Whāki webinar Oketopa23 Āhau approach to Māori Data Sovereignty - Notes

Notes taken at webinar offered through the University of Waikato on the topic of Māori data sovereignty for whanau (family) data. 

The host Paul Brown, University of Waikato welcomed everyone. Introduced Kaye Maree Dunn as the guest. The webinar discussed issues related to Māori data sovereignty through korero (a conversation)  between Paul and Kaye.  

Kaye shared her experiences as a Māori moving into the role of commerce, digital environments, business organisations etc. which often have little recognition of indigenous perspectives.

Paul posed the first question as to the types of businesses Kaye has worked with. She shared the organisation she represents and information on the objectives and background of this organisation. Also shared her whakapapa (life history) and how her parents had to move away from their ancestral place and to grow up far away from her ancestral home. Her better understanding of colonisation and its historical context and the political context things have to work in at the University of Victoria. Had a varied range of work across many government agencies, the training ground for learning and networking across the civil service. 

Summarised the entrepreneurship role with its strong connections to digital technologies. Currently, leverages off the alternatives to standard organisations, to bring better outcomes for Māori. What is the role of bitcoin / indigecoin, block chain, cryto currencies, (see this tvnz show for Kaye's presentation) time banks, alternatives to banks etc. Banks at present, do not represent indigenous interests and alternatives are required. Hypothesis of what will currency look like if it is linked to doing good things - voluntary work, looking after family, etc. 

Settled on using whakapapa (genealogy) as a basis for economical operation. Use the information in the developing site to see how it works and what has been envisaged and it's enactment.

Interesting concepts and how digital alternatives should be considered as alternatives to the status quo. 

Paul provided clarification as to data sovereignty. In Mātauranga Māori, whakapapa and mana are important in that the data should be traceable as to its origins and balances must be in place so that power relationships between corporations and users are ameliorated. 

Kaye spoke of how whakapapa is a useful way to understand how data is treated. Over time concerns include safety / ownership of the information, and what happens to this - who modifies it, updates etc. Provided many examples of how Mātauranga is affected and needs study when indigenous customs and expectations have to move into a world where processes and technologies are developed without consideration of the multiple perspectives of all people. Call to be conscious of these practices and how to translate them into practical applications which work for the people the technology is to support. 

Good overview of a different worldview on a modern technology and how it is interpreted using important customs (tikanga), and how culture and the technology it informs, can shift given sufficient information, consultation and reciprocal discussion.