[Witness spoke in Ojibwa and provided the following text:]
Boozhoo aanii, Jarret Leaman ndishnikaaz Magnetawan First Nation nidoonjibaa (Niizh manidoowag).
[English]
Hello, everyone. My name is Jarret Leaman, and I am a member of Magnetawan First Nation, located in southern Ontario, out in the Muskoka region.
I am a co-founder and volunteer for the Centre for Indigenous Innovation and Technology, or CIIT. We have been operating for about five years. Our goal is to increase indigenous representation in the technology and innovation spaces. We achieve that by undertaking programming such as on-the-job training, work placements and research.
Canada’s major cities are often seen as major hubs of innovation, and indigenous people play a huge part in that in Canada in health, technology and many other spaces.
Historically, indigenous people have had little control over initiatives that are initiated by non-indigenous institutions to collect their data for research or for private businesses. Indigenous data sovereignty expresses the inherent right and jurisdiction of an indigenous nation to control the collection, ownership and application of their data.
The Government of Canada’s dual commitment to reconciliation and open government presents an opportunity to support indigenous data sovereignty as a key foundation for developing local and regional data capacities, self-government and partnerships in the technology and innovation sectors, spurring valuable intellectual property and other assets.
Through CIIT, we have explored multiple visions held by indigenous people about the future and what it means for younger generations and nation building. Technology reconciliation and the opportunity for indigenous peoples to participate equally in the digital economy and its impact sectors are common priorities shared both by the urban and rural communities.
There have been lots of great examples of indigenous innovation over the last couple of years.
An example may be the Missanabie Cree First Nation emergency preparedness application that's being used to help evacuate indigenous communities in times of flood or emergencies.
Trent University, for example, offers a learning experience with a unique mix of indigenous knowledge and western teachings, learning from indigenous and non-indigenous faculty, elders, guest speakers and scholars from across all of North America to receive a Bachelor of Science in indigenous environmental studies and sciences.
We've also partnered and had an opportunity to work with CILAR, the Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism, which provides new pathways and transformational opportunities for Canada's Black and indigenous peoples and people of colour. CILAR has helped us work with TD Bank on a research project.
One of the things we heard from indigenous communities in our engagement across the year was the idea or the understanding of self-determination and co-creation. We understand that the Constitution provides existing rights under section 35 of the Constitution Act of 1982. We also recognize that it's inherent that it may find expression in treaties and land claims agreements and in the context of the Crown's relationship with first nations, Métis and Inuit peoples.
The United Nations has recognized the need for alternative metrics and post-sustainable development goals, with some form of indigenous development factor. There is also recognition of the need for a much greater level of community involvement and partnership in the gathering of culturally relevant information and data.
Some broad areas of discussion included understanding the intricacies between collective and individual rights and their link to wealth generation as well as a deeper understanding of indigenous self-determination and a co-creation process.
Neither governance arrangements nor social collectivities are static; they are dynamic entities that may be modified and reconfigured according to changing conditions and needs. Other areas of law that consider collective interest, such as labour relations, continue to understand the dynamic, changing conditions and needs of the social collective.
An example of co-creation took place in 2017, when the Ontario government developed the Indigenous Institutes Act. It was a great project and created a framework for ongoing collaboration between Ontario and indigenous institutes to support a strong and independent indigenous institutes sector, overseen by an indigenous-controlled and indigenous-governed council.
The City of Toronto also has done some innovative work in its approach with the development of the indigenous data governance, Métis and Inuit data research circle and the development of the city's indigenous data governance strategic framework.
