Indigenous data governance in Sápmi: the Sámi ownership and data access (SODA) principles

Purpose This article examines the Sámi Ownership and Data Access (SODA) principles as a Sámi-led framework for Indigenous data governance and analyzes their implications for archival and information science. It addresses the gap between Sámi claims to ownership and authority over data and dominant institutional regimes grounded in legal custodianship and open data mandates. Design/methodology/approach The study develops a conceptual framework that operationalizes the CARE and SODA principles as analytical lenses. Through a comparative synthesis of FAIR, CARE and SODA, it structures the analysis around four dimensions: ownership, authority, access and ethical accountability, drawing on Indigenous data sovereignty scholarship and Sámi historical contexts. Findings The analysis shows that FAIR-oriented regimes prioritize technical openness and institutional ownership, risking extractive practices. While CARE re-centers collective benefit and authority, SODA advances governance by explicitly asserting collective Sámi ownership. Archival decisions about appraisal, access and stewardship are thus revealed as political sites shaping Indigenous rights and self-determination. Originality/value The article introduces SODA to archival and information science and positions Indigenous data governance as a core archival concern. By translating CARE and SODA into an operational framework, it provides tools for evaluating whether data infrastructures support Indigenous self-determination within Nordic contexts.