Indigenous data sovereignty: The future of evidence-based policy in Australia and New Zealand

This event explored Indigenous data sovereignty and its implications for the future of evidence-based policy making for Indigenous communities in Australia and New Zealand. It examined how data concerning Indigenous Peoples is collected, governed, and used, with a particular focus on strengthening practices at the regional and subnational level. Discussions highlighted approaches to improving the quality, relevance, and accessibility of data, while ensuring that Indigenous Peoples have a meaningful role in decision-making over data that concerns them. The event also considered how regional governments can use Indigenous-led and culturally appropriate data to design more effective, place-based policies. 

Indigenous data sovereignty has emerged as a critical issue in public policy as governments increasingly rely on data to design and monitor policies affecting Indigenous Peoples. Historically, data on Indigenous communities has often been collected without adequate consent or benefit for Indigenous Peoples themselves, often leading to mistrust and policy outcomes that fail to reflect realities. Today, there is growing recognition that data must be governed in ways that respect Indigenous rights, knowledge systems, and self-determination.

For policy makers, particularly at the regional and local level, Indigenous data sovereignty is central to improving the legitimacy and effectiveness of public action. When Indigenous Peoples are involved in defining what data is collected, how it is interpreted, and how it is used, policies are more likely to respond to local priorities and deliver better economic, social, and environmental outcomes. This event discussed the appropriate processes, technologies, and approaches to the collection, accessibility, and usage of Indigenous data, with implications for regional policy making across the contexts of Australia and New Zealand.