Data Without UMEL is Surveillance
In a world increasingly driven by data, it's easy to forget that information can be a double-edged sword. For First Nations Communities, this is especially true. Historically, data about First Nations peoples has been collected and used against us – to justify the theft of land, forced assimilation, and erasure of Cultures [1]. This is what we at Kowa are calling the "surveillance paradigm" – where data is a tool for control, not empowerment.
Surveillance of First Nations peoples isn't just a thing of the past. For generations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities in Australia have been subjected to intense scrutiny and monitoring. From the earliest days of colonisation, governments and institutions have collected data on everything from family structures and Cultural practices to health and economic status [2]. Data collected under these racist regimes has often been used to justify discriminatory policies and practices, perpetuating cycles of disadvantage and undermining self-determination [3].
Think about the Stolen Generations, where children were (and continue to be) forcibly removed from families. Data about Aboriginal families, often gathered without consent or under duress, was used to paint a picture of "neglect" and justify these horrific acts [4]. Or consider the ongoing over-policing of Aboriginal communities, where data on crime rates is used to justify increased surveillance and harsher penalties, further entrenching systemic inequalities [5].
With the rise of new technologies and calls for data-driven decision-making, the potential for further surveillance and exploitation of data needs for First Nations Communities is growing. Facial recognition technology, social media monitoring, and the collection of personal data through government services and programs all raise serious concerns about relevance, privacy and the potential for discrimination, especially for Communities already experiencing the challenges that discriminatory data brings [6].
Adding insult to injury, many mainstream data organisations are now capitalising on the very challenges faced by First Nations communities. They swoop in with promises of "closing the gap" and "empowerment through data," but often, their actions speak louder than their words.
These organisations often exploit the data technical shortages in First Nations communities, offering expensive solutions that don't truly address the root causes of the problem [5]. They secure lucrative contracts through targeted First Nations funding, but their contributions to shifting the conditions of disadvantage are often minimal [8]. In essence, they prosper from the continued marginalisation of First Nations Communities, perpetuating a system where data serves the interests of the powerful, not the people it's supposed to represent. This echoes critiques of "data colonialism," where data is extracted from marginalised communities for the benefit of corporations and institutions, without reciprocal benefit or respect for First Nations data sovereignty [9].
Challenging the Surveillance Paradigm
Kowa Collaboration is fighting back against the harmful legacy of surveillance and exploitation. We recognise that simply asking the question, "What data do you need?" or the concept of sharing back institutionalised data sets is not enough. Tokenistic practices such as this often lead to an overload of data, much of which is not useful or relevant to interrogate programs and initiatives at a place-based level. Instead, Kowa champions a different approach to data, one that puts First Nations Communities in the driver's seat and moves beyond the mere accumulation of information. This approach is called UMEL – Understanding, Measurement, Evaluation, and Learning.
UMEL is about developing a structured framework to identify what data is truly needed for understanding, measurement, evaluation, and learning. It's about moving past having data for data's sake or conducting exploratory analyses of datasets that don't hold all the answers.
UMEL is about placing power in the hands of First Nations peoples to:
Define Success: Decide what success looks, hears, and feels like in their own communities.
Own Their Information: Determine who holds this information and how it is used.
Surface Insights: Identify the best ways to gather and analyse data to gain meaningful insights.
Adapt and Improve: Use these insights to adapt programs, practices, and approaches to better serve their communities.
In essence, UMEL is about ensuring that data is collected and used with purpose, guided by the values, priorities, and aspirations of First Nations peoples.
Kowa emphasises that at the heart of First Nations UMEL are several core principles that guide the practice [10]:
Starts with Relationships
Lateral Love and Cultural Humility
Driven by Collective Learning and Self-determination
Must Benefit First Nations Peoples
Rigour is Looking in All Directions
Weaves and Values First Nations Wisdom
Co-creation AS First Nations Peoples
Accountable to First Nations Data Governance and Sovereignty Data Governance
“Hey, what’s all this counting about? And what good is it doing for us? We need Mob in charge of this data stuff. That means deciding what gets counted, how it’s used, and who gets to see it. We need Mob running things, making sure Culture and what’s important to us is at the heart of it all.”
“No need for fancy jargon! Let’s use ways of doing things with data that make sense to Mob. We’ve got strong ways of knowing, and this data stuff needs to respect that. We need to yarn with Elders and knowledge holders and make sure everything is understood through a Cultural lens.”
“Hold on a minute! This is Blakfulla business. Before anyone starts poking around with Blakfulla data, they need to ask us properly, and we need to understand what’s going on. That means real yarning, straight talking, and clear rules about who can see what.”
Wiyi Yani U Thangani: A Powerful Example of First Nations UMEL
At Kowa, we don't just talk about UMEL, we live it. We have the privilege of working directly with First Nations leaders, organisations and Communities to accelerate confidence and build appreciate structures to manage data and advocate for rights [11]. We are also pushing for policies that support First Nations data sovereignty – the right to control and care for information that supports First Nations decision-making and resource allocation [12]. A shining example of UMEL in action is the Wiyi Yani U Thangani project (meaning "Women's Voices") [13]. This project, led by the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Gender Justice Institute, puts First Nations women and girls at the centre of systems change.
What made this project so special?
Designed by and for First Nations Women: First Nations women from across Australia were supported to co-create the change agenda and the strategy to achieve outcomes.
Culturally Safe: Spending time, being on Country and practicing deep listening supported the establishment of Culturally safe spaces for women to connect and share stories
True Consent: Women are supported on an ongoing basis to understand the project and have a say in how their stories and information are used.
Data Ownership: The data belongs to the women, not to some government agency or researcher.
The Wiyi Yani U Thangani change agenda has made and continues to make a real difference in the lives of First Nations women [22]. The Change Agenda is the tool the Institute uses to work with government and other stakeholders to influence policy and resource flows. It provides a framework for First Nations women in Australia and globally to connect to and has sparked important conversations about the rights of First Nations women, girls, and gender-diverse Mob [14].
The Takeaway
Data, when divorced from UMEL, ethical considerations and First Nations perspectives, can perpetuate the surveillance paradigm and reinforce existing power imbalances. Kowa firmly believes that UMEL, when grounded in First Nations values and methodologies, offers a transformative pathway towards data sovereignty and self-determination. By empowering First Nations communities to control our own data, we can unlock its potential to support nation rebuilding, economic development, and social well-being.
At Kowa, we are committed to working in partnership with First Nations Communities to ensure that data serves as a tool for empowerment, healing, and positive social change. As the Wiyi Yani U Thangani project demonstrates, centring the voices of First Nations peoples within UMEL frameworks is crucial for challenging the surveillance paradigm and achieving true self-determination.
References
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