Our team presented our REAL CARE framework that localizes the original CARE principles of Indigenous Data Sovereignty at the 2026 US Indigenous Data Soveriegnty & Governance Summit in Tuscon, Arizona.

• Title: “To Be REAL: How Indigenous Community Members Engage the CARE Data Principles
• Slidedeck: Google Slides
• Abstract: Presenters will introduce the REAL CARE framework: a community-driven approach to Indigenous data sovereignty and governance. REAL CARE was developed through The Rematriation Project, which is a collaboration involving Iñupiaq community members and academic partners. REAL—Reclaim Relevant Data, Engage Community and Values, Authority to Control, and Learn Through Data—emerged from the community’s interactions with the CARE principles and addresses the unique needs of Indigenous communities related to data. We argue that REAL CARE provides Indigenous communities with a framework to lead data initiatives, reclaim and generate knowledge on their own terms, and address community goals through culturally appropriate, actionable data strategies.

Aviññaq and Chris were able to travel to Tuscon, but Chris fell ill on the day of presenting! :-( We are very thankful that Aviññaq represented our work for the entire team at the Summit.

Aviññaq (Lucy) was also able to participate in one of the “Masterclass” workshops on Indigenous Data Sovereignty.