Galleries and museums collect objects and information. Data about the object, maker, origin, material, and cultural significance is integral to building collections. However, these practices are rooted in colonial structures that continue to misrepresent and misuse Indigenous histories.

Understanding “sovereignty” – the human right to “hold sovereignty” – is a critical act of dismantling colonial collecting practices. This workshop will explore visual art and cultural objects as data. Participants will delve into the meaning of Indigenous data sovereignty including intellectual property rights and digital data collection. These understandings can help individuals and institutions to interact and build with collections through a decolonial lens.

Note: This is a joint event between Ontario Galleries and Guelph Museums