By Dr Josiline Chigwada
3 min read...
Have you ever wondered why journals ask you to deposit your research data in data repositories and include a data availability statement when publishing manuscripts? Well, such practices were implemented to support the discovery and reuse of research data, helping to improve access to research data by researchers in different institutions, regions, and disciplines. This is governed by what are known as the FAIR and CARE principles in indigenous knowledge research. FAIR principles are a collection of guidelines used to improve the findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability (FAIR) of data objects, encouraging open data and open science. However, this has led to several challenges related to indigenous peoples’ rights and interests, resulting in the establishment of what are known as CARE principles of indigenous data governance. CARE stands for collective benefits, authority to control, responsibility, and ethics (CARE). CARE principles complement FAIR principles, but are more people and purpose-oriented, helping us understand how data should be treated to ensure that indigenous governance and use of data are respected.
Taken together, FAIR and CARE principles in indigenous knowledge research are set up to respect, protect, benefit, and value the cultural heritage and traditional knowledge of indigenous communities. Applying these principles means involving indigenous communities in decisions that concern their knowledge. This includes obtaining informed consent before any external entity uses or accesses indigenous knowledge data, engaging in meaningful dialogue with indigenous people, and ensuring indigenous people actively participate in discussions about how their knowledge is used or shared. Thus, acknowledging the source and contributors of indigenous knowledge helps to protect against misappropriation and ensures that communities receive proper recognition for their cultural heritage.
What about commercialization resulting from use of indigenous data. Is it not reasonable for indigenous people to benefit from commercialization of indigenous data? “The issue of benefit sharing should be seriously considered, said Dr Josiline Chigwada.” “The CARE principles recommend that indigenous communities should benefit from commercial use of their data. This could be in the form of sharing profits, providing opportunities for economic development, or offering compensation for the utilisation of indigenous knowledge in various fields such as medicine, agriculture, or environmental management. This means going beyond participant reimbursement during studies.” This can be made possible through legal frameworks, such as intellectual property laws, or specific protocols developed in collaboration with indigenous groups, that enforce clauses for compensation of indigenous people where data outputs are commercialized. “I know how provocative that sounds, but anything less than that is borderline exploitation, chuckled Dr Chigwada.” In a nutshell, applying these principles involves a collaborative and respectful approach, where indigenous communities are empowered and involved in decision-making processes regarding the use, protection, and preservation of their knowledge. Researchers of indigenous knowledge should therefore be mindful of the FAIR with CARE principles during the research process.
Biography: Josiline Chigwada is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Studies (SIRGS) at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and has dedicated her research towards indigenous knowledge and open science. She is a librarian with 17 years of experience in academic librarianship. She holds a Doctorate in Information Science and a Postgraduate Diploma in Tertiary Education. She is a member of the Zimbabwe Young Academy of Sciences (ZIMYAS), Zimbabwe Library Association (ZIMLA), Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA), SPARC Africa Management Committee, Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T), and the International Association for Social Science Information Service and Technology (IASSIST). She is also an editorial board member of the IFLA journal.
Editor: Ben Chimukangara is a widely published medical research scientist, academic editor, peer reviewer and blogger. He is passionate about simplifying science communication for effective engagement with non-scientific communities.
