PARTNER NATION

St’at’imc Government Services

PROJECT TYPE

Data Planning & Capacity

STATUS

In Progress

Project Overview

The St’át’imc Data Governance Initiative is doing the work to establish Nation-led data sovereignty, with strong early engagement across communities and emerging opportunities in policy, training, and digital infrastructure.

The initiative, led in partnership by St’at’imc Government Services, the Lillooet Tribal Council and with the BC RIGC, aims to support Nation-building through the development of data governance systems. Core objectives include:

  • Building trust and awareness through community engagement

  • Assessing community data needs and developing action plans with tools developed by the BC RIGC

  • Establishing an advisory body to guide policy development

  • Creating a long-term roadmap for St’át’imc data governance

“We’re operating at the speed of trust.”

— St’at’imc Community Member

This has been our guiding principle throughout the project. Without the trust of the St’at’imc communities there would be no starting point for the work we’re doing. The conversations started by the needs assessment tool provided by BC RIGC have built widespread support for a nation-based approach to data sovereignty.

Current Status

  • Data needs assessments have been completed in six communities, with additional participation ongoing

  • An advisory board is in place and actively guiding the initiative

  • A motion from the advisory board has been presented to the Chiefs Council to pause external academic research until appropriate data-sharing agreements are established

  • Key tools under development by the advisory board include:

    • A process to expand advisory board participation

    • A partnership vetting framework for communities

    • A draft data governance roadmap

“People are data centres too.”

— St’at’imc Community Member

This quote came to us from a participant of one of the webinars the project team hosted. It helps us reflect on the scope of what St’at’imc data is and the importance in gathering and protecting it in a way that reflects the values of the nation.