Towards an understanding of Indigenous perspectives in smart-city data governance

Smart city governance presents challenges in balancing responsiveness to technological innovation, citizen engagement, and ethical data management. In post-colonial contexts, integrating Indigenous data governance into smart city data governance frameworks is essential to ensure equitable and sustainable governance. This work-in-progress paper examines intersections, tensions, and gaps between traditional data governance, Indigenous data governance, and smart city governance using institutional logics. We compare governance mechanisms, structures, and stakeholder roles to highlight areas of alignment and disconnection. Our findings underscore the need for governance models that are both adaptive and inclusive, while maintaining interoperability within broader data ecosystems. We propose a research direction focused on developing participatory governance approaches that balance Indigenous worldviews and smart city governance objectives.