Data should be managed in line with legislative and policy requirements, as well as the FAIR and CARE principles, and support Indigenous data governance and sovereignty.
Engagement, communication and co-design of any data management practices are important. Time to build relationships with communities and participants will be needed, and discussions around ownership, informed consent, access to data (particularly culturally sensitive data) are imperative. appropriate consultation will vary according to the data and the community and may involve discussions at an individual, local, or wider level. AITSIS has resources on identifying and contacting local communities. Researchers should ensure they understand and respect the requirements and expectations of the community, and communicate clearly any benefits and their intentions for the research data.
Working with Indigenous peoples and communities will guide researchers to determine what data should be collected, how data or specimens will be collected and used, ownership and custodianships roles, rights around Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property, and who has the rights to repatriate the data back to communities. These considerations can then be embedded in clear and transparent Data Sharing Agreements and Data Management Plans. Engagement is required across the data lifecycle and beyond, from planning, data collection and analysis, storage and security, and data sharing.
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Culturally sensitive data can relate to Indigenous knowledge or data which may be restricted in some way under customary laws, traditions or practices and protocols. Researchers need to familiarise themselves with any cultural sensitivity issues that may arise in relation to the places, people, plants or animals they are researching.
Examples include photographs or descriptions of ceremonies that can only be viewed by initiated members of the community of origin, or material that is considered 'women's business'. There are also communities with cultural sensitivities about using the names, images or recordings of people who have died. It may also extend to sensitive material that may recall past trauma, for example data, documentation, oral histories or other research materials relating to Stolen Generations. Access to culturally sensitive data may be restricted by age, gender, family, Country or other factors, so ongoing engagement with communities and representatives is critical to identify and respect any cultural protocols.
Planning for appropriate collection and dissemination of culturally sensitive data should involve the relevant communities, document any requirements or cultural constraints and ensure appropriate storage, access and access controls are in place.