Grounding Indigenous Rights

What is Local Contexts?

Local Contexts is a global initiative that supports Indigenous communities with tools that can reassert cultural authority in heritage collections and data. By focusing on Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property and Indigenous Data Sovereignty, Local Contexts helps Indigenous communities repatriate knowledge and gain control over how data is collected, managed, displayed, accessed, and used in the future.

Local Contexts recognizes the inherent sovereignty that Indigenous communities have over knowledge and data that comes from their lands, territories, and waters.

Local Contexts Labels and Notices were created to ground intellectual and cultural property rights in cultural heritage, data, and genetic resources within digital environments.

The Labels and Notices are generated and managed using the Local Contexts Hub.

Indigenous communities

reinforce rights by applying TK and BC Labels

Traditional Knowledge (TK) and Biocultural (BC) Labels establish Indigenous cultural authority and governance over Indigenous data and collections by adding provenance information and contextual metadata (including community names), protocols, and permissions for access, use, and circulation.

Learn More

Institutions and researchers

disclose interests by placing Notices

Black square with the letters BC in the middle in white.

Notices are tools for institutions, repositories, and researchers to support ethical use and reinforce relationships with Indigenous communities. They also work to educate the public around Indigenous rights and interests in historical and future collections and data.

Learn More

What is the Local Contexts Hub?

The Local Contexts Hub is a web portal that enables the customization of Labels by Indigenous communities and the generation of Notices by institutions and researchers. Labels and Notices can be applied to Local Contexts Projects created within the Hub depending on the account type.

Community

Community accounts can customize TK and BC Labels to display local and traditional protocols. The Labels are used as digital signifiers to explain how Indigenous history and culture is accessed and used going forward. These Labels can be attached by community accounts to Local Contexts Projects.

Institution

Institution accounts can apply Notices to Local Contexts Projects. Local Contexts Projects document information about a particular item, collection, sample, etc. Applying Notices allows institutions to engage acknowledge, and make visible Indigenous interests in collections, information, and data.

Researcher

Researcher accounts are specifically for independent researchers. Researcher accounts are very similar to institution accounts but only have one member, the account creator. Researchers can apply Notices to Local Contexts Projects that document particular data or research you may have conducted.

Hub Users

Communities

Institutions

194

Researchers

Countries

Learn More About Local Contexts and the Hub

Join the Hub

News and Updates

				[{"id":13701,"link":"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/new-comic-about-local-contexts\/","name":"new-comic-about-local-contexts","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Local-Contexts-CBIKS-Comic-for-website.png","alt":"Comic panel showing four illustrated people looking at a plant specimen. An insert map shows Shinnecock Homelands today known as Long Island, New York. Two Label icons, TK Attribution and BC Provenance. Panel text: \u201cLocal Contexts: Restorying Sovereignty with Plant Relatives. The collaboration is advancing data sovereignty protocols and applying Local Contexts Labels, which recognise community provenance and create opportunities for connection and inclusion.\u201d"},"title":"New comic about Local Contexts","author":{"name":"Local Contexts","link":"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/author\/localcontexts\/"},"date":"Jun 6, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-06-06 15:05:19","modifiedDate":"2025-06-06 15:05:44","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-06-06 15:05:44","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/category\/blog\/resources\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Resources<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/category\/blog\/resources\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Resources<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"","translation_priority":"<a href='https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/?taxonomy=translation_priority&term=optional' rel='translation_priority'>Optional<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":33},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":13530,"link":"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/notices-in-use-marana-dyargali-published-by-uts-epress\/","name":"notices-in-use-marana-dyargali-published-by-uts-epress","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Notices-in-Use-UTS-ePress.png","alt":"\u201cNotices in use: UTS ePress.\u201d Screenshot of UTS ePress webpage for the Marana Dyaragali publication, which includes the Traditional Knowledge Notice. Decorative maroon background."},"title":"Notices in Use: Marana Dyargali, published by UTS ePress","author":{"name":"Local Contexts","link":"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/author\/localcontexts\/"},"date":"May 16, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-05-16 15:09:59","modifiedDate":"2025-05-27 13:29:08","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-05-27 13:29:08","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/category\/blog\/notices-in-use\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Notices in Use<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/category\/blog\/notices-in-use\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Notices in Use<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"","translation_priority":"<a href='https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/?taxonomy=translation_priority&term=optional' rel='translation_priority'>Optional<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":18},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":13509,"link":"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/digital-research-alliance-of-canada-webinar\/","name":"digital-research-alliance-of-canada-webinar","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Digital-Research-Alliance-of-Canada-webinar.png","alt":"Event poster for Local Contexts webinar Tools to Support Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Cultural Authority. \u201cHow the Local Contexts Labels and Notices can be used to amplify Indigenous rights and interests in the Canadian context. Date March 20, 2025, 1-2 pm ET. Details and registration https:\/\/alliancecan.ca\/en\/latest\/events\/local-contexts-tools-support-indigenous-data-sovereignty-and-cultural-authority.\u201d"},"title":"Digital Research Alliance of Canada Webinar","author":{"name":"Local Contexts","link":"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/author\/localcontexts\/"},"date":"May 9, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-05-09 15:09:14","modifiedDate":"2025-05-09 15:09:16","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-05-09 15:09:16","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/category\/blog\/resources\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Resources<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/category\/blog\/talks\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Talks<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/category\/blog\/resources\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Resources<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/category\/blog\/talks\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Talks<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"","translation_priority":"<a href='https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/?taxonomy=translation_priority&term=optional' rel='translation_priority'>Optional<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":26},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":13503,"link":"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/notices-in-use-the-wilson-museum-collections-maine-usa\/","name":"notices-in-use-the-wilson-museum-collections-maine-usa","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Collections-Page.png","alt":"\u201cNotices in use: Wilson Museum.\u201d Screenshot of the Wilson Museum collections webpage, featuring the Local Contexts Open to Collaborate, Attribution Incomplete, and Traditional Knowledge Notices. The screenshot is on a decorative red background overlaid with an image of a stream and woodland area."},"title":"Notices in Use: The Wilson Museum Collections, Maine, USA","author":{"name":"Local Contexts","link":"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/author\/localcontexts\/"},"date":"May 9, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-05-09 15:02:18","modifiedDate":"2025-05-09 15:02:21","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-05-09 15:02:21","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/category\/blog\/notices-in-use\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Notices in Use<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/category\/blog\/notices-in-use\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Notices in Use<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"","translation_priority":"<a href='https:\/\/localcontexts.org\/?taxonomy=translation_priority&term=optional' rel='translation_priority'>Optional<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":38},"status":"publish","excerpt":""}]

Click here to see older posts Subscribe to our Newsletter

Upcoming Events

ATALM 2025

October 7, 2025 - October 9, 2025

Decorative photo of colorful sunset over mountainous landscape. “Moving forward, standing strong. 2025 international conference of archives, libraries, and museums. Cherokee, North Carolina. October 7, Tours and Workshops, October 8-9, conference sessions.”

The Local Contexts team is planning to attend and present at the 2025 International Conference of Indigenous Archives, Libraries, and Museums (ATALM 2025). Director of Programs Corrie Roe, Outreach Manager Emily Santhanam (Chickasaw/Choctaw/Tamilian), Outreach Coordinator Amy June Breesman (Eastern Shawnee/German/Irish), and Council Chair James Eric Francis (Penobscot), Sr., will hold a half-day pre-conference workshop 21, …

Local Contexts Hub Demonstration Session

August 19, 2025

, 22:00 UTC

“Hub Demo Session.” Text on decorative blue-green background.

Do you have questions about Local Contexts or the Local Contexts Hub? Curious about how you can use the Traditional Knowledge and Biocultural Labels and Notices to support Indigenous data sovereignty and cultural authority? Sign-up for a group informational or Hub demonstration session with the Local Contexts team!

Local Contexts Hub Information Session

August 5, 2025

, 22:00 UTC

“Information Session.” Text on decorative blue-green background.

Local Contexts Aotearoa NZ Network x TIWG Meeting: AGDR Panel

July 23, 2025

, 22:00 UTC

More info

“Working Groups and Networks.” Text on decorative orange background.

We are excited to host a crossover meeting between the Aotearoa New Zealand Network and Technical Implementation Working Group (TIWG) in July. In this meeting, the Aotearoa Genomic Data Repository team and their collaborators will present a panel discussion on the role of BC Labels and Notices in their data repository, focusing on context, examples, …

View all events

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.