Sandra Littletree
Joshua Brown
Few libraries and data repositories have the digital and human infrastructure to support the diverse data needs of Indigenous scholars who use qualitative research methods and collect culturally sensitive data. Additionally, archives holding established collections of qualitative research data often lack the data stewardship infrastructures aligned with the values and desires of Indigenous communities and their data sovereignty goals. The Data Services for Indigenous Scholarship and Sovereignty (DSISS) initiative at the University of Washington Information School is developing practical and technical approaches to the CARE Principles for research data services (RDS) and library and archival practices. Guided by engagement with scholars with work deeply embedded in Indigenous communities, DSISS is examining how data infrastructures within the Qualitative Data Repository (QDR) can support stewardship of Indigenous culture and language data in ways that bring the relational accountability inherent in Indigenous research to the forefront. This presentation provides an overview and preliminary progress of the project’s two tracks: 1) CARE for Active Scholarship and 2) CARE for Established Collections. We will discuss the project’s development of the collaborative curation approach that advances metadata, documentation, and controls for data from active scholars. Additionally, we will share our analysis of archival records for CARE enhancement opportunities, including potential for application of TK (Traditional Knowledge) Notices and enriched description. The DSISS project is committed to providing operational frameworks and guidelines for institutions to enhance contextual and relational integrity, and the imperative of building trust between collecting institutions and Indigenous communities.