OCAP®

Ownership, Control, Access & Possession (OCAP®)

Alberta Leadership passed the OCAP® Resolution at The Assembly of Alberta Chiefs (AoTC) on March 30th, 2010 to promote, protect and advance the principles of Ownership, Control, Access and Possession of First Nations´ research and data, the Inherent Right to self-determination and jurisdiction in research and information management.

Guiding Principles of OCAP®

Self-determination is a fundamental right of First Nation peoples as acknowledged in international law and by Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution. First Nations are actively taking steps to implement this right. The Canadian government has a duty to protect First Nation rights and title to a clear and acceptable standard as set out in the minimum standards defined by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Canada´s duty to consult and accommodate First Nations is an integral component of acknowledging and protecting the right to self-determination.

Ownership refers to the relationship of First Nations to their cultural knowledge, data, and information. This principle states that a community or group owns information collectively in the same way that an individual owns his or her personal information.

Control affirms that First Nations, their communities, and representative bodies are within their rights to seek control over all aspects of research and information management processes that impact them. First Nations control of research can include all stages of a particular research project-from start to finish. The principle extends to the control of resources and review processes, the planning process, management of the information and so on.

Access refers to the fact that First Nations must have access to information and data about themselves and their communities regardless of where it is held. The principle of access also refers to the right of First Nations’ communities and organizations to manage and make decisions regarding access to their collective information. This may be achieved, in practice, through standardized, formal protocols.

Possession While ownership identifies the relationship between a people and their information in principle, possession or stewardship is more concrete: it refers to the physical control of data. Possession is the mechanism by which ownership can be asserted and protected.

Learn More About OCAP®

Download the Frequently Asked Questions booklet here

The National First Nations Information Governance Centre offers a variety of education and training options to meet community needs. To learn more about OCAP^®, The Fundamentals of OCAP^® online course provides a foundation in OCAP^® and introduces knowledge that can be translated into practical skills in a variety of settings. You can find more information here.