Supporting the creation of the BC Regional Information Governance Centre

Ownership, access and control of quality data is a critical contributor to effective governance, planning and decision-making, and it is core to self-determination and Nation rebuilding. The emerging BC Regional Information Governance Centre (BC RIGC), a project of the First Nations Leadership Council, is advancing these interests as part of its mandate to advance the national First Nations Data Governance Strategy in B.C.

The BC RIGC will advance Indigenous data sovereignty by enabling First Nations to access and collect quality data, leverage new digital infrastructure and software tools, and utilize expertise and evidence-based tools to enhance data capability in support of Nation goals, plans and priorities.

The Ministry of Citizens’ Services is supporting this work as part of Action 3.14 of the Declaration Act Action Plan. The work also aligns with the anti-racism research priority focused on advancing Indigenous data sovereignty and supports government’s commitment to reconciliation.

The Indigenous Identity Data Standard will further support government’s work to collect, use and share distinctions-based identity information. The standard supports the centre, as well as work under the Anti-Racism Data Act.

Progress to date

The First Nations Leadership Council is leading the BC RIGC’s first phase of work. This includes selecting a range of Nation-led data demonstration projects to inform how the BC RIGC operates and to generate new generalized tools and assets that other Nations can tailor to their own contexts. These projects span a range of sectors such as:

  • Questionnaire and survey examples and tools
  • Data-sharing and information-sharing agreements
  • Data-related policies
  • Tools for improving data quality
  • Data governance principles

The BC RIGC has also developed an evidence-based data capacity needs assessment tool which supports First Nations and First Nations organizations to baseline their current state of data capacity maturity, develop a tailored action plan and be matched with tools and templates to advance that action plan.

Next steps

The B.C. government is partnering with the First Nations Leadership Council on several projects to support work under the BC RIGC. This includes work to improve data sharing between the BC Vital Statistics Agency and First Nations.

BC Stats is also supporting the BC RIGC on research projects related to Indigenous population projections and the economic contributions of First Nations to local economies.

Over the coming years, the Ministry of Citizens’ Services will raise awareness of the BC RIGC across government and support ministries to further develop partnership opportunities. In addition to advancing Indigenous data sovereignty in B.C., this work will also strengthen government data and research by:

  • Creating clearer expectations around using or requesting First Nations data
  • Improving data quality and culturally safe data practices
  • Supporting more equitable program design and decision-making

Learn more