Blog

Upcoming Events

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!

Indigenous Communities Working Group meeting

October 27, 2026
, 20:00 UTC

The next Indigenous Communities Working Group meeting will be held October 27 UTC. For this meeting, we will host a guided discussion on creating spaces for Indigenous research practice in universities with members of NYU’s Center CIRL and The Visiting Lab. This meeting will be recorded for group members. If you are unable to attend …

Europe & UK Network meeting

October 28, 2026
, 15:30 UTC

The next Europe & UK Network meeting will be held 28 October UTC. For this meeting, we have heard that many of our newer group members would appreciate an overview of the work that Local Contexts does, and some updates about new and different programs. If you have been following Local Contexts for a while, …

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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News and Resources


New Guidance for Indigenous Collections and Data

Sep 9, 2026 Guidance for Indigenous Collections and Indigenous Data: Recommendations from Creative Commons and Local Contexts is a new resource for cultural institution staff and cultural heritage… …

Data Do’s and Don’ts: A Primer on Indigenous Data Sovereignty

Jul 31, 2026 Data Do’s and Don’ts: A Primer on Indigenous Data Sovereignty is a new guidebook written by Dr. Jane Anderson, Co-Founder and Council Vice Chair of… …

State of the World’s Plants and Fungi Symposium Recordings and Report

Jul 17, 2026 The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew recently hosted the 2026 State of the World's Plants and Fungi Symposium. The event brought together experts to focus on… …

2024-2025 Annual Report

May 13, 2026 We are excited to share our 2024-2025 Annual Report, our organization’s first public-facing report of this kind.  After a welcome from Executive Director Hop Hopkins,… …

Aotearoa Genomic Data Repository joins Local Contexts as one of our first certified Integration Partners

May 13, 2026 Local Contexts is excited to welcome Aotearoa Genomic Data Repository (AGDR) as a certified Integration Partner on the Local Contexts Hub. “We are thrilled to… …

Niiwin #DataBack Day

Mar 20, 2026 On February 20, 2026, Local Contexts team members presented as a part of #DataBack Day, an online convening hosted by Niiwin, the community-focused data platform… …

First global standard on Indigenous Peoples’ data

Jan 8, 2026 The newly adopted “IEEE Recommended Practice for Provenance of Indigenous Peoples' Data,” is the first-ever international standard that calls for “appropriate disclosure of Indigenous peoples’… …

Donate to the Label Development Fund

Dec 2, 2025 Local Contexts is connected with Indigenous communities, institutions, researchers, and integration partners around the world. For the past 15 years, our relationships have helped us… …

Omeka certified as first Integration Partner

Sep 17, 2025 Omeka has become a certified Integration Partner on the Local Contexts Hub. “We are ecstatic to have Omeka become a certified Integration Partner, the first… …

UMass Amherst Libraries join Local Contexts as Subscriber

Aug 28, 2025 With subscription, UMass leading the way for transformational practice that connects Indigenous cultural authority to collections and research. …

GBIF pilot using TK and BC Labels

Jul 28, 2025 Illustration, “Yggdrasill, the mundane tree,” by Finnur Magnússon, London: Henry G. Bohn, 1859. Map reproduction courtesy of the Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center… …

New comic about Local Contexts

Jun 6, 2025 “Local Contexts: Restorying Sovereignty with Plant Relatives” is a new comic that illustrates the collaboration between Shinnecock Nation, Local Contexts, and New York Botanical Garden… …

Digital Research Alliance of Canada Webinar

May 9, 2025 On March 20, Local Contexts team members Māui Hudson, Emily Santhanam, and Ashley Rojas presented a virtual webinar for the Digital Research Alliance of Canada,… …

Hub Programs Q&A Webinar

May 9, 2025 This webinar focused on recent updates to the Local Contexts Hub, including the launch of the Membership, Subscription, and Integration Partner programs.  The Local Contexts… …

Advancing Indigenous Data Sovereignty in Earth Science

Feb 4, 2025 A recent Nature Communications article, “Governance of Indigenous Data in Open Earth Systems Science,” highlights the need for stronger Indigenous data governance in Earth science.… …

​​Science Magazine Explores Need for Ethical Care and Handling of Animal Remains with Support from Local Contexts

Jan 16, 2025 In a recent Science magazine article “Better Care Urged for Animal Remains Tied to Indigenous People,” author Amanda Heidt explores the growing need for ethical… …

Local Contexts 2024 Highlights: A Year of Growth and Sustainability

Dec 26, 2024 As 2024 comes to a close, we at Local Contexts reflect on an extraordinary year dedicated to advancing Indigenous data sovereignty and governance. From team… …

ORCID and Local Contexts Announce Partnership

Dec 20, 2024 In the article “Local Contexts and ORCID Partner to Advance Indigenous Data Sovereignty,” authored by Julie Petro, Director of Communications at ORCID, Local Contexts and… …

Persistent Identifiers for Projects Community Dialogue Workshop

Dec 11, 2024 The Local Contexts team recently joined a community dialogue session hosted by DataCite in partnership with Metadata Game Changers. This session engaged participants from the… …

​​Newfields: A Leader in Ethical Collections Stewardship

Dec 6, 2024 Local Contexts was recently featured in "Grounding Indigenous Rights with Local Contexts in Newfields’ Collections Care," authored by Emma L. Carter, Rights Specialist, and Anne… …

Building on Foundational Leadership: Governing Local Contexts

Nov 20, 2024 When Local Contexts transitioned from a university project to become an independent non-profit organization in 2022, we established a governing Council. At that time, four… …

Highlighting Indigenous Cultural Authority: Local Contexts’ November Conference Presentations

Nov 19, 2024 Last week, Local Contexts had the honor of presenting at two major conferences: the Research Data Alliance (RDA) 23rd Plenary Meeting in San José, Costa… …

​​Science Magazine Highlights the CARE Principles and Local Contexts’ Tools

Nov 5, 2024 A recent Science magazine article highlights the importance of Indigenous data sovereignty in research, showcasing the CARE Principles and Local Contexts’ Traditional Knowledge and Biocultural… …

Welcoming Rose Barrowcliffe, Community Councilor

Nov 1, 2024 We are excited to announce that Rose Barrowcliffe has joined Local Contexts as a Community Councilor Member! Rose (Butchulla-Wonamutta) holds a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in… …