ICAT Playdate — Beyond “Open Data”: Rethinking the Ethical Training of AI through Indigenous Governance

Artificial intelligence systems are often built on the assumption that available data may be freely collected, reused, and transformed. For Indigenous communities, however, knowledge is not simply data; it is connected to identity, culture, relationships, and collective responsibility. This presentation examines how Indigenous Data Sovereignty can reshape the ethical foundations of AI by giving communities meaningful authority over how their knowledge is accessed, represented, and used.

Drawing on a comprehensive review of recent research, we show how the CARE Principles—Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, and Ethics—and the First Nations principles of OCAP®—Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession—can inform the governance and design of AI systems from data collection through deployment. We also discuss how technologies such as retrieval-augmented generation and federated learning may support community control and reduce unauthorized extraction. Moving beyond the language of “open data,” this work advances a more responsible vision of AI grounded in collective consent, cultural safety, and long-term accountability.