Sedran-Price C1, Taitingfong R2, Black K3, Harkin K1, Russo Carroll S4, Hudson M5
1University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney, Lismore, Australia, 2Indigenous Data Alliance, , United States, 3Australian Research Data Commons, , Australia, 4University of Arizona, , United States, 5University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
Biography:
Cas Sedran-Price is a proud Muruwari/Gangugari woman and Senior Research Fellow at the University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney. Her interdisciplinary research explores the connections between Country, culture and health, with a focus on Indigenous-led environmental and public health research. An internationally recognised leader in Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance, Cas is the founder and Director of the Collaboratory for Indigenous Data Governance Australia.
Kylie Black is a Research Data Specialist in sensitive data at the ARDC. While her work encompasses personally identifiable data, restricted access species data, data governance and trusted research environments, she is particularly focused on supporting Indigenous-led projects to implement Indigenous Data Governance.
Abstract:
Indigenous Data Foundations is a two-year Learning Partnership (Jan 2026–Dec 2027) supporting NEESFF (National Earth and Environmental Sciences Facilities Forum) organisations to strengthen the governance and management of Indigenous data across national research infrastructure. The project responds to a growing need for practical, organisation-level approaches that recognise Indigenous Data Sovereignty, uphold Indigenous rights and interests in data, and support ethical, transparent and accountable data practices.
The project is Indigenous-led in collaboration with the University of Sydney, Indigenous Data Alliance with expertise from First Nations national and international leaders. It will build capability across NEESFF partners through workshops on Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Indigenous Data Governance, the CARE and Maiam nayri Wingara (MnW) principles, and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property. Practical Indigenous data and ICIP guidance, templates and toolkits are being developed to support Learning Partners to adapt and strengthen their own organisational policies, metadata practices, repository processes and MnW and CARE-aligned workflows.
A core component of the project is an Indigenous data and governance self-review undertaken by each participating organisation. By the end of the project, these organisations will have a clearer understanding of Indigenous data, responsibilities and rights, and tailored recommendations to strengthen their systems and processes.
While the project focus is on earth and environmental infrastructures, it is grounded in the rights, authority and interests of Indigenous Peoples. By strengthening organisational capability, accountability and readiness, the project aims to support Indigenous-led governance and more consistent, respectful and transparent data practices across national research infrastructure.
