We talk about it as caring for data so data can care for Country and community. It's collecting the right information the right way, protecting that, then using that to make the right decisions.
Dr. Skye Trudgett
CEO, Kowa
About This Episode
In this episode, Tenille speaks with Dr. Skye Trudgett, a proud First Nations woman and CEO of Kowa, about putting Indigenous data sovereignty into practice. Skye shares her journey from aspiring sleep scientist to leading national work in evaluation, research, and community-led data governance. This conversation demystifies what Indigenous data sovereignty really means, unpacks common misconceptions, and explores the small but powerful changes that can shift systems.
Key Takeaways
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1
Caring for data so data can care for Country
Indigenous data sovereignty means collecting the right information the right way, protecting it, and using it to make well-informed decisions that serve community.
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2
It's not just about sharing data back
A common misconception is that Indigenous data sovereignty simply means returning data to communities, but it's much more: it's about communities having their own evidence to advocate for change.
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3
Start with relationships, not frameworks
While academic frameworks provide useful starting points, the real work happens through building local relationships and starting conversations with existing community governance structures.
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4
Simple changes can shift systems overnight
Engage local Aboriginal people at equitable pay rates, use community-controlled data platforms, ensure data never leaves community control, and pay for the use of community data as an economic asset.
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5
The 'U' in UMEL is half the work
'Understanding' involves building relationships, trust, and genuinely getting ready before jumping into measurement and evaluation activities.
Topics Covered
Resources Mentioned
- Maiam nayri Wingara Indigenous Data Sovereignty Collective — Start here for the foundational principles and resources on Indigenous data sovereignty in Australia
- Kowa — National leaders in First Nations-led Understanding, Measurement, Evaluation and Learning (UMEL) practice
- The OCCAAARS Framework — Based on Skye's PhD research, used to contextualise data sovereignty principles
- Wathaga Platform — Community-controlled digital UMEL platform (free version available)
- Gilibanga — National network of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners
About Skye
Dr. Skye Trudgett
CEO, Kowa | Associate Lecturer, UNSW
Dr. Skye Trudgett is a proud First Nations woman and CEO of Kowa, a social enterprise supporting First Nations peoples and organisations to strengthen and amplify their purpose through impact measurement, evaluation, and learning. With a PhD in Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Evaluation from UNSW, Skye has over a decade of experience embedding Indigenous data sovereignty into practice. She is also an Associate Lecturer at UNSW and an SROI Accredited Practitioner.
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