Did you know there are over 500 Inuit living on Vancouver Island, or over 800 in the Vancouver Fraser regions of BC?
Where Inuit living in BC are from
Inuit living in BC have begun our journey of leading Inuit data governance in BC. In the fall of 2025, three Inuit gatherings held in November 2025, which aimed to establish a foundation for Inuit data governance and address the holistic health determinants for Inuit living in BC. We grounded in the protocol of the land and of Inuit. Taking care of our spirits and using shared leadesrship to call in how we wanted to be in relation with each other.
The gatherings affirmed the distinct identity of the growing Inuit population in BC and highlighted five core strengths rooted in Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (khao–yee-muh-yah-tut-khanggeet (IQ), including traditional knowledge transfer and relational harmony, while also underscoring critical systemic barriers. The most urgent needs identified were data-driven advocacy for Non-Insured Health Benefits access, dedicated resources for youth, and the need for a distinct cultural symbol to ensure visibility and recognition beyond pan-Indigenous services. The successful events, which achieved exceptionally high satisfaction ratings and fostered a profound sense of safety and belonging, mandate a path forward focused on more frequent, action-oriented, and relational engagement to move from knowledge sharing to direct community support and self-determination.
Our work is grounded in those who have come before us. For which we are very grateful for the wisdom they pass on.
The framework of data governance in BC is framed by the work of many Inuit who have come before us:
- Circumpolar Inuit Equitable and Ethical Principles of Engagement
- Inuit Qaujimajatuqang
- The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami National Inuit Strategy on Research
- Inuit-Specific Gender-Based Analysis Plus Framework
- OCAP® and the CARE Principles.
The Circumpolar Inuit Equitable and Ethical Principles of Engagement (EEE Protocols)are guidelines developed by the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) for how organizations and institutions must work with Inuit communities and knowledge. These protocols emphasize building meaningful partnerships through trust and respect, ensuring equitable funding and data ownership, and guaranteeing that Inuit have a full and effective role in decisions that affect them, such as those related to climate change and resource development. The protocols are intended for use by governments, researchers, and other organizations operating in the Arctic.
Core principles
- Build meaningful partnerships: Focus on creating genuine, respectful, and trust-based relationships, rather than transactional ones.
- Practice good governance: Ensure a formal commitment to Inuit principles in governance structures.
- Communicate with intent: Ensure clear and purposeful communication.
- Exercise accountability: Build trust and ensure there is a system for accountability.
- Equitable funding: Secure funding for Inuit representation and knowledge to support their involvement in research and decision-making.
- Information and data sharing: Establish clear guidelines for the ownership, permissions, and sharing of information and data.
Key applications
- Decision-making and policy: The protocols are designed to guide decision-making and policy development at international levels, such as for the Arctic Council.
- Research: The principles are essential for researchers to ensure that their work is developed in partnership with and for the benefit of Inuit communities.
- Climate change adaptation: The EEE Protocols are crucial for ensuring Inuit have a voice in all decisions and strategies related to climate change impacts and adaptation in the Arctic.
All cultural beliefs and values are associated with the implementation of these maligait, ultimately contributing to “living a good life” which is described as the purpose of being.
These Maligait are:
- Working the Common
- Respecting all living things
- Maintaining harmony balance
- Continually planning and preparing for the future
In addition, the Elders Identified Six guiding principles (Nunavut Inc., 2000a) Nunavut government later added an additional two). These six guiding principles form the basis of an interlocking conceptual philosophy for IQ. inherent in each is a process for developing the principle in individual and in society. Taken together they form a plan the continuous application of IQ in Inuit society.
The six guiding principles are:
- PiJitsirniq (or the concept of serving)
- Aajiiqatigiingniq (or the concept of consensus decision-making)
- Pilimmaksarniq (or the concept of skills and knowledge acquisition)
- Piliriqatigiingniq (or the concept of collaborative relationships or working together a common purpose)
- Avatimik Kamattiarniq (or the of concept environmental stewardship)
- Qanuqtuurunnarniq (or the concept of being resourceful to solve problems)
Download the above IQ pamphlet in your own dialect.
The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) National Inuit Strategy on Research (NISR) is a foundational policy document that outlines the coordinated actions required to transform the relationship between Inuit and the Canadian research enterprise.
The strategy identifies five integrated priority areas for action, which serve as the foundation for modern, ethical research conduct in Inuit Nunangat (the Inuit homeland) and beyond:
- Advance Inuit Governance in Research: Emphasizes the need for Inuit self-determination in research, including achieving greater Inuit representation in governance bodies like the Tri-Council Agencies.
- Enhance the Ethical Conduct of Research: Focuses on regulating the ethical conduct of research and supporting Inuit-led research ethics review processes.
- Align Funding with Inuit Research Priorities: Highlights the importance of ensuring research funding is directed towards priorities defined by Inuit and enables Inuit-led research.
- Ensure Inuit Access, Ownership, and Control over Data and Information: This is the core data governance component. It calls for Inuit-led determination in collecting, verifying, analyzing, and disseminating data, and requires investment in Inuit-led technology and infrastructure to ensure the ownership of Inuit data.
- Build Capacity in Inuit Nunangat Research: Aims to develop human resource capacity for Inuit-led research and enhance research infrastructure in Inuit communities.
BCMiut could benefit from understanding and implementing the principles of OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession) and the CARE Principles(Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility, and Ethics).
While OCAP® is a framework for First Nations governance, BCMiut’s most appropriate path is to develop a data governance framework aligned with the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) National Inuit Strategy on Research, the 8 IQ principles, the EEE Principles while also drawing on the global, cross-Indigenous CARE principles.
To fully enact the principles of self-determination, BCMiut’s data governance framework must incorporate the Inuit-Specific Gender-Based Analysis Plus (ISGBA+) Framework. Developed by Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, ISGBA+ is more than an analytical tool; it is a foundational policy approach that ensures data collection and service design are responsive to the intersecting realities of Inuit women, men, and gender-diverse people. The “Plus” acknowledges that identity factors like age, disability, geography (urban versus remote), and historical trauma intersect with gender to create unique experiences of systemic barriers and well-being.
By integrating ISGBA+ into community engagement and data analysis, BCMiut will ensure that our work moves beyond generalized needs, centers Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) principles, and actively addresses the root causes of systemic inequities to create meaningful, lasting change for all Inuit in British Columbia. This framework is an essential tool for listening to Inuit voices and ensuring that policies reflect the profound knowledge and strengths of the entire community.
This is a visual representation of our guiding knowledge, values, principles and frameworks from Inuit and First Nations in the Indigenous Data Governance and Sovereignty.
Each element forms a circle and at the center is an ulu, a representation of Inuit, Inuit tech, and tools like the Inuit Gender Based Analysis Plus framework.
Legal & Corporate Sovereignty: NISR, OCAP®, CARE must be in contracts.
Requirement: Partner’s legal documents must bind them to OCAP®/CARE.
Safeguard: Data governance agreements must include a supremacy clause to nullify conflicting standard terms.
Jurisdictional Sovereignty: No foreign legal entanglements (e.g., U.S. CLOUD Act).
Requirement: All data and supply chains must be free from foreign legal exposure.
Safeguard: Data governance agreements must mandate Canadian ownership of all sub-processors. Full sub-processor transparency is required.
Infrastructural & Physical Sovereignty (Possession):Control over the physical servers.
Requirement: BCmiut must own or certify physical control over the servers.
Safeguard: Data governance agreements must include an absolute data residency and possession guarantee (e.g., on sovereign Indigenous land) prohibiting offsite processing.
Operational & Data-Level Sovereignty (Control): Absolute control over data use.
Requirement: Inuit must maintain absolute control over the data’s lifecycle and usage.
Safeguard: Data governance agreements must include a lawful access protocol for secondary use.
As an Inuk living in BC, find out how you can get involved by emailing us at bcmiut at gmail dot com or by