ABSTRACT
American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous Peoples throughout the world continue to experience research abuse. Data that draw on Indigenous knowledge, including intellectual property, oral histories, interviews, cultural expressions and other qualitative data are especially at risk of appropriation, theft and misrepresentation and threaten cultural sovereignty. As more Indigenous Peoples assert their right to govern research in their communities, universities must consider their role in this growing movement of Indigenous research rights. Overall, the expectations, requirements and processes of university institutional review boards generally do not support Indigenous Data Sovereignty. In this chapter, I discuss political sovereignty, cultural sovereignty and Indigenous Data Sovereignty in the United States. I also discuss the role of universities in addressing Indigenous Data Sovereignty by exploring select United States university institute review board guidelines that specifically address research with Indigenous Peoples. Finally, I offer recommendations for universities and university-affiliated researchers to support Indigenous Data Sovereignty.
