A data-governance conversation needs to happen before collection begins, with the First Nation directing the arrangements that concern its information.
Information governance affects the design of a project from the beginning. It shapes what is collected, who can use it and what remains with the community when the consultant’s work is finished.
The First Nations principles of OCAP® refer to ownership, control, access and possession. The First Nations Information Governance Centre explains that their application reflects each Nation’s worldview and protocols. These are First Nations principles. They should not be presented as a single framework representing every Indigenous people.
For a consulting team, the practical starting point is a conversation with the First Nation about its requirements and decision-making authority. A statement in a proposal does not establish those arrangements. They need to be understood and reflected in the project’s actual processes.
A useful project brief can make space for questions such as.
• Who decides what information is needed and whether it may be collected?
• Where will the records be held, and who will have access during and after the project?
• How will interpretations, quotations and proposed publication be reviewed?
• What happens to source files, backups and copies when the assignment ends?
These questions also affect procurement. A software platform, transcription service or subcontractor can introduce additional access to project information. Those choices should be assessed against the agreed requirements before the service is used.
For example, a team could propose a report with a public summary and a restricted evidence record. Whether that arrangement is appropriate is a decision to work through with the Nation. The format should follow the agreed purpose and authority, rather than the consultant’s preferred workflow.
It is equally important to budget for this work. Review, secure storage, accessible handover and appropriate participation take time. Treating them as project tasks makes the obligations easier to deliver and easier to check.
OCAP® should not be used as a marketing badge or a claim that a consultant has been endorsed. FNIGC explicitly notes that completing its training is not a licence or endorsement of someone’s work. The meaningful evidence lies in the relationships, agreements and practices governing the particular project.
OCAP® is a registered trademark of the First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC).
Sources
First Nations Information Governance Centre. (n.d.). The First Nations principles of OCAP®.
