The Local Contexts Hub membership and subscription model will be launched as part of our work toward sustainability (see more in this blog post). The information below is shared for transparency. While we have consulted with user communities for the development of these models, we anticipate the need to evolve as we welcome more users onto the platform. We encourage you to share your ideas and feedback in our networks.

Members, Subscribers, and Service Providers

Last Updated: October 31, 2023
Local Contexts is a non-profit organization currently supported through grant funding. Our goal is to create a multi-generational resource that supports Indigenous data sovereignty. To realize this goal, we must be able to support our operations through regular recurring revenue. Our business model is based on mutual trust and respect, and acknowledges power imbalances between Indigenous communities and institutions and organizations that hold Indigenous cultural and other heritage, genetic resources, and knowledge.
What is a Member?
Any Indigenous community may become a Member of Local Contexts by registering on the Hub. Member benefits include the ability to use the Local Contexts Hub to assign a community administrator, to create projects and edit and apply Local Contexts Labels, to invite contributing Subscribers, and to nominate representatives to the Local Contexts Council. Members are responsible for maintaining their Hub contact information and ensuring their account integrity.
Member Fees
There is no fee to become a Member.
What is a Subscriber?
Any museum, repository, university, or other organization that supports Indigenous data sovereignty is encouraged to become a Local Contexts Subscriber by registering on the Hub. Subscriber benefits include the ability to use the Local Contexts Hub to create projects, apply Notices, to invite contributing researchers, and to issue notifications to Indigenous communities registered on the Hub. Subscribers are responsible for maintaining their Hub contact information and ensuring their account integrity.
Subscriptions are not required for accessing the Collections Care Notices.
Subscriber Fees
The standard subscription fee is US$5000 per year, subject to the following size and entity type adjustments. Some organizations may qualify for more than one discount, such as a medium-sized Indigenous organization, which would be eligible for a 50% plus 75% discount on the standard fee.
Entity Type:
Indigenous organization: Subscriber must have entered into a Member Agreement to qualify for this rate.
Entity Size:
- Small organization: Applicable to organizations whose revenue in the prior fiscal year was less than US$500,000.
- Medium organization: Subscriber represents and warrants that its expense budget in the prior fiscal year was less than US$3,000,000 and more than US$500,000.
- Large organization: Applicable to organizations whose revenue in the prior fiscal year was more than US$30,000,000.
Entity Type | Entity Size | Subscription Fee |
Indigenous Organization | Small | US$250 per year |
Medium | US$625 per year | |
Large | US$5,000 per year | |
Standard (all others) | US$2,500 per year | |
Non-Indigenous Organization | Small | US$500 per year |
Medium | US$1,250 per year | |
Large | US$10,000 per year | |
Standard (all others) | US$5,000 per year |
Founding Subscribers
During our start-up phase, we are welcoming a special class of “Founding Subscribers”, who in addition to their annual subscription fee, are able to support Local Contexts through an additional donation of at least US$10,000 or a long-term loan of at least $50,000. These funds will be used to establish organizational infrastructure and support the hiring of a full-time executive director. All Founding Subscribers will be listed on the Local Contexts webpage.
What is a Service Provider?
Any organization that integrates Local Contexts Labels and Notices into their products – free or paid. These may include museum curation platforms, repository workflow platforms, information aggregators, and more. Service Provider systems enable Local Contexts Subscribers to easily integrate Labels and Notices into local workflows and systems and ensure ongoing trust in the Local Context Labels and Notices. The Service Provider program is a means for Local Contexts to work with organizations on their use of Labels and Notices and to make product information more accessible to our community. Service Provider benefits include increased utility of their products by Local Contexts Subscribers, participation in Hub product development meetings, and for those that meet specifications a listing on the Local Contexts Partners page certifying compliance with Local Contexts integration standards.Service Provider are responsible for maintaining their Hub contact information, updating their integration to meet API requirements, and ensuring their Hub account integrity.
Service Provider Fees
The Service Provider fee is US$1500 per year, with the same entity type and size adjustments as for Subscribers.
Overview of Annual Fees, Value Propositions, and Requirements
Indigenous Communities | Institutions and Repositories | Service Providers | |
Annual Fee | No-fee Membership | Subscription fee US$5000 (subject to size and type adjustments) | Certification fee US$1500 (subject to size and type adjustments) |
Value proposition |
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Requirements |
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Further Information
Terms of Service
Member Agreement – Draft, subject to change
Subscriber Agreement – Draft, subject to change
Service Provider Agreement – Draft, subject to change