Data Control Will Shape the Next Phase of Tribal Sovereignty

Written By Jacquelyn Cordova

Credit: Indigenous Data Alliance

Tribal Nations are entering a new phase of sovereignty, one increasingly shaped by authority over data, information, and digital systems.

In this opinion piece, Levi Rickert reflects on conversations from the 2026 U.S. Indigenous Data Sovereignty & Governance Summit and explores how data influences policy, funding, research, public perception, and emerging technologies. The article highlights why Tribal leadership must play a central role in governing Indigenous data and why decisions being made today will shape the future of Indigenous communities for generations to come.

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Jacquelyn Cordova
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