The Role of The Keeping Place in Data Sovereignty and Empowerment
In the evolving landscape of data management and cultural preservation, Indigenous Culture & Intellectual Property (ICIP) stands as a cornerstone of Indigenous rights and sovereignty. ICIP refers to the unique cultural knowledge, traditions, and practices that belong to Indigenous peoples and are often encapsulated in various forms of intellectual property. Understanding and managing ICIP is critical to respecting and protecting the heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
At The Keeping Place (TKP), we are committed to bringing ICIP to life and putting these principles into practice through our platform, ensuring that Indigenous corporations and communities maintain control over their data and intellectual property.
What is Indigenous Culture & Intellectual Property (ICIP)?
Indigenous Culture & Intellectual Property (ICIP) encompasses the cultural, traditional, and intellectual assets of Indigenous communities. This includes, but is not limited to, traditional knowledge, ceremonial practices, artistic expressions, and language. ICIP is distinct because it is deeply rooted in the cultural context and is often passed down through generations. It holds significant value not just for the Indigenous communities themselves but for the broader society that benefits from their knowledge and cultural richness.
Historically, Indigenous communities have faced challenges in protecting their IP from unauthorised use and exploitation. As global interest in Indigenous culture grows, the need for robust mechanisms to manage and safeguard ICIP becomes increasingly critical. The goal is to ensure that Indigenous communities can exercise control over their intellectual property and that their cultural heritage is respected and preserved according to their values and needs.
How The Keeping Place Brings ICIP to Life
The Keeping Place plays a pivotal role in operationalising the principles of ICIP through our innovative platform. Our approach is centred around empowering Indigenous corporations to manage their own data and intellectual property in a manner that aligns with their cultural values and governance structures.
Indigenous People as Data Custodians
At TKP, we recognise that Indigenous People are the rightful custodians of their own data. Our platform is designed to support Indigenous people and their corporations by providing a secure and culturally sensitive environment for data management. This means that the Indigenous Peoples through their corporation are in control of their data, including who has access to it and under what circumstances.
Through TKP’s Cultural Governance and Protocol protections our platform acknowledges and puts into practice Indigenous Peoples ICIP and Indigenous Data (ID) rights to:
- Respect – The ability to maintain, control, protect and develop their ICIP, ID and their intellectual property
- Self-determination – The ability to be involved in decision making process about activities that affect their ICIP and ID
- Consent & Consultation – The ability to consulted and consent to the collection, access and use of ICIP and ID
- Interpretation – The ability to determine and develop priorities and strategies for their ICIP and ID
- Cultural Integrity – The ability to maintain the integrity of their ICIP and ID
- Confidentiality & Privacy – The ability to keep their information, ICIP and ID confidential
- Attribution – The ability to be acknowledged and attributed for their contributions of ICIP, ID
- Benefit Sharing – The ability to share in the benefits derived from or based upon the use of their ICIP and ID
- Cultural Maintenance and Access – The ability to protect, maintain, revitalise and advance their cultures
- Recognition & Protection – The ability to recognise and protect their ICID and ID and advocate for recognition of these rights under policy and law.
At its heart TKP’s platform is about allowing Indigenous People and the representative corporations to Manage Data Sovereignty. We enable Indigenous people and their corporations to maintain complete control over their data assets.
This control extends to deciding who can access their data, how it is used, and how it is shared. By establishing this level of autonomy, we uphold the principles of data sovereignty, self-determination and Free & Prior Informed Consent (FPIC).
Indigenous People & their corporations decide:
- Who can access their ICIP & ID information
- What ICIP & ID is available to be accessed
- Where their ICIP & ID it is stored and collected
- How access to ICIP & ID is governed through tailored cultural governance protocols
This process is crucial for ensuring that the use of Indigenous data aligns with community values and goals, and that it supports their aspirations rather than undermining them.
The Path Forward
The role of The Keeping Place in the governance of Indigenous data is integral to supporting the broader goals of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. By empowering Indigenous People & their corporations to manage their intellectual property and data effectively, we contribute to closing the gap in economic, social, and cultural outcomes.
Our commitment extends beyond merely providing a platform. We are dedicated to fostering meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities, government agencies, and industry stakeholders. This collaborative approach ensures that data governance practices support Indigenous self-determination and contribute to equitable outcomes.
The Keeping Place implements ICIP principles through our platform. By enabling Indigenous corporations to manage their data and intellectual property autonomously, and by ensuring that data sharing practices are secure and respectful, we support the ongoing efforts to protect and celebrate Indigenous heritage. Together, we are working towards a future where Indigenous intellectual property is respected, preserved, and used in ways that benefit the communities from which it originates.
