H Trostle
The CARE (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, and Ethics) guiding principles require an innovative approach to collecting sensitive information. This case study considers one method used by researchers at the Center for Indian Country Development at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis in order to ensure that Indigenous communities have (A) control over their financial data from start to finish in the Survey of Native Nations and (C) receive back analysis that is of collective benefit to the tribe. The survey design was flexible and secure in the 7 following ways: 1) Almost no question on the survey was required. 2) Exact answers were not required as yes/no, estimates and (occasionally) ranges were accepted. 3) Almost every question could be declined. 4) Only specific designees of the tribal government were allowed access to the survey. 5) The researchers took steps to confirm accuracy and utility of information after data submission if there were discrepancies. 6) The data is owned by the tribes and controlled by the tribes and can be removed from the dataset at any time by the tribal government. 7) The researchers designed the reports based on the data submission, respecting the clear limits placed upon them by the tribal governments’ sovereign choice in filling out the survey.