institutional-mission-statements/fnigc-fndgs-mission

Quote / Position

“The First Nations Data Governance Strategy is a community-driven, Nation-based national strategy that recognises the inherent right of First Nations to govern their own data. Plans regional information governance centres (one per region) operationalise OCAP® principles at scale.”

Context

The FNDGS is the most authoritative Canadian operational framework for Indigenous data governance at scale. Community-driven, Nation-based, regional implementation. Submitted by FNIGC and its regional partners to Indigenous Services Canada in 2025.

Assembly of First Nations Resolution 30-2025 directs ISC to “direct adequate resources to the First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC) to work with its regional partners.”

FNDGS is the operative Canadian framework — not CARE Principles (international) or IEEE 2890 (international industry standard). For AAFC, ISC, regional RDA partners, FNDGS is the reference framework.

OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access, Possession) — the First Nations data governance principles since 1998 (developed as OCA; “P” affixed later). OCAP predates and informs the CARE Principles.

Source

FNIGC. First Nations Data Governance Strategy. https://fnigc.ca/what-we-do/first-nations-data-governance-strategy/

AFN. Resolution 30-2025. https://afn.bynder.com/m/54212544751ab922/original/30-2025-First-Nations-Data-Governance-Strategy.pdf