INDIGENOUS COPYRIGHT CONCEPTS AND INDIGENOUS DATA SOVEREIGNTY: HOW LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES CAN SUPPORT IT *

Abstract

U.S. copyright law does not account for Indigenous knowledge. These items, such as stories, dances, songs, and oral teachings are data and works authored by a sovereign community, not just individuals. Indigenous data sovereignty provides that data and cultural knowledge are subject to Tribal protections. Tribes have the right as a sovereign nation to govern the collection, ownership, and application of its own data and cultural knowledge. Assimilating Indigenous knowledge into non-Indigenous works is a copyright issue from an Indigenous perspective. Librarians can identify these Indigenous copyright issues to support local Indigenous Peoples and promote efforts toward achieving Indigenous data sovereignty.