Method and Ethics
How we treat the memory we hold
Papuans decide what is recorded about Papua and who may see it.
The CARE Principles
Our method follows the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance: Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility and Ethics. Memory belongs to the peoples who hold it. The Institute holds it in trust.
Our rules
| Area | Rule |
|---|---|
| Consent | Free, prior and informed consent from the person, family or clan, recorded with the record |
| Elder review | Clan histories, genealogies, sacred places and the names of the dead pass review by the Council of Guardians |
| The dead | Named only with family consent. Until then a record is marked “Not yet decided” or “Needs elder review” |
| Sacred knowledge | Marked restricted and never shown publicly. Exact locations are never published |
| Evidence | Every record has a source. Identity comes from evidence only. Nothing is counted twice |
| World placement | Each record belongs to one world, with a written reason |
| Corrections and removal | Any family or clan can ask. Requests are answered and logged, and the Council decides |
| Credit | Contributors are credited unless they ask to remain unnamed |
| Return | Communities may request copies of records about them at no cost |
| Independence | No funder, government, church or company may direct the research |
How we handle evidence
- One record, one world, with a written reason. A record may refer to other worlds but is never counted twice.
- Identity comes from evidence only, never from a surname.
- We never add figures across sources, years or levels. A zero means “not yet registered”, not “none”.
- The dead are named only with family consent.
- Visitors see counts only until the Council of Guardians approves the opening of the archive.
- Papers link to the records they cite, and records link back.
- Sources are listed with neutral titles that do not disclose collected data.
- Nothing is deleted silently. Corrections and removals are logged.
Opening the archive
The archive opens to the public only when the collection is substantially complete, every record shown publicly has passed review, restricted and sacred records are correctly marked, the Council of Guardians has approved, and a safety review has confirmed that no public record endangers a living person. It may open one region at a time.
Asking for a correction or removal
If a record about you, your family or your clan is wrong, or should not be shown, write to library@natakaresearchinstitute.org and tell us:
- who you are, and your connection to the record;
- which record it is (its record number, if you have it);
- what is wrong, or why it should be removed.
The record is hidden from public view while we consider your request. The Council of Guardians makes the final decision, and every request is logged.
Please do not include sacred knowledge or the names of the dead in your message. If your request involves sensitive information, ask us first for a secure way to send it. See Security and Safety.