Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP™): The Path to First Nations Information Governance
The First Nations Principles of OCAP™
Abstract
The OCAP™ principles (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession) were developed to ensure that First Nations have full authority over data that relates to their communities. First Nations communities are increasingly asserting jurisdiction over their data, implementing privacy laws, research review processes, and standards for data protection. OCAP™ is a foundational framework for ethical research and information governance in First Nations communities.
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Why It Matters
OCAP™ is not just a set of technical standards—it is an expression of First Nations’ inherent rights and jurisdiction over their own information. It has become the gold standard for working with First Nations communities and is essential for anyone conducting research, data collection, or analysis in Mi’kma’ki and beyond. For Mawkim, these principles are integral to how we approach research approvals, reviewer roles, and community accountability.
Key Topics
OCAP™, First Nations data sovereignty, ethical research, data governance, community rights, research approval