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Local Contexts Hub Information Session

March 25, 2026
, 15:00 UTC

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

June 23, 2026
, 17:00 UTC

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

October 14, 2026
, 19:00 UTC

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

December 2, 2026
, 22:00 UTC

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!

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White text on a decorative blue and green background: “Indigenous Peoples have long been researchers and innovators... contributing to scientific advancement while upholding their role as guardians of the earth. The unique and vital relationship Indigenous Peoples have with the environment must be respected and protected, especially in the context of modern genetic research.” From Katie Lee Riddle interview, “Digital Sequence Information Poses Risks to Indigenous Peoples' Rights and Biodiversity,” Cultural Survival (2024). Articles, Resources

​​A Cultural Survival Interview with Katie Lee Riddle: Protecting Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Digital Sequence Information

Oct 31, 2024 Cultural Survival recently published an interview with Māori researcher Katie Lee Riddle (Rongowhakaata) where she discusses the critical risks posed by Digital Sequence Information to… …
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“Notices in use: Wise Ancestors.” Screenshot of Wise Ancestors website homepage, which includes text “Braiding biotechnology, Indigenous science, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge to conserve biodiversity,” and the Local Contexts Open to Collaborate Notice. Decorative red background. Notices in Use

Notices in use: Wise Ancestors

Oct 30, 2024 We’re thrilled to announce that Wise Ancestors has joined the Local Contexts Hub and is using the Open to Collaborate Notice on their homepage to… …
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Headshot of Amy June Breesman Announcement

Welcoming Amy June Breesman, Help Desk Lead

Oct 29, 2024 We are excited to announce that Amy June Breesman (she/her) has joined Local Contexts as our Help Desk Lead! Amy June (Eastern Shawnee/German/Irish) is passionate… …
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A grid of six video call screens featuring individuals. The Local Contexts logo and dark teal text overlay at the bottom reading, Talks

Supporting Indigenous Relationships and Acknowledgements in Scientific Research with BC Labels

Oct 28, 2024 Indigenous Peoples have the right to make decisions about the future use of information, biological collections, data, and digital sequence information that derives from associated… …
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Headshot of Seth Kurke Announcement

Welcoming Seth Kurke, Communications & Marketing Lead

Oct 15, 2024 We are excited to announce that Seth Kurke has joined Local Contexts as the Communications & Marketing Lead. Seth (Blackfeet/European descendant) is dedicated to advancing… …
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“Notices in use: Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields.” Screenshot of Newfields website object record page for “birdstone,” including an image of a stone bird and the Local Contexts Notices below. Decorative red background. Notices in Use

Notices in use: Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields

Sep 18, 2024 The Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields is using Open to Collaborate, Attribution Incomplete, BC, and TK Notices in its online collections portal. The Notices… …
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Announcement

The Power of Ten: Celebrating our First 10 Subscribers!

Aug 27, 2024 AUTHOR Dr. Stephany RunningHawk JohnsonFounding Executive Director, Local Contexts The journey to support Indigenous data sovereignty is a multi-generational effort. We are working to ensure… …
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“Indigenous communities have expressed a need to understand where genetic resources are and how they are being used. ... The Labels can help communities identify what research has been done and who is utilizing genetic resources and DSI. It enables communities to have their name associated with those data resources and publications. Recognizing Indigenous Interests: Labeling DSI with Provenance Metadata by Jane Anderson, Maui Hudson, Stephany RunningHawk Johnson, KatieLee Riddle. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13172148.” Text on decorative yellow background with Local Contexts logo, a ring made of dots. Articles

New policy brief on recognizing Indigenous provenance in metadata

Aug 19, 2024 “Recognizing Indigenous Interests: Labeling DSI with Provenance Metadata” highlights how the Local Contexts Labels and Notices are becoming essential tools for recognizing Indigenous provenance, protocols,… …
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Photo of Dr. Stephany RunningHawk Johnson at the Creative Commons Workshop held in Lisbon in May 2024 Announcement

Reflecting on Sustainability: My First Six Months as Local Contexts Executive Director

Jul 25, 2024 Caption: Photo of Dr. Stephany RunningHawk Johnson at the Creative Commons Workshop held in Lisbon in May 2024 AUTHOR Dr. Stephany RunningHawk JohnsonFounding Executive Director,… …
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“Join our team! Seeking applicants.” Text on decorative teal background with green square outline. Announcement

We are hiring!

Jul 19, 2024 Join our team! Visit our Jobs page for more information on how to apply. …
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Maui Hudson and Aaron Wilton look in a locker in a darkened collections storage room in Manaaki Whenua. Press Release

Stopping Biocultural Appropriation Press Release

Jun 18, 2024 The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has announced an important new Treaty regarding intellectual property, genetic resources, and traditional knowledge. …
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Frame to the left: “Labels in use: Te Roroa. First use of a BC Label on a thesis!” Screenshot of title page of thesis that includes the BC Provenance Label icon. Frame to the right: “Labels in use: Te Roroa. The thesis was deposited in the Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington institutional repository. Library staff added the digital infrastructure so that Te Roroa’s BC Provenance Label is included in the research metadata.” Screenshot of metadata showing the Te Roroa BC Provenance Label text and Hub project URL. Labels in Use

Label in Use: Te Roroa

Jun 17, 2024 Te Roroa, a Māori Iwi from the region between the Kaipara Harbour and the Hokianga Harbour in Northland, Aotearoa New Zealand, has a number of… …
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“Newfields joins as 1st founding supporter. Joint press release.” Logos for Local Contexts and Newfields. Decorative yellow background. Blog summary text: Local Contexts welcomes Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields as its first Founding Supporter. Announcement, Press Release

Welcoming Founding Supporter Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields

Jun 14, 2024 AUTHOR Dr. Stephany RunningHawk JohnsonFounding Executive Director, Local Contexts Local Contexts has made great strides in our work to create a sustainable platform dedicated to… …
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Talks

Ethical Open Science for Past Global Change FAIROS RCN Webinar

Jun 12, 2024 On May 21, 2024, Local Contexts team members presented a webinar for the Ethical Open Science for Past Global Change FAIROS RCN. The webinar shared… …
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“Notices in use: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts.” Screenshot of Coe Center website collections page “The Coe Collection” and the Local Contexts Open to Collaborate Notice. Decorative red background. Notices in Use

Notice in Use: Coe Center

Jun 7, 2024 The Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts is using Open to Collaborate Notices on its website, including on its collections page and in its… …
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Talks

Practical Approaches to Reparative Description Workshop Series: Local Contexts

Apr 25, 2024 On April 25, 2024, Local Contexts team members presented a webinar for the Digital Public Library of America’s Practical Approaches to Reparative Description Workshop Series.… …
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“Announcement,” white text on decorative teal background. Announcement

Service Provider Early Adopter Program

Apr 4, 2024 AUTHOR Dr. Stephany RunningHawk JohnsonFounding Executive Director, Local Contexts Local Contexts launched our Hub platform in beta in October 2021. Since then, we have welcomed… …
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“Hub Updates, white text on decorative orange background. Hub Updates

February 2024 Hub Updates

Feb 15, 2024 The Local Contexts Hub received a major update on February 14, 2024 (UTC). The update introduces Label and Notice embedding, Label template translations, new registration… …
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“First Hub subscriber. Welcoming Arkansas Archeological Survey. Joint Press release.” Logos for Local Contexts and Arkansas Archeological Survey. Decorative yellow background. Press Release

Welcoming ARAS Press Release

Feb 7, 2024 Local Contexts welcomes the Arkansas Archeological Survey as its first subscribing organization.  …
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Photograph of James Eric Francis Senior standing in a darkened museum, looking at Penobscot clothing items displayed in glass cases. Press Release

Consent, Disclose, Return Press Release

Jan 26, 2024 New rules have entered into effect affirming what Indigenous Peoples have always known: they continue to hold sovereign rights to their lands, knowledges, and cultural… …
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“Hub Updates, white text on decorative orange background. API Updates, Hub Updates

Local Contexts Hub Maintenance

Dec 18, 2023 Starting January 17, 2024 UCT, the Local Contexts Hub will have scheduled service that could put it into maintenance mode for an extended time. This… …
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Films, Resources

E Kore Au E Ngaro | The Connection Remains

Nov 28, 2023 Check out this film by the Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board and Local Contexts. As global momentum grows to properly value Indigenous ways of knowing alongside… …
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Photo of Stephany RunningHawk Johnson Announcement

Introducing Founding Executive Director Stephany RunningHawk Johnson

Nov 20, 2023 AUTHOR James E. Francis, Sr.Chair, Local Contexts Council, Department of Cultural and Historic Preservation, Penobscot Nation. We recently completed a search for our Founding Executive… …
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“Announcement,” white text on decorative teal background. Announcement

Mellon Foundation Grants Local Contexts Start-up Funding

Nov 13, 2023 We are thrilled to announce that the Mellon Foundation has awarded Local Contexts funds to support our initial organizational leadership and operations. This two-year US$2.5… …
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