Glossary

Learning the language of data sharing is important. Here are some key words and their definitions.

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  • Data agreements 

    are documents that two or more partners sign that describe the collection, use, protection, and destruction of data being shared. Learn more >

     

  • Data sharing 

    includes both obtaining and sharing data. Data sharing can occur between different Tribes, organizations, or agencies. Data sharing can also occur between different departments within the same Tribe, organization, or agency. Learn more >

  • Data stewardship 

    is how a Tribe, organization, or agency plan to care for data. This includes how it collects, protects, uses, and shares data. Learn more >

  • Database 

    is a collection of datasets. Tribes and Native-serving organizations seek to obtain data from local, state, and federal databases to be able to watch disease trends, respond to health threats, and create useful health policies.

  • Dataset 

    is a collection of data. The data in a single dataset often share a common topic.

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  • Native people 

    in this resource means American Indian and Alaska Native people.

  • Native-serving organizations 

    in this resource includes Tribal and urban Indian organizations and Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs).

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  • Personal health information (PHI) 

    under HIPAA are data that can be used to identify or describe the health of a specific person. Due to their public health authority status, Tribes and certain organizations, like Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs), have power to obtain PHI data for public health purposes from HIPAA-covered entities without the entity obtaining prior HIPAA authorization.

  • Public health authority 

    is the authority of a sovereign government to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens. As sovereign nations, Tribes have the power to define how they will use this authority to protect and promote the health of their communities. The federal government recognizes Tribes and Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) as public health authorities under federal law. Learn more >

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  • Tribal data sovereignty 

    is the right each Tribe has to govern the collection, ownership, and application of its own data. It derives from Tribes’ inherent right to govern their peoples, lands, and resources. Principles of Tribal (or Indigenous) data sovereignty can apply to data on American Indian and Alaska Native people off Tribal lands. Learn more >

Data agreements are documents that two or more partners sign that describe the collection, use, protection, and destruction of data being shared. Learn more >

Data sharing includes both obtaining and sharing data. Data sharing can occur between different Tribes, organizations, or agencies. Data sharing can also occur between different departments within the same Tribe, organization, or agency. Learn more >

Data stewardship is how a Tribe, organization, or agency plan to care for data. This includes how it collects, protects, uses, and shares data. Learn more >

Database is a collection of datasets. Tribes and Native-serving organizations seek to obtain data from local, state, and federal databases to be able to watch disease trends, respond to health threats, and create useful health policies.

Dataset is a collection of data. The data in a single dataset often share a common topic.

Native people in this resource means American Indian and Alaska Native people.

Native-serving organizations in this resource includes Tribal and urban Indian organizations and Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs).

Personal health information (PHI) under HIPAA are data that can be used to identify or describe the health of a specific person. Due to their public health authority status, Tribes and certain organizations, like Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs), have power to obtain PHI data for public health purposes from HIPAA-covered entities without the entity obtaining prior HIPAA authorization.

Public health authority is the authority of a sovereign government to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens. As sovereign nations, Tribes have the power to define how they will use this authority to protect and promote the health of their communities. The federal government recognizes Tribes and Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) as public health authorities under federal law. Learn more >

Tribal data sovereignty is the right each Tribe has to govern the collection, ownership, and application of its own data. It derives from Tribes’ inherent right to govern their peoples, lands, and resources. Principles of Tribal (or Indigenous) data sovereignty can apply to data on American Indian and Alaska Native people off Tribal lands. Learn more >

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