialogue on Data Management Plans and Indigenous Data. The Tri-Agency notes that "DMPs in the context of research by and with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities, collectives and organizations should recognize Indigenous data sovereignty and include options for renegotiation of the DMP."
• McMaster Indigenous Research Institute's Indigenous Research Primer
• Canadian Research Data Centre Network (CRDCN) Resource for Researchers: Planning to undertake work with First Nations, Inuit, and Metis data

The above is copied from https://rdm.mcmaster.ca/plan#tab-building-your-dmp on February 24, 2025.

• The First Nations Principles of Ownership, Control, Access and Possession (OCAP®)

• First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC). A First Nations Data Governance Strategy March 31, 2020.

• Inuit Tapiriiti Kanatami (ITK) and Nunavut Research Institute Negotiating Research Relationships with Inuit Communities: A Guide for Researchers

• ITK’s National Inuit Strategy on Research

• National Aboriginal Health Organization’s Principles of Ethical Métis Research and What Researchers Need from Métis Communities

• Global Indigenous Data CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance