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MNO Advocates for Indigenous Data Sovereignty at Global Conference

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The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) took part in the Global Indigenous Data Sovereignty Conference, held from April 1–3, 2025, on the traditional lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri (Canberra, Australia). The event brought together Indigenous Peoples from across the globe to celebrate successes and chart paths forward in advancing Indigenous Data Sovereignty.

The 2025 conference focused on moving beyond principles and into practice. Participants shared Nation-specific knowledge to support Indigenous-led data governance. A central message was that Indigenous Peoples must be active participants in research—not merely its subjects. Since Western research is a form of storytelling, it is critical that the full story is told, not just fragments extracted and interpreted through colonial frameworks.

Indigenous data sovereignty is also a key part of Truth and Reconciliation. When Indigenous communities can access and respond to their own data, they are better positioned to share their stories on their own terms—bringing clarity to the past and paving the way for meaningful action.

As part of the conference, the MNO presented on how it asserts jurisdiction over Métis data in its work with federal and provincial governments. This includes efforts to secure data-sharing agreements that respect Métis governance and recognize the role of data sovereignty in self-determination. Indigenous data sovereignty empowers communities to make informed decisions and strengthens self-determination by ensuring control over how data is collected, used, and shared.

A leading example is the MNO’s data governance and partnership agreement with the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES). This agreement ensures Métis control over research data, enabling the collection of accurate, Nation-specific information to inform evidence-based policies and targeted supports for Métis communities.

The MNO’s participation reflected its continued commitment to supporting Indigenous-led research and advancing Métis rights to control, protect, and define their own data.