Supporting Indigenous Relationships and Acknowledgements in Scientific Research with BC Labels
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 lands, waters, and territories. The Local Contexts Biocultural (BC) Labels support this right by defining community expectations around appropriate use of biocultural collections and data. The BC Labels focus on accurate provenance, transparency, and integrity in research engagements with Indigenous communities.
This webinar will highlight the first use of a BC Label on thesis research, hearing from the Iwi who applied the Label, the researcher who collaborated with the Iwi, and the university staff who ensured the Label would be reflected in the institutional repository. The presenters will share their perspective and experience around this use of the Label, as well as what they hope to see in the future.
This webinar will be recorded and published on the Local Contexts YouTube channel.
Speakers
Taoho Patuawa (Te Roroa, Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi)
Taoho Patuawa is an Environmental Science Advisor for his iwi organisation Te Roroa. Te Roroa is an active iwi organisation with a strong collaborative partnership approach to environmental issues within their rohe, including various aspects of forest health, monitoring of freshwater systems and biodiversity, hazard and infrastructure services management, as well as social support for our communities. From this diverse operations portfolio, they have a number of opportunities to incorporate the use of the Local Context Hub and Labels. Of particular interest is the intention to standardize the use of Local Contexts across contemporary environmental projects to promote long-term, collaborative relationships between kaimahi and research teams.
Fern Donovan
Fern Donovan is the Te Papa Atawhai / Department of Conservation Freshwater Pests and Migratory Fish Species Ranger for Te Tai Tokerau Northland. Her role includes the protection and management of some of indigenous freshwater species. Prior to this role, she was a student at Victoria University of Wellington, completing a MSc researching the reproductive behaviors and habitat requirements of a native freshwater fish species (Shortjaw Kōkopu) in a West Coast catchment in Northland. This involved the incorporation of Te Roroa’s Biocultural Label, the first Local Contexts BC Label used on a thesis. Fern is passionate about environmental protection and the conservation of unique flora and fauna, striving to see an Aotearoa that thrives from the mountains to the sea: ki uta ki tai.
Ori Atkins
Ori Atkins (any pronouns) is a Systems and Integration Developer working within The Library at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. Their role is to ensure that all the library’s various digital systems can communicate effectively with each other, and to develop and improve digital services. Outside of work, she is currently studying part-time towards a postgraduate qualification in Information Studies. He is also a proud member of the queer community and is heavily involved in union work with the Tertiary Education Union. As demonstrated, it uses any pronouns.
Nik Crombie (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongomaiwahine)
Nik Crombie shares the role of Digital Research Services Coordinator with Max. Nik and Max support the thesis deposit process, Library repository platforms (Figshare and Dspace), and Open Journal Systems.
Nik has previously worked in public libraries and the National Library of New Zealand, and has a Postgraduate Diploma in Information Studies.
Max Sullivan
Max Sullivan is a Digital Research Services Coordinator at the Library Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. He shares this role with Nik. Max and Nik support the thesis deposit process, Library repository platforms (Figshare and Dspace), and Open Journal Systems.
Max has a Master of Library and Information Systems and a background working on digitisation projects, repository systems, and open access publishing.
