Implementing the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance in Biodiversity Data Management

Indigenous data governance is a critical aspect of upholding Indigenous rights and fostering equitable partnerships in biodiversity research and data management. An estimated 80% of the planet’s biodiversity exists on Indigenous lands (Sobrevila 2008), and the majority of Indigenous data derived from specimens taken from Indigenous lands are held by non-Indigenous entities and institutions. The CARE Principles (Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility, and Ethics) are designed to guide the inclusion of Indigenous peoples in data governance, and increase their access to and benefit from data (Carroll et al. 2020). This talk will share emerging tools and resources that can be leveraged to implement the CARE Principles within repositories and institutions that hold Indigenous data. This talk highlights two primary tools to promote Indigenous data governance in repositories: a phased framework to guide third-party holders of Indigenous data through foundational learning and concrete steps to apply the CARE principles in their respective settings, and the CARE criteria, an assessment tool by which researchers and institutions can evaluate the maturity of CARE implementation, identify areas for improvement, and allow other entities such as funders and publishers to evaluate CARE compliance. a phased framework to guide third-party holders of Indigenous data through foundational learning and concrete steps to apply the CARE principles in their respective settings, and the CARE criteria, an assessment tool by which researchers and institutions can evaluate the maturity of CARE implementation, identify areas for improvement, and allow other entities such as funders and publishers to evaluate CARE compliance.