Implementing the CARE Principles: The CARE-full Process

The global call for Indigenous data sovereignty—the right of a nation to govern the collection, ownership, and application of its own data—has grown in intensity and scope over the past five years. At the same time, researchers, data repositories, and data service operations are increasingly aware of the need to choose and prioritise data governance and stewardship mechanisms that align with Indigenous rights and Indigenous aspirations to improve data quality and functionality. 

Meanwhile there is a growing push for sharing and reusing data by humans and machines. The FAIR principles are increasingly being used as a framework for this. However appropriate sharing and reuse does require awareness of and application of governance and stewardship mechanisms that are relevant for indigenous data.

The RDA International Indigenous Data Sovereignty IG was formed in response to the need for a wider understanding of Indigenous data sovereignty, providing an avenue and space for high level collaborative engagement in the rapidly developing environment of Indigenous data. 

The goals of the International Indigenous Data Sovereignty IG are clearly aligned with the RDA mission of creating a global community to develop and adopt infrastructure that promotes data-sharing, data-driven research, and data use. 

The RDA FAIR Maturity Model WG was set up to develop a community agreed maturity model to assess the FAIRness of data sets and assist the respondent in identifying where they might be able to improve their FAIR data practice and thereby increase data sharing and data-driven research.