For many years, information governance in First Nations contexts was narrowly defined. Data collection often meant surveys. Statistics meant numbers produced elsewhere. Decisions were made using data that First Nations did not design, collect, or fully control.
That model is changing.
Today, information governance is evolving in the era of data sovereignty, and First Nations are reclaiming their role across the entire data lifecycle. This shift reflects the growing recognition of First Nations principles of OCAP® as a foundation for ethical, community-led data governance.
At Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre, this evolution has shaped our mandate. Our work has expanded beyond survey delivery to supporting First Nations at every stage of the data lifecycle, from data collection to data development and data dissemination.
Moving Beyond Counting by Others
In conventional statistical systems, data collection often begins with a national census. Governments count, analyze, and report. Communities receive the numbers after the fact.
For First Nations, this has long been the norm. Population figures are typically provided by the federal government, yet these numbers are often incomplete or inaccurate. They may exclude citizens living off reserve, rely on outdated registration systems, or fail to reflect how Nations define their own citizenship and belonging.
These inaccuracies matter.
Funding decisions are frequently tied to population counts. Planning for health services, education, housing, and infrastructure depends on reliable data. When the numbers do not reflect lived realities, communities are forced to work within constraints created by someone else’s definitions.
Counting Our Own as an Expression of Sovereignty
Data sovereignty means more than owning data. It means having the authority to define what is counted, how it is counted, and why it matters.
First Nations must be able to define citizenship for themselves and to count their people in ways that reflect their laws, relationships, and realities, regardless of whether citizens live on or off reserve. Being trusted to count our own people aligns with the right to self-determination affirmed in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
When Nations control their data, they are no longer responding to external narratives. They are producing knowledge grounded in their own priorities and governance systems.
From Data to Decisions
When data is governed by First Nations, it is no longer static. It becomes active.
Data that is collected ethically, developed with intention, and disseminated responsibly allows information to emerge. That information supports better decisions, stronger advocacy, and long-term planning rooted in community values.
In this way, data is allowed to speak. It informs policy. It guides investments. It supports sustainability and future generations.
A Broader Vision for Information Governance
The evolution of information governance reflects a broader truth. Data is not neutral, and governance is not optional.
By supporting First Nations across the full data lifecycle, information governance becomes a tool for self-determination rather than compliance. It strengthens accountability, improves decision-making, and ensures that knowledge serves the people it represents.
In the era of data sovereignty, this evolution is not just necessary. It is foundational.