The CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance
Bibliography
Carroll, S. R., Garba, I., Figueroa-Rodríguez, O. L., Holbrook, J., Lovett, R., Materechera, S., Parsons, M., Raseroka, K., Rodriguez-Lonebear, D., Rowe, R., Sara, R., Walker, J. D., Anderson, J., & Hudson, M. (2020). The CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance. Data Science Journal, 19(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2020-043
Abstract
Concerns about secondary use of data and limited opportunities for benefit-sharing have focused attention on the tension that Indigenous communities feel between (1) protecting Indigenous rights and interests in Indigenous data (including traditional knowledges) and (2) supporting open data, machine learning, broad data sharing, and big data initiatives. The International Indigenous Data Sovereignty Interest Group (within the Research Data Alliance) is a network of nation-state based Indigenous data sovereignty networks and individuals that developed the ‘CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance’ (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, and Ethics) in consultation with Indigenous Peoples, scholars, non-profit organizations, and governments. The CARE Principles are people– and purpose-oriented, reflecting the crucial role of data in advancing innovation, governance, and self-determination among Indigenous Peoples. The Principles complement the existing data-centric approach represented in the ‘FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship’ (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). The CARE Principles build upon earlier work by the Te Mana Raraunga Maori Data Sovereignty Network, US Indigenous Data Sovereignty Network, Maiam nayri Wingara Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Data Sovereignty Collective, and numerous Indigenous Peoples, nations, and communities. The goal is that stewards and other users of Indigenous data will ‘Be FAIR and CARE.’ In this first formal publication of the CARE Principles, we articulate their rationale, describe their relation to the FAIR Principles, and present examples of their application.
Notes
Notes
- FAIR: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable
- CARE: Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility, Ethics
Go to annotation“The articulation of Indigenous Peoples’ rights and interests in data about their peoples, communities, cultures, and territories is part of reclaiming control of data, data ecosystems, data science, and data narratives in the context of open data and open science.” (Carroll et al., 2020, p. 2)
The wording of ecosystems and narratives are particularly interesting compared to the wording of cost-efficiency and optimizing. Where as FAIR is about being efficient, CARE is about the people, communities and epistemologies behind the data.
The CARE practices and principles come out of the need to realize indigenous peoples human rights within indigenous lived worlds. It’s an active stance against colonizers epistemicide. The corpus of indigenous data is way more inclusive and specific than what FAIR described.
Go to annotation“Indigenous Peoples’ data comprise (1) information and knowledge about the environment, lands, skies, resources, and non-humans with which they have relations; (2) information about Indigenous persons such as administrative, census, health, social, commercial, and corporate and, (3) information and knowledge about Indigenous Peoples as collectives, including traditional and cultural information, oral histories, ancestral and clan knowledge, cultural sites, and stories, belongings.” (Carroll et al., 2020, p. 3)
How does that compare to bioscience data?
The graphic confirms my thoughts, (Carroll et al., 2020, p. 4). CARE is much more people focused, whereas FAIR is focused on data.
Go to annotation
(Carroll et al., 2020, p. 4)
I’d love to see some best practice examples. Nonetheless, I like how CARE sees itself as working together with FAIR, indirectly criticizing it, but also delivering the solution to the problem.
Go to annotation“Just as the FAIR Principles are a precursor to good data management and stewardship practices, the CARE Principles encourage data users to be FAIR and CARE.” (Carroll et al., 2020, p. 8)