Māori data sovereignty
Small organisations around Aotearoa are placing Māori values at the forefront of their digital services. For IRL, Shanti Mathias talks to some of those working towards a version of the internet that prioritises the needs of indigenous people.
Initially, Kaye-Maree Dunn (Te Rarawa, Ngā Puhi) wanted to make Indigicoin, the world’s first indigenous cryptocurrency. As a veteran of the Māori social development world – she’s also worked in community housing and the Māori Land court – she was intrigued by the possibility that blockchain technology could help create more equitable financial outcomes for Māori communities.
When she met software developer Ben Tairea (Ngāti Nurou, Kuki Airani) at a hackathon, the plan changed: how could they help different iwi and hapū access vital information about their whakapapa without placing that information at risk of exploitative, offshore companies?
Link to article: Inside the fight for Māori data sovereignty | The Spinoff
