First Nations Data Policy

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This policy applies to First Nations communities with an active and established client relationship to HelpSeeker, and may be updated from time to time. HelpSeeker recognizes First Nations are in the best position to understand their own needs and govern their own information.

The right of First Nations peoples to own, control, access, and possess information about their peoples is fundamentally tied to self-determination, and to the preservation and development of their culture.

2024 Update

This policy has been updated to reflect the applicability of our products Navigi, Karto, and Mareto. As more products are being developed for market introduction, we will update this policy accordingly.

Related Policies & Documents

This policy document is written as a supplement to the HelpSeeker Terms of Service and HelpSeeker Privacy Policy. This policy is also written in alignment with OCAP® principles. First Nations clients will also sign a data-sharing agreement with HelpSeeker prior to engaging in working relationships regarding data stewardship.

1. Ownership

1. First Nations communities who provide data to HelpSeeker own that data collectively, the same way an individual owns their personal data. Therefore, HelpSeeker maintains rights over its compiled database as articulated in HelpSeeker's Terms of Service, but does not retain rights over First Nations-owned data itself, as that data belongs to the First Nations community. The First Nation may, however, provide license rights and consent to HelpSeeker as a third-party data steward to act on their behalf through Data Sharing Agreements.
2. Mareto enables First Nations communities to collect and store their own data within a system they control, supporting their ownership of cultural knowledge and information.

2. Control

1. Research Projects. First Nations, their communities, and representative bodies have the right to control the research and information management processes that impact them, including the research and data collection conducted by HelpSeeker, and including all stages of a particular research project - from start to finish. This principle extends to the control of resources and review processes, the planning process, management of the information and so on.  HelpSeeker will seek consent from First Nations before engaging in any research activity using First Nations-owned data, and will actively consult with First Nations through the entire research process. In cases where a research project might be undertaken in partnership with First Nations, First Nations may withdraw their data at any time from these analyses. When working with First Nations data or any linked data involving First Nations, HelpSeeker will work at the discretion of, and in consultation with, the First Nation. First Nations will be provided with the opportunity to review research results and to comment on such results prior to publication.‍
2. Mareto's role-based access controls and data-sharing agreements empower First Nations to control who has access to their data throughout its lifecycle. 

3. Access

1. First Nations must have access to information and data about themselves and their communities regardless of where it is held. The principle of access also refers to the right of First Nations communities and organizations to manage and make decisions regarding access to their collective information. If First Nations would like to work with HelpSeeker to map services into the HelpSeeker Navigi product, First Nations would have access to their data and reports at any time through the platform. Upon request, HelpSeeker can provide, edit, suppress, remove, or delete the data used in HelpSeeker's services and products. Because data is collectively owned by First Nations, any member of the First Nation can make this request; in such a case, HelpSeeker would bring the request to the lead First Nations partner for information and guidance.

1. Mareto provides First Nations with direct access to the detailed data they collect about their own communities, ensuring they have immediate access to their information.

4. Privacy

1. Community Privacy. HelpSeeker's Navigi product does not collect any personal information; the data captured is based on "interactions" only. The mapping of public information about First Nations would also generate data about the community. There is an ability to generate heatmaps to show where interactions are occurring in Navigi, which includes a Google Maps integration that does include First Nations territories. To manage this risk to Community Privacy, HelpSeeker will seek permission from First Nations to include heat maps in our Karto data dashboards with license holders. If that permission is not provided, these heat maps would not be provided and would remain suppressed from these parties.‍
2. 4.2. Personal Privacy. HelpSeeker's privacy terms outline our alignment with federal and provincial legislation. Beyond these requirements, the Navigi product does not collect any personal information from end users. In the case of service providers who are mapped, HelpSeeker does not map any services in First Nations communities (Northern communities, Reserves, Metis Settlements). Outside First Nations communities, for instance urban centres, our aim is to develop an easy-to-use tool for people looking for help to connect to services. Ideally, this would include services provided by Indigenous organizations. We do map Open Data on our platform where that information already exists on the Internet or Open Source datasets - such as the Canada Revenue Agency Charities List. However, if any organization - including Indigenous organizations - do not wish to be mapped, they are able to remove their listing from the platform. They can do so themselves or provide a request to info@HelpSeeker.org and this will be completed within 24 hours.

5. Possession

1. While ownership identifies the relationship between a people and their information in principle, possession or stewardship is more concrete: it refers to the physical control of data. Possession is the mechanism by which ownership can be asserted and protected. HelpSeeker will engage in data stewardship (core functions include data collection, access, holdings and management, data linkages, analysis, visualization, protection, dissemination, and consumption) on behalf of the First Nation only with the consent and oversight of the First Nation. This would require a written agreement through which the First Nation would engage HelpSeeker to perform this work for them.
2. With Mareto's permissions, First Nations can implement their own data governance policies and procedures, maintaining stewardship over their data. 

6. Termination

1. First Nations can terminate the relationship for any reason.
2. Upon termination of a data-sharing agreement, all applicable First Nations data will be removed from the database and provided to the First Nations in CSV format.

7. Privacy Laws & OCAP®

1. Consultation and Collaboration: We work with Indigenous communities and legal experts to navigate the application of OCAP® principles within legal constraints, developing agreements or consent processes that respect both legal requirements and Indigenous data sovereignty.
2. Policy and Procedure Development: HelpSeeker develops policies procedures that reflect our commitment to legal compliance and the honoring of OCAP® principles.