A Guide to Choosing & Using Community-Based Data Management Systems

This guide offers practical information and steps for Northern Indigenous land-based programs that want to design and implement community-based data management systems. These systems help record and safeguard knowledge, support informed decisions, protect Indigenous data rights, evaluate success, share stories, and build ethical partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups. Many Indigenous land-based programs collect data including photos, maps, observations, audio/ video recorded interviews, and trails using tools such as GPS, Apps, and drones. Data management systems can store, organize, and use these data for powerful purposes, achieving program goals.