A/HRC/60/66 on Research and the Circumpolar Inuit Protocols for Equitable and Ethical Engagement emphasize the importance of research data, but other forms of data are also important for the self-determination of Indigenous Peoples.44 44. In Latin America, Indigenous Peoples have initiated their own self-governed spaces for data production and preservation and have pursued regional and global alliances with other Indigenous organizations seeking to advance the goals of data protection within an Indigenous-led perspective. In Panama, Indigenous Peoples and their organizations have also been active participants in legal initiatives to ensure protection of their ancestral knowledge systems within current intellectual property legislation.45 45. Indigenous Peoples in Southern Africa have long relied on oral traditions, storytelling and land-based knowledge. The digital revolution presents both an opportunity and a risk for preserving this knowledge.46 By maintaining control over their data, Indigenous Peoples can ensure that their cultural practices and languages are documented and shared in ways that align with their own values. For example, the San people are using digital archives to preserve their unique languages and oral traditions. This way, they are not subject to external interpretations but can manage how their culture is represented. 46. By working with strengths-based approaches, Indigenous Peoples are recognized as capable and as providing their own solutions to ongoing issues. This perspective supports improvements in living conditions through community empowerment, strengthening Indigenous self-determination with the aid of data. For instance, the decision to conduct the National Inuit Health Survey was taken through Inuit governance mechanisms, and it is being conducted by Inuit organizations that implement all aspects of the programme, from planning to the data-collection, analysis and dissemination phases.47 47. In Mexico, this notion is particularly relevant when analysed in relation to the electoral rights of Indigenous Peoples. They face multiple challenges, including with regard to the protection of their data within electoral processes. Judicial institutions, in particular electoral courts, have played a significant role in highlighting how limited data affect the political and electoral rights of Indigenous Peoples.48 V. Role of data regarding decision-making and free, prior and informed consent 48. The integration of free, prior and informed consent into data governance frameworks is essential for upholding Indigenous rights in an era of digital information and technological advancement. Free, prior and informed consent embodies the core principles of autonomy, respect and self-determination.49 49. In Cameroon, there are no official statistics collected and analysed on the participation of Indigenous Peoples. However, there are statistics generated and analysed by Indigenous Peoples’ organizations on their participation in public affairs.50 50. In Canada, before each census, Statistics Canada initiates an extensive consultation programme that allows data users and interested parties across the country to share their views on both the content and dissemination strategy of the census. The 2026 Census of Population Dissemination Consultation team facilitated sessions with Indigenous data users and organizations to gather their insights.51 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 8 See https://www.inuitcircumpolar.com/wp-content/uploads/EEE-Protocols-LR-WEB.pdf. Presentation by Miguel Gonzalez, expert seminar, December 2024. Presentation by Ivan Vaalbooi, expert seminar, December 2024. Presentation by Naluturuk Weetaluktuk, expert seminar, December 2024. See also https://nationalinuithealthsurvey.ca/. Submission from Mexico (in Spanish). Terry Mitchell and others, “Towards an Indigenous-informed relational approach to free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC)”, International Indigenous Policy Journal, vol. 10, No. 4 (2019). Submission from the Cameroon Human Rights Commission (in French). Submission from Canada. GE.25-12012