Indigenous Sovereignty
Governed by Community. Protected for Generations.
Join us in our mission to uphold Sovereignty and foster community-led solutions for justice and healing.
The Power of Community
Consultations and Gatherings: A Path to Sovereignty
At MMIR Utah, we believe in the strength of community consultations, family circles, and gatherings as vital tools for reclaiming Indigenous data sovereignty. These spaces allow for meaningful dialogue, ensuring that the voices of families and communities are at the forefront of decision-making processes. By fostering trust and collaboration, we create a foundation for sustainable justice and cultural preservation.
Understanding OCAP® Principles
OCAP® stands for Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession. These principles affirm that stories and data belong to the families and communities, not external entities. Families have the authority to decide how their data is shared, ensuring cultural safety and collective benefit. Access is granted only with family consent, and data is securely stored on Indigenous-controlled servers.
The CARE Framework
CARE emphasizes the importance of collective benefit, authority, responsibility, and ethics in data management. This framework ensures that data practices respect Indigenous values and prioritize the well-being of communities, fostering an environment of trust and accountability.
Why Trust, Safety, and Justice Matter
Handling sensitive data with care is crucial to maintaining trust within Indigenous communities. Our approach prioritizes the sovereignty of families, ensuring that their stories are protected and shared only with consent. This commitment to safety not only safeguards individual narratives but also strengthens the broader justice system.
By fostering a culture of respect and accountability, we move beyond temporary solutions, building a foundation for sustained, community-led advocacy. Our work is a testament to the power of collective action in achieving long-term justice and healing.
Choose Your Sharing Level
Private Sharing
Default setting ensuring your data is only accessible to MMIR Utah for support purposes. Your information remains confidential and secure.
Community Sharing
Share your data with tribal communities to foster collective support and advocacy. Your consent ensures cultural respect and privacy.
Public Sharing
Contribute to public databases for broader awareness and policy influence. Your choice empowers community-driven change.
Data Collection Practices
We Collect (With Consent):
Public awareness data, such as names and photos, to advocate for justice, only with family permission.
Family-held knowledge, including contact details and narratives, kept private under family control.
Community metadata for policy and research, aggregated and anonymized.
Technical data for security purposes, not linked to sacred stories.
We Do Not Collect:
No data from minors without guardian consent.
No cookies or trackers on sacred story pages.
No sharing beyond the consent tier chosen by families.
Ensuring privacy and respect for all participants.
Commitment to ethical data practices.
Governance in Practice
Traces Project Overview
Traces is Utah’s first MMIR database, designed to house narratives and data with an Indigenous-centered approach.
Community-Driven Decisions
Decisions are made collectively, with input from project leads and community members, ensuring cultural safety and benefit.
Indigenous Management
Empowering Indigenous Leadership
Our mission is to train Indigenous community members to manage the database and website, ensuring long-term stewardship.
Future Control
The website is designed for eventual control by Indigenous community members, reflecting our commitment to sovereignty.
Support Our Efforts
Learn more about Traces and how you can support Indigenous data stewardship.
Community Involvement
Building a collaborative environment where community voices guide the project’s direction and implementation.
Training and Empowerment
Identifying and training Indigenous leaders to ensure the project remains community-owned and operated.
Collective Mission
Our collective mission is to protect and honor the stories and data of our community.
Commitment to Sovereignty
Ensuring that all data and narratives are managed with respect and integrity, aligned with Indigenous values.
Long-Term Vision
Creating a sustainable model for Indigenous data management that can be replicated and adapted by other communities.
Join Us
Be part of a transformative movement that prioritizes Indigenous sovereignty and community empowerment.
Our Approach
We prioritize consent-first collaboration, ensuring all data use is transparent and respectful of cultural protocols.
Community Benefit
Our work is driven by the goal of benefiting the community, with accountability at every step.
Respect and Transparency
We adhere to strict confidentiality and transparency standards, protecting the integrity of all data shared with us.
Traces: Building a Community-Driven Database
Empowering Indigenous Management
The Traces project is a groundbreaking initiative to create Utah’s first MMIR database, focusing on Indigenous-centered and community-driven approaches. Our goal is to ensure that the database and accompanying website are managed by Indigenous community members, reflecting our commitment to sovereignty and cultural integrity.
Through collective decision-making, we engage project leads and key community participants to guide the development and implementation of Traces. This collaborative process ensures that all actions align with cultural safety and the collective benefit of Indigenous communities.
Our mission is to train and empower Indigenous community members to take ownership of the database and website, ensuring that these resources remain under Indigenous control. By fostering a sustainable model of Indigenous data management, we aim to set a precedent for other communities to follow.
Discover Traces and Support Indigenous Data Stewardship
Join us in empowering Indigenous communities by exploring Traces, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to Indigenous data sovereignty. Your support helps ensure that sacred stories and data are managed with the utmost respect and care, fostering trust and justice for future generations.
Expectations for Partners and Researchers
Consent-First Collaboration
All partnerships begin with a foundation of consent, ensuring that families and communities retain control over their narratives.
Community Benefit and Accountability
Collaborations must prioritize tangible benefits for the community, with clear accountability measures in place.
Respect for Cultural Protocols and Confidentiality
Partners are expected to honor cultural protocols and maintain strict confidentiality regarding sensitive information.
Transparency in Data Use
We require full transparency about how data will be used, credited, and protected, ensuring ethical stewardship.
Commitment to Ethical Practices
Engagements should reflect a commitment to ethical practices that align with Indigenous values and priorities.
Support Without Extraction
Partners are encouraged to support our mission without extracting resources or knowledge from the community.
Long-Term Partnership Goals
We seek partners who are committed to long-term goals that align with our mission of justice and healing.
Mutual Respect and Understanding
All collaborations should be grounded in mutual respect and a deep understanding of Indigenous sovereignty.
Common Questions About Our Work
Explore answers to frequently asked questions about MMIR Utah’s mission and initiatives.
Who owns the stories and case information?
Families and communities retain ownership of their stories and case details, ensuring cultural respect and control.
Can families change their consent level later?
Yes, families can adjust their consent levels at any time to reflect their comfort and needs.
What does 'sacred data' mean?
Sacred data refers to sensitive information that is treated with the utmost respect, privacy, and cultural significance.
What is Traces and who controls it?
Traces is an Indigenous-managed database initiative, controlled by community members to ensure sovereignty and safety.
How do you protect privacy online?
We implement strict data protection protocols and consent-based sharing to safeguard privacy and integrity.
How can partners support without extracting?
Partners can support by respecting cultural protocols, prioritizing community benefits, and ensuring transparent collaboration.
Empower Indigenous Sovereignty Today
Your support is vital in our mission to uphold Indigenous sovereignty and ensure the safety of our communities. Join us in making a difference by reaching out or contributing to our cause. Together, we can foster justice and healing for all Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives.