The yarning circle will discuss the importance of Indigenous data collection, sharing and governance that explored as part of a national data research project. The data project from the University of Melbourne was led by Distinguished Prof Marica Langton. The presenter was a member of the research project.
The data research project was codesigned by university researchers and three community controlled organisations.
Of the four priority reforms for action from the National Agreement on Closing the Gap 2020 (National Agreement) this research project was developed in relation to priority 4. The sharing data and information with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have more power to determine their own development. The project codesign involved preliminary meetings between the researchers and members of each community controlled organisation. These preliminary meetings where much of the relationship building was establish for ongoing relationships throughout the project. Relationship is more important than the task (Corporal 2017).
The community priorities of Indigenous data governance, sharing and ecosystems as well as technical infrastructure and Indigenous data capacity building were the focus of the interview questions.
The process of building relationships with each of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled organisations was an important part of the process to have a connection with the local community organisations, families and individuals. Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, especially Elders, tell the stories or yarning and if you listen closely, you will hear what they want to tell you (Corporal 2017) p:221
This yarning circle provides an opportunity for people to hear and yarn about the project which has the potential to produce outcomes from a grassroots focus on Indigenous data stewardship and data governance that can be upscaled across community-controlled organisations nationally.