Sharing Data
There are several questions Tribes and Native-serving organizationsFor this resource, Native-serving organizations includes Tribal and urban Indian organizations and Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs). need to ask to decide if sharing their data is a good choice, including “how will sharing data benefit my Tribe, organization, and the people we serve?” Learn more about sharing data here and through exploring the content below.
Is Sharing Your Data a Good Idea?
Should I Share My Data?
Consider the impacts of sharing your data.
Talk With Your Leadership
Consult your leadership on important data sharing decisions.
Research the Requestor
As with any new professional relationship, do some background research.
Know Your Rights
Confirm that all partners and agreements respect Tribal data sovereignty.
Plan to Protect Your Data
Clarify how you and your partner will protect the data.
Sign a Data Agreement
By signing a data agreement, you protect the people whose info is contained in the data. You also protect your Tribe or organization.
Protect Your People
Confirm that all partners and data agreements respect Tribal data sovereignty.
Help Your People
Participating in data sharing can increase your leadership's access to quality health data. This can help them make good decisions that support the health of your community.
Data Agreements
Anytime data is shared, whether it is shared internally or externally, there needs to be a data agreement in place. Data agreementsData sharing agreements are formal contracts that identify what data are being shared and how data will be used and protected. help protect the people and communities whose data are being shared. They also help protect those sharing and receiving the data. Learn about common types of data agreements.
Keep in Mind
Tribes and Native-serving organizationsFor this resource, Native-serving organizations includes Tribal and urban Indian organizations and Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs). have the power to withdraw from agreements and partnerships that do not honor Tribal sovereignty, Tribal data sovereignty, and commitments that have been made.
Our Stories are Powerful
Read these stories to learn important lessons about sharing data and to get inspired.
The state, the Tribes, NPAIHB, and IHS have a responsibility to meet the public health needs of the communities we mutually serve. Capturing these commitments on paper in a way that respects Tribal sovereignty and Tribal data sovereignty makes them more durable.
The nation-to-nation relationship is something to hold dear and to defend. It’s easy to push ahead and sign a data sharing agreement that includes language that doesn’t uphold Tribal sovereignty or data sovereignty, because you really want certain data. But it’s so important to remember the people we serve and to thoughtfully consider the implications of doing this. It’s not a good idea to sign any agreement that doesn’t honor the nation-to-nation relationship that the federal government has with Tribes. There are other, more ethical ways of obtaining data.
Tribes were receiving COVID-19 data 2 weeks or more after a case investigation occurred. Two weeks is far beyond the time that leadership can effectively respond and protect their residents and visitors... For the county, honoring Tribal sovereignty and Tribal data sovereignty helped open up lines of communication and trust. We have increased Tribes’ access to data, and we have also increased the depth and breadth of data the Tribes are willing to share with the county.
Know that you are in the driver’s seat as a sovereign nation. You have control over who you work with and how you work with them. If what you hear from a researcher doesn’t gel with the values of your community, listen to your intuition… You must know your rights and be willing to exercise your authority when partners do not respect your sovereignty and care for your community’s data.