Summary of findings from the GIDA IDSov and AI workshop meeting in COLPOS, Mexico

Abstract

This report describes the key points from a workshop between Global Indigenous Data Alliance (GIDA) network members on Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The report is focused on the Aotearoa New Zealand context and aimed at Te Mana Raraunga (TMR; Māori data sovereignty network) members. The Māori Data Sovereignty (MDSov) movement is grounded in foundational national key documents such as He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Each assert Māori sovereignty and determine a partnership between Māori and the Crown. These are complemented by international documents such as the Mātaatua Declaration on Cultural and Intellectual Property Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP): both state that Indigenous peoples must have control over our knowledge systems, data, and resources. Together, these documents provide the legal and ethical rationale for Māori and Indigenous Data Sovereignty and have shaped its development within Aotearoa. Te Mana Raraunga, founded in 2015, has advocated for Māori rights and interests in data, and is a network of hundreds of ‘members’ consisting of researchers, practitioners and community members. Te Mana Raraunga’s Principles of Māori Data Sovereignty have formed the basis of much of the MDSov movement. TMR also contributes to the global Indigenous Data Sovereignty movement.