Indigenous Data Sovereignty Policy Brief

Lowitja Institute, 2023

This policy brief by the Lowitja Institute addresses Indigenous Data Sovereignty (ID-SOV) and Indigenous Data Governance (ID-GOV) in Australia. It critiques the reliance on deficit-based data, which portrays Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples negatively and obstructs their empowerment. The brief calls for a shift to strengths-based data approaches, which highlight Indigenous leadership and knowledge. Recommendations include ensuring Indigenous peoples have control over their data, investing in Indigenous data infrastructure, and embedding ID-SOV principles into government policies, including the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Read the policy brief here.