AI In Electronic Medical Records

Abstract

This case study examines how Indigenous peoples in the U.S. use data sovereignty to counter colonial remnants in contemporary data governance. Although data collection and research have historically been instruments of dispossession, Indigenous Nations are now reclaiming control over how data related to their communities is harvested, stored, and disseminated. This case study highlights the emergence of the Indigenous Data Sovereignty movement, describing its core principles, including the governance of data in alignment with cultural protocols and priorities. It analyzes tribal research review boards and data-sharing agreements as tiered governance structures in tribal data sovereignty to implement the CARE Principles (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics) in contrast to the commonly adopted FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) paradigm in open data initiatives. Through initiatives by tribal leaders, the case study illustrates the emancipatory potential of data for self-determination, governance, and community healing—when wielded by Indigenous peoples. Simultaneously, this study reveals the conflicts between Indigenous knowledge and Western scientific frameworks—consent, ownership, and accountability. Students are asked to reconsider their identities as researchers and technologists servicing marginalized communities.