Indigenous Data Sovereignty in Heritage Digitization: Governance Models

Kabiga Chelule Kwemoi

Faculty of Engineering Kampala International University Uganda

                                                                  ABSTRACT
Indigenous data sovereignty (IDS) has emerged as a critical framework for reasserting Indigenous control over the collection, ownership, access, and use of data, particularly within heritage digitization initiatives. As museums, archives, and libraries increasingly convert physical cultural materials into digital formats, questions of governance, authority, and ethical stewardship have become central to debates on cultural preservation and representation. This paper examines governance models that operationalize IDS in heritage digitization, including community-led, collaborative, federated, and access-controlled frameworks. It highlights how these models negotiate tensions between institutional mandates and Indigenous self-determination, particularly in contexts shaped by colonial legacies and global digital infrastructures. Through analysis of legal, ethical, and practical dimensions, the study demonstrates that effective governance must extend beyond technical digitization processes to include decision rights, benefit-sharing, consent mechanisms, and culturally grounded stewardship. Case studies illustrate both the opportunities and limitations of existing approaches, revealing persistent challenges such as unequal power relations, restricted capacity, and risks of misrepresentation or unauthorized dissemination. The paper argues that sustainable heritage digitization must be anchored in Indigenous-defined governance systems that prioritize sovereignty, transparency, and cultural integrity. It concludes that IDS-informed governance is essential for ensuring that digital heritage initiatives support, rather than undermine, Indigenous rights and knowledge systems.

Keywords: Indigenous Data Sovereignty; Heritage Digitization; Governance Models; Cultural Heritage; and Data Ethics.

CITE AS: Kabiga Chelule Kwemoi (2026). Indigenous Data Sovereignty in Heritage Digitization: Governance Models. NEWPORT INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES,6(1): 11-17. https://doi.org/10.59298/NIJEP/2026/611117