Indigenous Data in Sápmi - Recent Developments

This paper aims to investigate the applicability of the CARE principles within Sápmi for the management of research data, encompassing its collection, storage, usage, and reusability. Despite the contextual differences between the Nordic national states and the CANZUS states – as well as within Sápmi itself – Sámi alongside other Indigenous peoples are entitled to assert self-determination over data in line with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). While this paper will not delve into the legal frameworks governing research data and Indigenous rights, it is important to note that although there is extensive legislation safeguarding individual data, there is a comparative lack of focus on the absence of collective rights for Indigenous peoples to data. This oversight challenges the rights of Indigenous peoples to self-determination and infringes upon their human rights.

Indigenous and Sámi research data encompass a broad spectrum and includes data that is digital, recorded, or yet not digitalized, such as knowledge and information about or related to Sámi individuals, peoples, their lands, waters, natural resources, and ways of living. Indigenous and Sámi data is habitually collected and stored outside the reach of Indigenous societies in infrastructures for research institutions, memorial institutions, governments and public sectors.

CARE principles offer valuable insights into research data management and ethical considerations for researchers in the Nordic countries. The Swedish Research Council updated its “Good research in practice” in 2024 and highlighted the CARE principles (in connection with FAIR) in a chapter addressing research ethics regulations and the actors and resources that researchers can use to get guidance on good research practices.