Indigenous sovereignty, data sourcing, and knowledge sharing for health

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Indigenous Studies
• Epidemiology

Background:

• COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected Indigenous Peoples (IPs).
• Federal systems often failed to adequately support Indigenous communities during the crisis.
• Indigenous organizations and communities initiated their own information-gathering efforts.

Approach:

• Documented strategies employed by Indigenous Peoples (IPs) to understand and respond to the pandemic.
• Examined collaborative efforts within and between Indigenous nations.
• Reviewed the use of open-source data platforms and small-scale epidemiological research.

Key Points:

• Indigenous communities utilized collaborative networks and data platforms to navigate the pandemic.
• Faced challenges related to informational politics and resource acquisition.
• Struggled to balance resource needs with avoiding critiques of 'post-neoliberalism' and 'science denialism'.

Conclusions:

• Indigenous-led initiatives are crucial for understanding and responding to public health crises.
• Emphasized the importance of informational and medical self-governance for Indigenous communities.
• Proposed strategies for improving support and understanding of Indigenous needs during health emergencies.