The document outlines key themes in open data, emphasizing the importance of data smart communities, data poverty, and data sovereignty. It discusses the need for human-centered approaches to data collection and the involvement of First Nations in defining data sovereignty. Open North aims to build robust open data ecosystems through collaboration, critical reflection, and a holistic understanding of data's impact on communities.

1. Open Data Reflections
GO Open Data 2017
Tracey P. Lauriault
Assistant Professor,
School of Journalism and Communication
Carleton University
@traceylauriault
Jean-Noe Landry
Executive Director
Open North
Montreal, Quebec
@opennorth

2. Situating Open North
Evolving
• Open data portals
• Researching open data policy & licenses
• Developing open data standards
• Training of public servants to support organizational change
Now
• Applied research on data user needs
• Roadmapping
• Strategic engagement processes
• Full spectrum approach to building open data ecosystems

3. Open North’s Approach
• Multiscaled
• global OD community + the local movement
• local movement + the broader OD community
• Involved w/other OD initiatives
• Collaborate & build stronger networks
• Works w/Ontario's Open Government
team as OGPs sub-national pilot &
member of provincial OD Charter
implementation WG.
• w/ Associates & board member ON gains
working knowledge of cities

4. 3 Key Points of Today’s Open Data Context
1. Data Smart Communities
2. Data Poverty
3. Data Sovereignty

5. 1. Data Smart Communities
• Rise of smart cities and future challenges
• Rise of precision agriculture in rural communities
• Federal Budget Smart Cities Challenge
• opportunities & risks
• Need for human centered approaches
• Open North’s DIY Toolkit with TBS/Canada for cities that
wish to initiate an OD program.
• w/Toronto, Ottawa, Niagara Region & Guelph as part of the
advisory group

6. 2. Data Poverty
• Mindful of choices when collecting data
• Which story are we telling?
• Homelessness
• Climate change
• Where are the gaps?
• Rape kits & intimate partner femicide
• Missing and murdered aboriginal women
• Why are we collecting data in the way that we are?
• police brutality in the US & making populations more visible
• OD can increase collaboration & reinforce inequality, discrimination, &
racism
• Need self-reflexion & critical thinking for the well-being of our
communities.
• OpenGov is more than the release of high value datasets. Also about
understanding systems and decisions.

7. 3. Data Sovereignty
• ON is working w/ First Nations leaders to define the relationship
between data sovereignty & OD
• Alignment w/national conversation on the reconciliation process &
open government priorities
• The project is about the decolonization of data & addressing data
issues on a nation-to-nation basis & not as stakeholders
• The OD community needs to critically reflect on its worldview &
how it differs from that of indigenous peoples
• LTK – oral culture, songs, legends, and storytelling constitute data
• Life cycle of data management is holistic & deeply connected to the land
• Tackling the biggest issues of our day like climate change - North
• Need to change data collection about indigenous peoples
• Recognized that indigenous peoples are tech savvy and are data users
• ON soon to release an interest paper on this topic
Solid
Internet of Subjects

8. Future of Open Data & Open Government
What is the fate of Open Data
• in the platform economy?
• in the sharing economy?
• in a smart city / precision
agriculture?
• w/ predictive policing?
• in a safe (surveillance) city?
• w/ big data & machine learning?
• w/ AI, autonomous vehicles &
drones?
• in the Internet of Things (IoT)?
• Blockchain?
• Robots?
What does engagement look like
in a machined environment?
• Technology & algorithms & data?
• Machines instead of people
• Who governs?

9. What is your role in making
human centered open cities
& communities?
Thank you!
@traceylauriault
@opennorth