Blog
Upcoming Events
Indigenous Communities Working Group meeting
The next Local Contexts Indigenous Communities Working Group will be held May 7 (UTC). For this meeting, we will host a presentation by Monique Tyndall (Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans (Citizen), Umoⁿhoⁿ, Mvskoke), a new member of the Local Contexts team serving as Outreach Coordinator (CBIKS). In their previous role as Director of Cultural Affairs for …
Society of Ethnobiology Conference 2026
The Local Contexts will present at the 47th Annual Conference of the Society of Ethnobiology held virtually and in-person in Sewanee, Tennessee, United States. Outreach Coordinator Amy June Breesman (Eastern Shawnee) will present “Activating the Local Contexts tools to uphold Indigenous Peoples’ rights in biocultural data sharing” as a part of the “Ethics and Collaborations …
IASSIST 2026
The Local Contexts team will present as part of the 51st Annual Conference of IASSIST, the International Association for Social Science Information Service and Technology. On June 3 UTC, Outreach Manager Emily Santhanam (Chickasaw) and Director of Programs Corrie Roe will present “#BeFairAndCare: How The Local Contexts Tools Support Indigenous Data Sovereignty.” The Local Contexts …
Local Contexts Hub Information Session
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!
State of the World’s Plants and Fungi Symposium
Local Contexts Strategic Advisor Maui Hudson (Whakatōhea) will present as part of the State of the World’s Plants and Fungi Symposium, online and in-person at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London, UK. On July 1 UTC, Maui will present “Acknowledging local contexts: Recognising Indigenous knowledge and provenance as part of the biocultural value of collections” …
![Text on a decorative yellow background: “[The] transition to more relational science practices is not only about more inclusive science, it is about upholding Indigenous Peoples’ sovereignty and self-determination, and adhering to the free, prior, and informed consent for engaging with data.” Lydia Jennings, Katherine Jones, Riley Taitingfong, Andrew Martinez, Dominique David-Chavez, Rosanna ‘Anolani Alegado, Adrien Tofighi-Niaki, Julie Maldonado, Bill Thomas, Dennis Dye, Jeff Weber, Katie V. Spellman, Scott Ketchum, Ruth Duerr, Noor Johnson, Jennifer Balch, & Stephanie Russo Carroll in “Governance of Indigenous Data in Open Earth Systems Science,” Nature Communications (2025)16:572, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53480-2.](https://localcontexts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Nature-Communications-25-2-3-2.png)
![Text on decorative green background. “Creating a world in which animals in museums are cared for in a culturally connected way requires first caring about identification. [Then we] can flag items for return or create opportunities for communities with ties to these remains to provide meaningful context for their care.” Jimmy Arterberry (Comanche Nation) from “Better Care Urged for Animal Remains Tied to Indigenous People,” by Amanda Heidt, Science Magazine (January 2, 2025). White Local Contexts logo in bottom right corner.](https://localcontexts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Science-MagazineAnimal-Remains.png)
![Text on a decorative yellow background: “It’s not a free-for-all… ‘Accessible’ means somebody can access it but you are still allowed to regulate it… [To scientists who might feel strongly about unrestricted access to data:] you should check your ethics. That kind of thinking assumes best intentions, but [is] a little bit naïve, and within that naïveté is where bad actors can slip in.” Rosie Alegado (Kanaka ʻŌiwi) in “Open with Care: Indigenous researchers and communities are reshaping how Western science thinks about data ownership” by Sandeep Ravindran, Science Magazine Text on a decorative yellow background: “Too often Indigenous Peoples have been told … they need to contribute their DNA so that it benefits humankind, and unfortunately Indigenous Peoples are the last to benefit…If that means upending the model so that Indigenous Peoples have proper stewardship and ownership of their data, then that’s a data future that I’m optimistic for.” Krystal Tsosie (Diné) in “Open with Care: Indigenous researchers and communities are reshaping how Western science thinks about data ownership” by Sandeep Ravindran, Science Magazine](https://localcontexts.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2-e1730828572667.png)
