Overview
This lecture outlines key principles, terms, and rights related to Māori Data Sovereignty, emphasizing Māori control over data concerning their people, language, culture, and resources.
Definitions and Context
- Māori data includes digital or digitizable information about or from Māori people, culture, language, resources, or environments.
- Māori Data Sovereignty is the inherent right of Māori to control collection, ownership, and application of their data.
- Māori Data Governance involves principles, structures, policies, and accountability for Māori data control.
Principles of Māori Data Sovereignty
Rangatiratanga | Authority
- Māori have the right to control all aspects of their data and its ecosystem.
- Data storage decisions should enhance Māori control and prioritize storage within New Zealand.
- Data must empower Māori self-determination and effective self-governance.
Whakapapa | Relationships
- All data has a genealogy (whakapapa); metadata must record origin, purpose, context, and involved parties.
- Disaggregating Māori data makes it more relevant for communities; coding must align with Māori needs.
- Data decisions affect future generations and governance must aim to prevent future harm.
Whanaungatanga | Obligations
- Individual rights, risks, and benefits must be balanced with collective Māori rights.
- Accountability for data creation, use, or management lies with those handling Māori data, towards the source communities.
Kotahitanga | Collective Benefit
- Data systems should provide individual and collective benefit to Māori.
- There is a need to build Māori workforce capacity for all data-related activities.
- Relationships with other Indigenous groups should be fostered for shared learning and goals.
Manaakitanga | Reciprocity
- Data use must uphold Māori dignity, avoiding practices that stigmatize or blame.
- Free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) is required for any Māori data use, with stronger governance if consent is unclear.
Kaitiakitanga | Guardianship
- Māori must be able to exercise guardianship (kaitiakitanga) over their data.
- Māori protocols (tikanga, kawa) and knowledge must guide ethical data protection, access, and use.
- Māori have the right to declare data as restricted (tapu) or open (noa).
Key Terms & Definitions
- Māori data — Digital or digitizable information about or from Māori people, language, culture, or environment.
- Māori Data Sovereignty — Māori rights and interests over the collection, ownership, and use of their data.
- Māori Data Governance — Systems for Māori to control their data.
- Rangatiratanga — Authority and self-determination.
- Whakapapa — Genealogy or relationship context of data.
- Whanaungatanga — Balancing individual and collective obligations.
- Kotahitanga — Collective benefit.
- Manaakitanga — Reciprocity and respect in data use.
- Kaitiakitanga — Guardianship and ethical stewardship.
- Tapu/Noa — Restricted/open access classifications for data.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the six principles and consider how they apply to current or future data projects involving Māori data.
- Ensure consent processes and storage policies align with Māori Data Sovereignty principles.
- Read further about Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for indigenous data use.