| KALI DALE (White Earth Ojibwe), Director of Research, Native BioData Consortium

The COVID-19 pandemic brought to the forefront critical issues of data sovereignty particularly in Indigenous communities. This Native BioData Consortium (NBDC) is at the forefront of the multifaceted challenges and opportunities surrounding Indigenous data sovereignty in the context of COVID-19 testing on tribal reservations and the genomic sequencing of the virus.

Indigenous data sovereignty is essential in the context of COVID-19 testing on tribal reservations, this principle is crucial, as Indigenous communities have unique cultural, social, and health considerations that must be respected. The pandemic exposed disparities in healthcare access and resources, and Indigenous communities were disproportionately affected. Maintaining sovereignty over their health data is critical for these communities to address these disparities effectively. Balancing the need for comprehensive public health data with the imperative to protect Indigenous data sovereignty is an ongoing challenge, highlighting the importance of building trust, fostering respectful partnerships, and incorporating Indigenous perspectives in public health efforts.

The NBDC is providing high-quality rapid testing of COVID-19 for Tribal reservation residents and variant sequencing of the virus. The genomic sequencing of COVID-19 has been instrumental in tracking and understanding the virus. With this service the NBDC is supporting and building capacity in a Northern Plains Tribe with economic opportunities and data sovereignty.