Welcome to the second post in our Indigenous Data Sovereignty series.  In our first post, we gave an overview of this complex issue, and how the care and control of your Nation's data is integral to the well-being of your community. But how can you even begin to determine where you are on the journey? How can you start to reclaim control when you don't know the status or where your data is?

A first step in your journey is to use our Indigenous Digital Maturity Assessment Tool. We're here to help. See below for more information on the tool and on how to book a free, 1 hour consult to review your results. 

Check out all of our Indigenous Data Sovereignty services here.

What is a Digital Maturity Assessment (DMA)?

A Digital Maturity Assessment (DMA) is a comprehensive approach to evaluating a Nation or organization’s capacity to use and engage with digital technologies (software, databases, websites, and backup/storage, for example). A DMA is a questionnaire that assesses technology, skills, processes and procedures across several areas including how data is collected and stored and how it is used within your community. Once a baseline is established, an organization can then build on and prioritize initiatives that will have the greatest impact on their pursuit of data sovereignty.

The First Steps: Define, Assess and Identify

The tool will help your Nation to define what Digital Maturity looks like for you, assess the current state of your maturity, and then identify gaps and areas for improvement.

We have created a customized Indigenous DMA, to better understand our clients' needs and priorities in the data sovereignty ecosystem.  It takes about 15 minutes to complete.

The Next Step: Plan

Once you complete the survey, fill out the information to have your results emailed to you.

Now comes the fun part!  We are offering a free, 1 hour consultation with one of our in-house Data Sovereignty experts, Jeff Hackett or Taylor Sparklingeyes.

In the consult, Jeff or Taylor will review the results of the survey with you and help to determine what the next steps could be for your Nation. For example, you may decide to access funding that builds the technical skills within your community or you might develop a system for categorizing and filing the information you currently have. These are just a few examples of small steps that can be taken towards improving your data governance and management.

What are the benefits of doing the Assessment?

• • Establishing an understanding of your current state
  • Receiving support identifying possible next steps
  • Understand the gaps, and areas for improvement
  • Creating a plan forward to achieve goals and priorities
  • Learning the importance of good digital maturity
  • Enhancing capacities and skills within your Nation or organization
  • Empowering your Nation or organization through data

We're looking forward to getting to know your community and helping you get started on the path to data sovereignty.

Join us on the journey to learn about harnessing the power of data and how it can ultimately lead to greater control and a path to self determination grounded in truth.  Stay tuned for future posts in this series.

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Read about our Data Sovereignty services here. Better yet, reach out to our team to discuss your Nation's needs:

About Us: Shared Value Solutions

We are a Canadian B Corp, and we assist Indigenous communities with support throughout regulatory processes surrounding major development projects like mines, hydroelectric facilities, transmission lines, highway expansions, oil and gas pipelines, natural resource transport applications and nuclear power. 

We have deep context and experience behind the recommendations we provide, having worked for our clients on almost every major project in Canada over the last 10 years. For us, it’s all about building long-term relationships with our clients. We want to get to know you and what you want to do so we can help you move your plans forward. 

• Reviews of Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements

• Indigenous Land Use Studies, Indigenous Knowledge Studies, Indigenous Ecological Knowledge Studies, Community Cultural Values Mapping

• Strategic Regulatory and Environmental Assessment Process Support

• First Nation Environmental Management Planning

• First Nation Land Code communities
• Indigenous Guardian programs
• Impact Benefit Agreements: technical and regulatory support for negotiations
• Indigenous Jurisdiction initiatives: joint management agreements and co-management agreements
• Community-based Indigenous environmental monitoring
• Indigenous Land Use Planning
• Participant funding negotiation and application support
• Multimedia Storytelling