How should Indigenous researchers implement data sovereignty?

• A. Researchers retain full control over data regardless of community preferences.
• B. Community governance over data storage and sharing should be honored, with benefits shared with the community.
• C. Honor community governance, control over data storage/sharing, and share benefits with the community.
• D. Data should be stored on open public servers for transparency.

Answer: (C)

Indigenous data sovereignty means data about Indigenous peoples should be owned and controlled by the communities they pertain to, including decisions about who can access it, where it is stored, and how the benefits of research are shared. The best answer puts this into practice by honoring community governance over data storage and sharing and ensuring the community has control over these processes and receives benefits from the work. This aligns with OCAP principles and the ethical duty to partner with communities rather than have researchers unilaterally decide data stewardship.

Options that give researchers sole control or default to open, public storage undermine community authority and privacy, which is why they aren’t appropriate.