Open Collections

Eronen, Elina

University of British Columbia

A growing body of research is demonstrating that the ways in which environmental and health data is collected, analyzed, utilized, stored, and shared has not only restricted the ability of Indigenous communities and experts to influence such processes, but has also lessened the relevance and usefulness of data for Indigenous communities. These present data structures, which rest on colonial thought styles, are also complicit in harms done to Indigenous peoples, making the need for change vital. My research aims to shed light on the ways in which Canada’s current data practices in chemical risk management form barriers to meaningful and respectful inclusion of Indigenous needs, expertise, and knowledge, specifically from the perspectives of data justice and Indigenous data sovereignty (IDS). This was done through a modified version of the brokered dialogue method through which I facilitated dialogue about present data practices between government staff with expertise in Canadian chemicals risk management and the research team, which includes experts with considerable expertise in Indigenous knowledge systems. The dialogue took place in the form of a series workshops and individual conversations with me, with workshops informing the content of the conversations, and the conversations guiding the direction of the next workshop. Three key barriers to data justice IDS were identified on the basis of what would be most actionable for the Government Team. Firstly, the existing methods of engaging Indigenous peoples are not inciting meaningful engagement. Secondly, the government tends to practice one-way communication wherein information is conveyed passively to the public without attempts at actively listening to the public. Thirdly, Indigenous peoples are not treated as rightsholders, but instead spoken of and treated as the public or stakeholders. These three findings present barriers to data justice and IDS in chemical risk assessment as they impede the ability of Indigenous peoples, communities, and Nations from making or determining data-related decisions and actions. For the purpose of beginning the process of decolonizing chemical risk assessments, I recommend that the government prioritizes actions towards meaningful engagement.

Text

2023-08-31

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/85735

Resources, Environment and Sustainability

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/