Social Research and Indigenous Data Sovereignty

<p>This chapter explores the dynamic interplay<br>between social research and the Indigenous<br>Data Sovereignty (IDSov) movement. In the<br>fields of data and society, IDSov aims to disrupt<br>colonial paradigms, emphasising the<br>urgent need for Indigenous1 peoples and communities<br>to reclaim authority over their data to<br>define their narratives and futures (Kukutai &<br>Taylor 2016b; Walter, Kukutai et al. 2021).<br>Quality data are the backbone of a society,<br>informing, empowering, and facilitating progress<br>across diverse aspects of human life.<br>However, current data landscapes are marked<br>by historical and ongoing imbalances, where<br>marginalised populations, such as Indigenous<br>minorities in Anglo-colonised nations like<br>Canada, Australia, Aotearoa (New Zealand),<br>and the United States2, experience significant<br>challenges attaining the data they need<br>(Walter & Anderson 2013).</p> <p><br>In this context, the argument for IDSov<br>gains prominence as it addresses the<br>immediate need for Indigenous communities<br>to assert control over their data and establish<br>their own data systems. This effort is crucial<br>for rectifying historical and ongoing injustices<br>and empowering Indigenous voices to shape<br>their narratives. As societies become increasingly<br>digitized and interconnected, IDSov<br>emerges as a vital means for Indigenous peoples<br>to preserve and strengthen their cultural<br>identities while leveraging emerging technologies<br>to achieve individual and communal<br>aspirations (Kukutai & Taylor 2016a; Walter<br>et al., 2021).</p>