The Indigenous Data Champions Fellowship aims to equip a cohort of 20 Indigenous leaders annually with the knowledge, tools, and relationships necessary to enhance Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDSov) and Governance (IDGov) within their communities. Fellows will participate in monthly cohort calls, engage in specialized training, and attend the U.S. Indigenous Data Sovereignty Network (USIDSN) 2028 Summit.

The program is led by Indigenous Data Alliance experts Dr. Stephanie Russo Carroll, Dr. Desi Small-Rodriguez, and Dr. Riley Taitingfong in collaboration with the Indigenous Peoples Data Collective (IPDC) leadership, Mari Hulbutta, Leece Oliver LaRue, and Hannah-Marie Ladd.

Each Fellow will demonstrate a commitment to exercising IDSov and IDGov in their respective community or communities by enacting culturally-grounded, community-wise data and knowledge practices. Fellows will share these ongoing and developing strategies in collaborative engagements with other fellows, Indigenous communities, and USIDSN partners. Fellows will also be given space to engage with USIDSN leadership, IPDC, and the Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Ethics Training (Indigenous DataSET) Fellows. The program aims to fill knowledge gaps in the ethics, governance, and infrastructure for research and data use that directly impacts Indigenous rights holders, ensuring that future science and data practices are more equitable, community-driven, and aligned with Indigenous sovereignty. Fellows will be awarded a stipend for their participation.

The powers of IDSov and IDGov lie within Indigenous communities as they exercise their inherent right to self-determination over their data. Since 2015 the USIDSN, the Collaboratory for Indigenous Data Governance, and the Data Warriors Lab have been working together to advance the IDSov movement across the United States. With more than a decade of institutional advocacy and community partnerships, we now seek to establish the “Authority to Activation Framework” as the next step in growing the IDSov movement. This new Framework brings together Indigenous leaders (the ‘authority’) with Indigenous data technicians and scholars (the 'activation’) to expand the growth of IDGov within Indigenous and Tribal communities. 

To formally launch the ‘authority’ arm, we have created a program called the Indigenous Peoples’ Data Collective (IPDC) to train and network Indigenous Peoples and Tribal Nations as they create policies, procedures, laws, and infrastructure to exercise IDSov. The Luce Indigenous Data Champions Fellows Program is the first of these opportunities and designed as a year-long fellowship equipping and supporting Indigenous leaders, professionals, and community representatives as they carry this movement forward within their own Nations and regions.

The Indigenous Data Champions Fellowship is open to individuals who fulfill the following criteria and roles:

RELATIONS

Indigenous individuals in the United States with Tribal, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or Indigenous Island Territory affiliation(s); e.g., Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, US Virgin Islands. Applicants must indicate their Indigenous affiliation(s).

ROLES

Applicants should be working for or on behalf of Indigenous communities in any sector in one of the following capacities:

1. Tribal Institutions

» Tribal government leaders
» Non-elected/appointed/executive Tribal staff or employees

2. Tribal, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or Indigenous Island Territory Organizations 

» Executive, department, and program leaders of nonprofit organizations directly serving Tribal Nations, Alaska Native communities, Native Hawaiians or Indigenous Island Territories.

3. Tribal or Indigenous Community-based roles:

» Community representatives
» Cultural leaders
» Tribal staff, Indigenous leaders, professionals, and community representatives

More details in application section below

The Indigenous Data Champions Fellowship is a year-long program that equips 20 Indigenous leaders, professionals, and community representatives with the knowledge, tools, and relationships needed to strengthen Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDSov) and Governance (IDGov) in their communities, as members of the first cohort of Foundation Indigenous Data Champions Fellows.

The Indigenous Data Champions Fellowship is open to:

RELATIONS

Indigenous individuals with Tribal, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or Indigenous Island Territory affiliation(s); e.g., Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, US Virgin Islands. Applicants must indicate their Indigenous affiliation(s).

ROLES

Applicants should be working for or on behalf of Indigenous communities in one of the following capacities:

1. Tribal Institutions 

» Tribal government leaders including elected leaders, appointed leaders, or  executive-level staff of a Tribal Nation, Alaska Native Village, or Alaska Native Corporation.

» Non-elected/appointed/executive Tribal staff or employees serving in governance, administration, planning, research, museums, records/archives, IT, or data-related roles for their Nation or community. Includes Tribal Historical Preservation Officers and other Tribal administrators of federal and state tribal/Indian laws, regulations, and statutes

2. Tribal, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or Indigenous Island Territory Organizations 

» Executive, department, and program leaders of nonprofit organizations directly serving Tribal Nations, Alaska Native communities, Native Hawaiians or Indigenous Island Territories.

3. Tribal or Indigenous Community-based roles:

» Community representatives: individuals recognized by their community for contributions to governance, stewardship, or data-related projects.

» Cultural leaders: individuals who hold responsibilities over the governance of ceremonial and/or cultural knowledge within an Indigenous community.

» Tribal staff, Indigenous leaders, professionals, and community representatives, including those with little or no prior exposure to Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDSov) or Indigenous Data Governance (IDGov), are invited to apply to participate in the 2026–27 fellowship cohort.

As an Indigenous Data Champions Fellow, you will be equipped over the course of the 2026-27 year with the knowledge, tools, and perspectives necessary to govern and steward data in ways that align with your community’s culture, values, and interests.

JUL - AUG 2026: Application period

» July 1 - Fellowship application opens

» Aug 1 - Fellowship application closes (deadline is 11:59 pm Pacific)

SEPT 2026: Fellowship begins

» Sept 9 - Fellows Orientation, materials, and agreement (12-2 pm Pacific)

» Sept 18 - Virtual Masterclass (all day Pacific)

MONTHLY (OCT 2026 – JUN 2027): Cohort calls

» Cohort calls are held on the first Friday of each month (11-2 pm Pacific)

» Peer exchange and discussion on applying IDSov/IDGov in community contexts.

» Ongoing mentorship and check-ins with program leadership.

MONTHLY (OCT 2026 – JUN 2027): Webinars & trainings

Topics may include:

» Foundations of IDSov and IDGov

» Technological infrastructure to support IDSov.

» Environmental sustainability and data governance.

» Data trusts and collective ownership models.

» Artificial intelligence and Indigenous rights.

» Ethical frameworks and community protocols.

JUN 2027: Fellowship concludes

» Final cohort call and reflection.

» Submission of individual outputs (e.g., case study, webinar, or knowledge-sharing resource).

» Completion of post-fellowship survey and planning for continued engagement with IPDC.

Your input will also be critical to helping shape and optimize the program for future Fellowship cohorts.