Indigenous Data Alliance Latest News and Upcoming Webinars

ADHS and Tribal Nations Advance Indigenous Data Sovereignty

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 15, 2026

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Health Services adopted what is believed to be the first of its kind Indigenous Data Sovereignty Policy, effective April 1, 2026, formalizing the sovereign-to-sovereign relationship between ADHS and Tribal Nations relating to the governance of Tribal health data.

“The policy honors Tribal sovereignty, establishes safeguards for data held by ADHS, and supports greater access to information that can improve health outcomes for Tribal communities,” ADHS Director Debbie Johnston.

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Purpose/Scope: The Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDSov) Policy (hereinafter “Policy”), reaffirms the rights of the Tribes in the State of Arizona to govern Tribal health data. This Policy describes and acknowledges the rights of the Tribes, as well as the responsibilities and expectations of the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), its contractors, and other data actors who interact with Tribal health data. Interaction includes control, collection, use, storage, management, stewardship, analysis, processing, reporting, protecting, sharing, returning, and disposition. The Policy upholds Tribal sovereignty and self-determination by setting forth the guiding principles, recommendations, and procedural standards to ensure that ADHS data activities are conducted in an ethical and culturally informed manner.

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Indigenous perspectives on biobanking, specimen storage, and governance: A scoping review

July 2026

Genetics in medicine: official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics

This review examined Indigenous Peoples’ perspectives on biobanking and biospecimen storage across Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Researchers reviewed 70 studies published from 1988–2023, nearly 70% of which were led by Indigenous authors. Six key priorities emerged: informed consent, stewardship of biospecimens, data sharing, research benefits and risks, Indigenous participation, and meaningful community engagement. The findings emphasize that ethical biospecimen research must respect Indigenous sovereignty, community-defined values, and rights. The review calls for Indigenous-led governance frameworks to guide how biospecimens and related data are collected, stored, shared, and used.

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Fall 2026 IDA Webinar Series: Join Us for the First Webinar

We’re kicking off our Fall 2026 IDX Webinar Series. Register and join us for the first conversation of the season.

Date: August 26, 2026 at 2 PM PST

Title: Indigenous Data Sovereignty in East Asia: The Case of Taiwan

What does Indigenous Data Sovereignty look like in East Asia? This webinar introduces the development of Indigenous Data Sovereignty in Taiwan and explains why Taiwan offers a perspective for global discussions. Participants will learn about current developments, key legal and policy issues, and how Indigenous communities are responding to opportunities and challenges created by digital technologies, cultural heritage initiatives, and artificial intelligence. No prior knowledge of Indigenous Data Sovereignty is required.

Please note that registrations are manually reviewed. You will receive your confirmation once your registration has been approved.

Fall 2026 IDA Webinar Series: Save the Date

Date: September 2, 2026 at 2 PM PST

Title: Guidelines for the Governance of Indigenous Peoples' Data in Scholarly Publishing

This webinar introduces the new Guidelines for the Governance of Indigenous Data in Scholarly Publishing, which offer a hierarchical framework of implementation strategies tailored to diverse publishing contexts. The guidelines provide clear, actionable steps for integrating Indigenous rights and interests into manuscript submission, review, curation, and dissemination processes. We also highlight endorsements from major publishers and outline next steps for adoption and evaluation. These guidelines aim to support Indigenous scholars and communities in navigating the publishing landscape while ensuring that Indigenous data are protected, governed, and shared with purpose, authority, and intention.

Please note that registrations are manually reviewed. You will receive your confirmation once your registration has been approved.

Spring 2026 Webinar Recordings — Available on YouTube

Previous webinar recordings are available to watch for free through the Indigenous Data Alliance YouTube Channel. Whether you missed a session or want to revisit past discussions, we invite you to explore and share these resources with your networks.

Link To Webinars

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