CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance facts for kids

The CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance are important guidelines created to help Indigenous peoples have more control over their own information. These principles build on the ideas of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which is a global agreement about the rights of Indigenous peoples.

The CARE Principles were developed by a group called the International Indigenous Data Sovereignty Interest Group, which is part of the Research Data Alliance. They help make sure that when data about Indigenous peoples is collected or used, it is done in a way that respects their rights and benefits their communities.

What Does CARE Stand For?

The word CARE is an acronym, which means each letter stands for a different important idea:

• Collective Benefit
• Authority to Control
• Responsibility
• Ethics

These four ideas guide how data should be managed to support Indigenous communities.

Collective Benefit

This principle means that any data collected from or about Indigenous peoples should be used in ways that benefit their communities as a whole. It's about making sure the information helps improve their health, education, culture, and overall well-being. For example, if data is collected about traditional lands, it should help protect those lands for future generations.

Authority to Control

This principle states that Indigenous peoples have the right to decide how their data is collected, used, and shared. It means they should have the power to say "yes" or "no" to how information about them is handled. This is important because, historically, data about Indigenous peoples was often used without their permission or in ways that did not benefit them. This principle helps ensure Indigenous data sovereignty, which is the right of Indigenous peoples to own and control their own data.

Responsibility

This principle highlights the responsibility of those who work with Indigenous data. It means that researchers, governments, and organizations must act carefully and respectfully when handling this information. They have a duty to protect the data and use it in a way that is fair and just. It also means that Indigenous communities themselves have a responsibility to manage their data in a way that upholds their values and helps their people.

Ethics

The ethics principle focuses on doing what is morally right and fair. It means that all data practices must be guided by strong ethical standards that respect Indigenous cultures, traditions, and laws. This includes being transparent about how data will be used, protecting privacy, and ensuring that data collection does not harm individuals or communities. It's about building trust and making sure data work is done with integrity.

Why are the CARE Principles Important?

The CARE Principles are very important because they help make sure that data about Indigenous peoples is used to support their self-determination. Self-determination means the right of a group of people to govern themselves and make their own decisions. By controlling their data, Indigenous communities can better plan for their future, protect their heritage, and address their unique needs.

These principles also help to correct past wrongs where data was used in ways that did not respect Indigenous rights. They ensure that data becomes a tool for empowerment and positive change, rather than something that can be used against communities.

How CARE Builds on FAIR Data

You might have heard of the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), which are also about managing data. While FAIR helps make data easy to find and use, CARE goes a step further. CARE focuses on the "who" and "why" behind the data, especially when it comes to Indigenous information.

CARE considers the power differences and historical experiences that Indigenous peoples have faced. It makes sure that even if data is "FAIR," it is also used in a way that respects Indigenous rights and helps their communities. It's about making data useful and ethical for everyone, especially for those who have been historically marginalized.

The CARE Principles have already started to be used in new data systems, like the Beta version of Standardised Data on Initiatives (STARDIT). This shows how these principles are becoming a key part of how data is managed around the world.

See also

• FAIR data
• Data sovereignty