Sector-Specific Standards Development – GLAM Data Governance

The contract seeks to develop ethical data governance standards, wise practices, and practical implementation tools specifically tailored for First Nations GLAM institutions—galleries, libraries, archives, and museums—that hold cultural and historical data. The work will focus on co-designing frameworks that affirm First Nations sovereignty over their data, ensuring that ownership, access, and use are governed by Indigenous protocols, values, and governance structures. The approach emphasizes collaboration with First Nations communities to create culturally grounded, community-led solutions that respect traditional knowledge systems and address historical inequities in data control. This subcontract, issued by the Standards Council of Canada under the NAICS code for professional, scientific, and technical services, requires the successful bidder to deliver actionable resources that can be adopted across GLAM institutions serving First Nations communities. The project must center Indigenous leadership and participation throughout the development process, ensuring the outputs are not only technically sound but also ethically aligned with Indigenous rights and self-determination. The response deadline is June 12, 2026, and the work is expected to be performed across Canada, with no physical office location specified, reflecting the national scope and community-based nature of the initiative.