Improving Data Quality in Native Communities

Brookings Institution just released a report called “Good Data, Stronger Tribes” on the need for better data collection and utilization for Native American communities. You might recall that we issued our own report on flawed data and Indigenous health a few years ago – so we were intrigued to read their findings. In case you didn’t read that report, data is highly influential in Indigenous health. When it’s accurate, complete, and useful, it can empower Native nations in terms of healthcare,  economic prosperity, education, and sustainability. But the solution isn’t as simple as “collect more data.”  Some core challenges include….

• Sample sizes for data about Native Americans are often too small.
• Tribal nations are often remote – and disconnected from each other.
• Many data sets treat Native Americans only in racial terms and ignores the nuance of Native identity and the nature of Tribal governance.
• Data sets are often designed without Tribal input and can be irrelevant to Tribal needs.
• Some federal, state, and local data remain inaccessible to Tribes.

The impact of poor data collection

When Native tribes lack access to their own data, it leads to several unfortunate impacts:

• Limited policymaking and governance: Without good data, policymakers will still make laws and regulations – they just won’t be relevant to Native populations. Native leaders won’t get the information they need to craft policy that supports their citizens and territories. Public health teams won’t understand the health disparities that need intervention in Tribal nations.
• Lower data quality: Small sample sizes for data about Native Americans denigrate the quality of that data, particularly when data from one tribe or region is viewed as accurate for all tribes.
• Funding barriers: Anyone applying for federal, state, or regional funding  will need data to create an intelligent proposal. Tribal nations simply cannot make their own case for funding new programs if they don’t have access to their own data such as demographic information and public health statistics.

  It’s an age old pattern that many projects about Native Americans don’t actually consult Native people. Brookings did – so here’s what Tribal leaders had to say.

Tribal leader insights

Tribes have their own priorities regarding their data, obstacles, and solutions. Some of the points they made:

• Tribes want data that more accurately measures their needs. They see data as a key enabler for accessing the kind of federal, state, and other funding that can help them reach their healthcare, economic, and community development goals.
• That said, tribes vary in their data capacity, wish for autonomy, and their attitudes toward outside involvement in data creation. One tribe cannot speak for all.
• This one isn’t surprising at all. Tribal leaders said too many people don’t understand Tribal sovereignty – and that leads to misunderstandings about tribes as government entities.
• Tribal boundaries and other internal challenges can make it tough to develop new data products by and for Native American communities.

Action items for smarter Native data quality

So now that we know the goals – how do we get there? The Brookings report proposed a few ideas to improve data quality in and for Indigenous spaces. To start, we need good data protocols before we begin collecting Tribal data. This involves creating clear and effective methods for engaging with Native tribes regarding data collection, use, and sharing. Data needs to be accurate and relevant; governments, hospitals, and other organizations can’t assume Native communities have the same priorities they do. Information should align with the goals and challenges outlined by Native leaders. Another important step is supporting Tribes’ ability to manage, collect, and utilize their own data. This means building the right infrastructure and expertise to address their data needs. It also means supporting Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Every organization should understand that each tribe has the right to govern themselves and make decisions regarding their information. Easier said that done, of course – but these guidelines are a good start to helping the industry as a whole improve data collection and exchange. When we improve data, we improve Native healthcare. If this is your first exposure to the topic, we invite you to check out our still-relevant report. You might find ways your own organization can help.