Data governance with CARE: A case study of interests under the kangaroo grass project Djandak Dja Kunditja (Country Healing its Home)

Djandak Dja Kundjtia was led and funded by DJAARA (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation) and involves growing Kangaroo Grass (Buwatj) (Themeda triandra) using modern perennial, broadacre cropping systems. The research information generated through the Djandak Dja Kundjtia project is under ICIP (Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property) of DJAARA (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation). It includes plant growth, soil, and climate data from agricultural trials (from the field and laboratory/incubator in Microsoft Excel (.csv) format and peer-reviewed publications.

1. How this kangaroo grass research information can be made discoverable and re-usable in ways that best support DJAARA in their priorities and aspiration to revive a traditional cropping system, whilst also meeting the research needs of the researchers
2. How the information management solution/s can support DJAARA’s right to govern (including the authority to control and protect) Indigenous Data, specifically through alignment with the CARE (Principles for Indigenous Data Governance – Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility and Ethics)

Primary data was collected through structured interviews in 2022 (Federation University Ethics, Project Number A21-147). The interview schedule was developed with DJAARAm and the participants were identified by DJAARA to take part in this research.

This is a report including summarised research findings, including de-identified quotes. This was conducted under Federation Research Ethics, Project Number A21-147.

DJAARA and researchers’ rights, responsibilities and priorities identified through the interviews were themed by CARE principle (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility and Ethics). The key findings are summarised. We include a list of recommended areas of immediate and future focus.

We introduce a proposed solution that could be implemented with the time and resources available for research data management within the project. This included enabling data storage, labelling, access, and re-use of the kangaroo grass to help support DJAARA’s interests and right to govern Indigenous Data as expressed through these interviews.