A practical guide to Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession of First Nations data.
OCAP® is a set of standards that establish how First Nations data should be collected, protected, used, or shared. They are the gold standard for respecting First Nations data sovereignty.
“OCAP® reflects First Nations’ commitments to use and manage information in a way that brings benefit to the community while minimizing any possible harm.”
The relationship of a First Nation to its cultural knowledge, data, and information.
The right of First Nations to seek control over all aspects of research and information management.
The right of First Nations to have access to information and data about themselves.
The physical control of data, ensuring it is held by First Nations people and their organizations.
Refer to the relationship of First Nations to their cultural knowledge, data, and information.
Ensure your organization's policies explicitly recognize community ownership of program data.
Use these checkpoints to review how your program aligns with OCAP® principles.