The Strategic Power of Data: A Key Aspect of Sovereignty

Abstract

The lack of good data about U.S. American Indian and Alaska Native populations hinders tribes’ development activities, but it also highlights a space for sovereign action. In coming years, tribes will no doubt continue to advocate for better national data and at the same time increasingly implement their own “data agendas” by gathering high quality, culturally relevant information about their communities. With more meaningful data, tribal policymakers can make informed decisions about which policies and programs are right for the task at hand. Strategic data planning empowers tribes to tell their communities’ stories through their own data, and not that of others.

A guiding model for decolonizing environmental science research and restoring relational accountability with Indigenous communities

“…Manuscript 3: Although we observe a growing interest and openness towards diversity and inclusion in the sciences, few efforts have addressed the need to reconcile the impacts of centuries of oppression, extractive models of research, and lack of accountability evidenced in the record of colonial-driven research agendas in Indigenous communities (Simpson, 2004;Smith, 2012). Further, Indigenous communities recognize an ongoing need for improving access to data that reflects the needs, knowledges, and priorities of their communities, rather than externally-driven agendas (Moore, Castelden, Tirone, & Martin, 2017;Rainie, Briggs, et al, 2017;Schultz & Rainie, 2014;Whyte, 2018). This conceptual paper and case study summary address this gap through the development of a working model for restoring relational accountability and decolonizing community-based science research with Indigenous communities.…”

“…In my development of a working model for decolonizing science research, I identified how cross-disciplinary knowledge transfer (as presented through the synthesis in the 3 rd manuscript), along with Indigenous, community-based, participatory action research, and qualitative methodologies (as applied in case studies in the 2 nd and 3 rd manuscripts) can support these efforts. This research also identified specific areas, such as IRB/REB protocols (Brant Castellano, 2004;Cross et al, 2015;Flicker et al, 2007;Riddell et al, 2017) and data stewardship practices (Kukutai & Taylor, 2016;Schultz & Rainie, 2014) where institutions can immediately enact improvements in research standards with Indigenous communities (detailed in the 3 rd manuscript and "actionable methods and resources" within the working model). In terms of academic research, two specific areas in need of continued improvement include revising IRB/REB protocol requirements and grant funding timelines to more effectively support community-driven and designed research protocols that respect the needs of Indigenous communities.…”

“…increasing recognition in scientific forums, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), of the value of Indigenous knowledges for addressing complex social-ecological issues such as climate change and conserving biodiversity(Adger et al, 2014; Maria Tengö, Brondizio, Elmqvist, Malmer, & Spierenburg, 2014; Thaman et al, 2013).However, evidence shows that studies engaging with Indigenous knowledge systems continue to reflect an imbalance in power distribution, often repeating the same extractive research practices(David-Chavez & Gavin, 2018). Further, research and data practices regarding Indigenous communities remain dominantly shaped by external agendas, resulting in a lack of relevant, timely, and accurate data for decision-makers within those communities(Schultz & Rainie, 2014).In response to ongoing ethical misconduct and ineffective research standards, protocols protecting Indigenous community rights in various stages of development and formal recognition from governing bodies, continue to arise at the tribal community level(KSDPP, 2007; Kūlana Noi'i Working Group, 2018; South African San Institute, 2017), national level(CTKW, 2014;Rainie, Rodriguez-Lonebear, et al, 2017a), and internationally(United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 2013; United Nations General Assembly, 2007). These initiatives represent an emergent pattern within science research in which Indigenous communities impacted by colonization across the world are engaging in and leading research efforts focused towards honoring and strengthening Indigenous lifeways and principles of ethics…”

Critical epidemiology in action: Research for and by indigenous peoples

“…Reflecting this broader context, some studies present epidemiological data while explicitly referencing major transnational activist goals of promoting indigenous rights to cultural distinctiveness (e.g., King, Smith, & Gracey, 2009 ; Walters, Beltran, Huh, & Evans-Campbell, 2011 ) and sovereignty ( Anderson et al, 2016 ; Schultz & Rainie, 2014 ). Others document how conventional population health statistics reflect limited indigenous input, resulting in erasure and misrepresentation.…”

Investing in Student Success: Examining the Return on Investment for Minority‐Serving Institutions

“…Such an initiative should be tribally driven with support and funding from federal, mainstream accreditation, and other entities. An intentional, tribally determined data collection plan for TCUs and tribes would improve TCU and tribal capacity, allow TCUs to better respond to tribal and community needs, and ultimately enhance tribal sovereignty and self‐determination (Cross et al, ; Schultz & Rainie, ).…”