Register below for this webinar, held on September 30, 2026 at 2pm PST.
Due to team time limitations, any registrations received after SEPTEMBER 29th @2PM (PST) will not be reviewed.
About this Webinar:
Native Nations, Indigenous organizations, and academic institutions are increasingly engaged in data-driven research and decision-making. With these efforts comes the responsibility to uphold Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance at all levels. Accomplishing this work requires institutions to move beyond policy development alone. It demands relationship-building, institutional buy-in coupled with long-term commitment, and a shared understanding of Indigenous governance and self-determination. Rather than simply acknowledging collaboration with Indigenous communities, institutions must recognize and uphold Indigenous authority in decisions regarding data, research, and governance.
Join distinguished Indigenous leaders Mari Hulbutta and Karen Diver for an hour-long conversation on advancing Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance through organizational and institutional change. Drawing on their extensive experience in Tribal governance, higher education, and Indigenous policy, they will explore strategies for creating sustainable change within Tribal communities, universities, and research partnerships.
Webinar participants will gain insights into:
- Building institutional support for Indigenous Data Sovereignty initiatives
- Navigating barriers and opportunities in university and research environments
- Strengthening Tribal data governance and decision-making authority
- Implementing strategies that move beyond awareness toward meaningful action and accountability
Featured Speakers:
Karen Diver is the Senior Advisor to the President – Native American Affairs, University of Minnesota. Karen was appointed by President Obama as Special Assistant for Native American Affairs in November 2015 until the end of the Administration. Karen was Chairwoman of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa from 2007 -2015. She serves on the Great Lakes Fishery Commission as a US Commissioner and Chair and Board of Governors for the Honoring Nations Program. She has a Bachelors in Economics from the University of Minnesota and Masters in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.
Mari Hulbutta, JD (she/her) serves as the Chickasaw Nation’s inaugural Director of Data Stewardship. She is also a Co-Lead of the Indigenous People’s Data Collective and the Indigenous Data Alliance’s cohort of Indigenous Data Champions Fellows. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from Columbia Law School and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University. Mari is a proud citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and a descendant of the Seminole and Muscogee (Creek) Nations of Oklahoma.
This webinar is a collaborative effort involving the Indigenous Data Alliance (IDA), the Collaboratory for Indigenous Data Governance, the Indigenous Data Exchange (IDX), the IndigeLab Network, the Indigenous Data Law Lab at NYU, and the Sovereign Soils Research Collaborative.