First broadcast on 13 December, 2021

Our second CDCS Annual Lecture 'Data as Power: The Next 100 Generations of Indigenous Data Sovereignty' was given by Professor Keolu Fox (University of California, San Diego).

According to The Economist, in 2018 oil was the most-traded commodity in the world. But in 2019, the demand for oil had been surpassed by the demand for data, including digital sequence information (DSI) of genetic resources. Despite increasing enthusiasm for historically marginalized communities’ participation in biomedical research and a recognition of the potential for next-generation precision medicine, concerns around control and access of data derived from these populations remain.

During this lecture, Professor Fox highlights the emergence of new tools to enable equitable Indigenous data futures. This lecture explores key paths forward that are not only rooted in Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDS), but circular economic systems, and place-based innovation. It also highlights the potential for vertical integration and control of “stacks of technology,” including dynamic consent, data trusts, digital ledger systems, and cloud computation to empower Indigenous communities for generations to come.

If aggregated and controlled by Indigenous communities, these data and technologies can be harnessed to reclaim our past, revitalize our culture, restore our lands, and empower the next one hundred generations of Indigenous communities around the world. From Indigenous control of satellites to reduce the digital divide, to recognizing the emergent value of biodiversity data under the custodianship of Indigenous communities, our goal is to educate Indigenous peoples around the world on the potential use and misuse of evolving big data ecosystems in 2021 and into the future.

Biography

Dr. Keolu Fox is the first Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) to receive a doctorate in genome sciences and is an assistant professor at the University of California, San Diego, affiliated with  the Department of Anthropology, the Global Health  Program, the Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute, the Climate Action Lab, the Design Lab, and the Indigenous Futures Institute. 

Dr. Fox's work focuses on the connection between raw data as a resource and the emerging value of genomic health data  from Indigenous communities. He has experience  designing and engineering genome sequencing  and editing technologies, and a decade of grassroots experience working with Indigenous partners to advance precision medicine. 

Chaired by Melissa Terras, Director of CDCS