©NIDEA *

Dr Tahu Kukutai Professor Maggie WalterNational Institute of Demographic and Economic Analysis School of Social Science The University of Waikato University of Tasmania New Zealand Australia

Recognition and Indigenizing Official Statistics:Reflections from Aotearoa NZ and Australia

IAOS 2014, Da Nang, Vietnam, 8 October 2014

©NIDEA *

• Problem: From non-recognition of Indigenous peoples in OS to misrecognition

• Different ontological understandings of functionality• Significance: power of the data as ‘evidence’ and ‘truth’

Our argument: NSOs to transform their practices to recognise Indigenous peoples on their own terms (UNDRIP); in so doing, mutual benefits can be realised.

Misrecognition and Indigenous Statistics

©NIDEA *

Expanding the ‘Recognition Space’

Source: Taylor, 2008, p 116

Translation in the recognition space: from ‘culture’ and ‘well-being’ to appropriate ‘social indicators’

The recognition space for indicators of Indigenous well-being

©NIDEA *

Recognition Framework for Indigenizing Official Statistics

1. Recognising Geographic Diversity

2. Recognising Cultural Diversity

3. Recognising Other Ways to Know Us

4. Recognising the Need for Mutual Capability Building

5. Recognising Indigenous Decision Making

©NIDEA *

1. Recognising geographic diversity

• Importance of identity + place for Indigenous peoples• Disconnect btw OS spatial units and Indigenous spaciality

Australia: Default to national or state level aggregate data - across country boundaries

Aotearoa NZ: Invisibility of customary tribal boundaries

(tribes as key social, political, economic institutions)

©NIDEA *

2. Recognising cultural diversity

• Recognising the enduring significance of place-based & customary identities

• Recognising internal heterogeneity: differences in access to culture and expressions of Indigenous identity

Australia Peoples not People: 500 nationsAotearoa NZ: Iwi cultural profiles and Te Kupenga:

2013 Māori Social Survey – a step in the right direction

©NIDEA *

● Rights bearing Indigenous Peoples VERSUS Disadvantaged Ethnic/Racial Minority

● Strengths Based Approach VERSUS Deficit Defined Approach

● Peoples in our own right

VERSUS half of Indigenous/Non-Indigenous comparison

● Data of Disadvantage situated in its structural contextVERSUS Data of Disadvantage per se

3. Recognising other ways to know us

©NIDEA *

Statistics emerge from cultural and ethnic/racial milieu of their commissioners, producers and analysts. Therefore:

●Non-Indigenous OS staff need capability building in how their own norms affect how Indigenous statistical functionality ●Cultural awareness useful but constrained by positioning as the Indigenous ‘Other’ ●Statistical capability in Indigenous communities key – the evolving role of NSOs in co-creation and support

4. Recognising the need for *mutual* capability

©NIDEA *

● Indigenous statistical self-determination as part of data sovereignty; not passive survey respondents

● Consultation is not autonomy, nor it is active

● Partnership means sharing power on decision making

● Mutual culturally appropriate responsiveness key to effective partnership

5. Recognising the need for Indigenous decision-making

©NIDEA *

Indigenous Statistics Functionality Recognition Gap

©NIDEA *

KIA ORA wulika THANK YOU

Visit us at:www.waikato.ac.nz/nidea

http://www.utas.edu.au/