Chair, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

Thank you for the opportunity to speak on this important agenda item.

The Sámi Parliament of Norway reaffirms that the ownership of intellectual property—including traditional knowledge, cultural expressions, and data—must rest firmly with Indigenous Peoples themselves. This is not only a matter of justice, but of survival, dignity, and the right to self-determination.

In recent years, we have increasingly recognized that data is power. Without access to disaggregated, culturally relevant data, we cannot fully understand the challenges our communities face—nor can we design effective policies to address them. Whether it concerns Sámi children in child welfare services, elderly Sámi in the health system, or the prevalence of racism and discrimination, we are often left with anecdotal evidence and no statistical tools to back up our claims.

This lack of data is not accidental—it is systemic. And it is deeply tied to the question of ownership. Who collects the data? Who controls it? Who decides how it is used?

Chair, We believe that Sámi data must be governed by Sámi institutions, according to Sámi values. Inspired by the OCAP® principles developed by First Nations in Canada—Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession—we have begun exploring frameworks for Sámi data governance. While we are still in the early stages, the conversations have begun. Seeds have been planted. And we are committed to nurturing them.

But we must also acknowledge the risks. Many Sámi are understandably skeptical of disaggregated data collection. Without robust safeguards, such data could be misused to stigmatize or marginalize our people. That is why any framework must be rooted in Indigenous data sovereignty, with clear protocols to protect against misuse and ensure that data serves the interests of our communities.

Chair, intellectual property is not limited to songs, stories, or symbols. It includes the right to define what knowledge matters, how it is collected, and who benefits from it. It includes the right to say no. And it includes the right to build our own systems of knowledge, grounded in our languages, our worldviews, and our ways of life.

We call on states, UN bodies, and academic institutions to support Indigenous-led efforts to develop data governance frameworks. We urge you to recognize that data sovereignty is not a technical issue—it is a human rights issue.

Thank you.