All guides: Research integrity: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge

CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance

The CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance guide appropriate use and reuse of Indigenous data. This set of principles indicates the significant and crucial role of data in advancing Indigenous innovation and self-determination.

Collective benefit

Data ecosystems should be designed and function in ways that enable Indigenous Peoples to derive benefit from the data.

Authority to control

Indigenous Peoples' rights and interests in Indigenous data must be recognised and their authority to control such data should be empowered. Indigenous data governance enables Indigenous Peoples to determine how they are represented within data.

Responsibility

Those working with Indigenous data have a responsibility to share how this data is used to support Indigenous Peoples' self-determination and collective benefit.

Ethics

Indigenous Peoples' rights and wellbeing should be the primary concern at all stages of the data life cycle.

CARE Principles
More information from the Research Data Alliance International Indigenous Data Sovereignty Interest Group.

Indigenous data sovereignty

Trust in scholarly communications and infrastructure: Indigenous Data Sovereignty
Ruckstuhl, K 2022, 'Trust in scholarly communications and infrastructure: Indigenous Data Sovereignty', Frontiers in research metrics and analysis, vol. 6: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frma.2021.752336/full
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Many Indigenous people have a deep mistrust of research, with some describing research as one of the “dirtiest” words in Indigenous language. The histories and experiences behind such mistrust are long and painful. Given what has been perceived as Indigenous objectification at the hands of largely Anglo-European others for research from which they fail to benefit, many communities now refuse research unless it is undertaken under certain, Indigenous-defined circumstances. Such refusal is a move away from others’ purposes and a move towards autonomy and self-determination. For some, this is a statement of sovereignty and it applies to all areas of endeavour, including the new frontiers of research and the structures that support them, such as datification of knowledge. This article examines data sovereignty from the perspective of Indigenous peoples. While data sovereignty has become a ubiquitous concern, Indigenous data sovereignty arises from contexts specific to Indigenous peoples. The focus of the above article is to provide a brief overview of recent data sovereignty developments, along with the context that lies behind these activities.
Indigenous Data Sovereignty Readiness Assessment and Evaluation Toolkit
This toolkit was designed by the Lowitja Institute, Australia's national institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research and is designed to evaluate the use of Indigenous Data Sovereignty practices (ID-SOV) in research and academic environments. It's goal is to improve individual capabilities and takes a whole-of-organisation approach to embedding ID-SOV practices.

Acknowledgement and citation

"Indigenous peoples’ rights are, by definition, collective rights… The international community clearly affirms that Indigenous peoples require recognition of their collective rights as peoples to enable them to enjoy human rights" (United Nations, 2013, p. 7).

Reference

United Nations. Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. (2013). Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations Human Rights System fact sheet No.9/Rev.2. https://www.ohchr.org/en/publications/fact-sheets/fact-sheet-no-09-rev-2-indigenous-people-and-united-nations-human-rights

Academic citation styles generally fit within Western understanding of knowledge creation, and privilege individual or corporate ownership of intellectual property. First Nations people may prioritise collective ownership of knowledge - Nation, Clan, Language Group or Community may therefore need acknowledgement as well, as or instead, of individuals.

There are no universally accepted guidelines so always seek consultation with First Nations individuals or groups you are referencing for their preferred forms of acknowledgement. The following resources might get you started, but they are not definitive.

Acknowledging First Nations sources
The RMIT Open Press Style Guide sets out guidance for including First Nations Nation, Clan, Community or Language Group within in-text citation and reference list entries, and on using traditional honorifics such as Aunty or Uncle for First Nations Australians.
Australian Government Style manual
Guidance on culturally appropriate and respectful language when writing with, for or about First Nations Australians.
Referencing Toolkit: Indigenous referencing guidance for Indigenous knowledge
This resource was created by the Indigenous Archives Collective (IAC), through funding by CAVAL and support by CACIK. A downloadable toolkit that includes a decision tree for assessing content and attribution, as well as a citation and referencing guide based on APA 7th.

Teaching and Research guides

Research integrity