Accessing and Working with Indigenous data

When working with Indigenous data, it is important to apply wise Indigenous health research practices including Indigenous data sovereignty.

  • Step 3 of the pathway includes a comprehensive compilation of resources on this topic.

  • Foundational texts on Indigenous health research methodology include Research is Ceremony by Shawn Wilson and Decolonizing Methodologies by Linda Tuhiwai Smith

  • It is important to collaborate with and understand community priorities. Some Communities and/or their associated Nations have research ethics boards, thus their procedures and policies are vital to respect and follow. It is key to receive project-related Community or Nation-specific approvals and/or letters of support if this is their standard. This process should also build trust between the research team and the collaborating Community or Nation.

  • For more information about conducting research in partnership with Indigenous communities, we recommend this free course 
by Queen’s University.

  • The First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC) also offers a course on the First Nations data governance principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP®)

Learn more about the CCNA Publication and Data Access Committee review process here:

See the Indigenous Cognitive Health Publications and Data Access Guidelines

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