Ashlynn Gerth
Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDSov) is more than a governance framework—it is a paradigm of respect, relational accountability, and community agency. This session invites journalists, researchers, IDSov advocates, media experts and content creators to explore how storytelling shapes public understanding of Indigenous rights to data, knowledge, and representation. This collaborative roundtable discussion is designed to seed enduring partnerships that strengthen IDSov, while enriching journalistic integrity and expanding the reach of informed Indigenous perspectives. Participants will learn best practices and share strategies for responsible reporting and ethical storytelling, including how to engage with communities as partners rather than sources, contextualizing data with Indigenous epistemologies, and avoiding the perpetuation of harmful practices through language and interpretation. By the end of the session, participants will: – Understand IDSov principles and their implications for media representation – Be familiarized with best practices and examples of IDSov-informed reporting – Build cross-sector networks for future collaboration and resource sharing The transformative potential of collaborative, community-centered media practices can only be realized through meaningful relationship-building and mutual empowerment. This session invites us to collectively shift the paradigm—away from stories about Indigenous peoples and toward stories by and with Indigenous peoples. Together, we can foster media ecosystems grounded in reciprocity, transparency, and cultural respect.