First Nations Data Governance Strategy (FNDGS)

The overarching goal of the strategy is to establish a national network of fully functional, non-political (expert-driven) Regional Information Governance Centres (RIGCs) that will provide shared data and statistical services to all First Nations communities, their governments and their political and service delivery organizations.

A: The Strategy is the same as outlined above. Regional Information Governance Centre (RIGC), Dene Nation Data Centre, Resource Centre, etc., are the same.

The intent is to have a central location that can be the Archive Centre for maps, and other historical documentation. The central location for all IT/IS/IM (Data Centre) functions. There is a building vision for a resource and educational centre for Denendeh.

The possibilities will change as the central idea will grow and mature over the years.

• Due to the complexity of this undertaking, and to ensure we are successful, a pragmatic phased or “stepped” approach will drive the progressive development and implementation of these RIGCs over time, at the pace and scope set by leadership in every region.
• Phase 1 covers the next three fiscal years (2022-23 to 2024-25).
• The first phase is all about identifying the foundational elements or blueprints required prior to proceeding with any permanent infrastructure or capacity building investments (i.e., bricks and mortar) in Phase 2.

A: The intent is to take a methodical and managed approach as identified above. There are some immediate needs that must be addressed (maps / archives) which could signify a rapid move forward.

The intent is still to ensure the best business decisions are made by leadership and management in Dendendeh with Dene Communities and for its membership.

• One Centre will be built in every region across Canada (10 Regional Centres and 1 National).

A: This has been and will be the solution as originally outlined by the First Nations Information Governance Centre in Ottawa and the national FNDGS program.

• Project teams have been assembled in each region and are now implementing their engagement plans: they will be engaging communities, leadership, and their service delivery organizations around what their visions might be for their Regional Centre.
• We will engage every community in the Dene territory to better understand your priorities so that we can build a Centre that meets your needs.

A: Work is underway, and a team has been assembled to meet all requirements. There are activities planned to ensure leadership and management are engaged and provided all information to make sound, effective and efficient decisions and choices to move forward.

• Consistent with the “community-driven and nation-based” principles upon which the Strategy is based, rights holders will determine the form and function of these Centres, and what priority suite of data services they will offer.
• Communities will have presentations on the FNDGS project, the work of FNIGC and how Denendeh can make their decisions on how to participate, programs and resources for communities for knowledge building, development of interest in Data Governance careers and projects, as well as work to develop a regional information governance centre for Denendeh.

A: Again, work is underway, to ensure leadership and management are engaged and provided all information to make sound, effective and efficient decisions and choices to move forward. Dene leaders discuss at All Chiefs meetings and the annual Dene National Assembly.

Examples: The immediate need is to decide next steps with assessment of our data, like Dene mapping archives, which has been an issue for many years. The intent is to move forward with decision(s) on next steps for these activities. The Dene Nation is working to ensure there is alignment, and that a central location is the business model of which the Dene Nation moves forward with.

Dene Nation is in a unique situation which could see some rapid movement forward with a centralized business location / solution. This will be determined by the membership and leadership, of which management can act on.

We realize the focus has been on archives, but these Centres can do so much more:

• Data literacy and training
• Data protection and security
• Data analysis for advocacy purposes
• Data stewardship (archiving for community)
• Language and culture preservation and revitalization
• Environmental and biodiversity monitoring
• Climate change mitigation

Comment: All the above are part of the business model moving forward. The intent is to ensure Dene Nation has all required resources to enable all forms of Data Management listed above while promoting and leading cultural preservation, revitalization, environmental and biodiversity concerns, and climate change. The Dene Nation must also lead in emergency response and mitigation.

Example numbers proposed: The numbers in the briefing note are estimates only. The GNWT has the only central Data Centre in the Northwest Territories, which was built in August 2011. The build cost was over $8,000,000. Annual O/M costs are estimates also. Depending on the scope of operation for a Dene Nation Data Centre, it is highly likely that costs could be in the high hundreds of thousands or more.

It is hard to determine exact costs without reviewing build proposals. There are many other factors to consider: location, build new or retrofit an existing building, resources required, etc. All of these have influence on costs.

The main takeaway is to ensure that expectations in the NWT are realistic — they are far different from what is expected in other parts of Canada in the south, so it is vital to expect many challenges. All of which will be overcome with a methodical approach that seeks guidance and decisions from membership, leadership, and management.