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Standard requirements

Last updated on January 29, 2026

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Core collection requirements

What you must ensure

  • Data is collected, used and shared in line with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act) (PDF)
  • Indigenous identity data is only collected when needed to deliver programs or to help identify and address systemic racism. Only collect what’s necessary
  • Data collection, use and disclosure respects the distinct rights of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples
  • Data is collected in accordance with the variables and values specified in this standard
  • People are clearly informed about the purpose of collecting their information, following both the Anti-Racism Data Act (ARDA) and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA)
  • Staff collecting and handling data have the right training. This includes training in Indigenous data rights, cultural safety, trauma-informed practice, anti-racism and Indigenous-specific racism
  • All Indigenous people can self-identify. Do not attempt to ask for proof of or assume someone’s identity
  • Data is recorded exactly as the person provides it and saved with the version of the standard used at the time of collection. Any issues in the data should be sorted out when the data is being used (for example, analyzed and interpreted), not at the time of collection
  • Data is stored safely and follows security, metadata and record management rules of your organization
  • People have a way to update their information, if possible and appropriate
  • The optional questions should always be asked after the mandatory variable. See “Order of data collection” in the Guidelines to the Indigenous Identity and Racial Identity Data Standards for more information about ordering of questions

Respecting rights and consent

  • People must be able to skip any question without giving a reason. No services or benefits are denied or changed if someone chooses not to answer, unless that information is needed to provide the service
  • Identity data must be kept in raw form, exactly as the person gave it, not changed or interpreted at the time of collection

Who is considered Indigenous in data

A person is Indigenous if:

  • Their Indigenous Identity is “First Nations”, “Métis” and/or “Inuit”, and/or
  • Their First Nations Status is “Status”

A person is First Nations if:

  • Their Indigenous Identity is “First Nations”, and/or
  • Their First Nations Status is “Status”

Preferred language for reporting

When talking about Indigenous Peoples in British Columbia:

  • Only use the pan-Indigenous term “Indigenous” if necessary. Instead, use the distinctions-based terms “First Nations”, “Métis” and “Inuit”
  • Use the term “First Nations” instead of “Indian” or “Aboriginal”. “Indian” and “Aboriginal” can only be used if required by specific policy or legislation

​Handling conflicting or incomplete responses

Sometimes people may fill out forms in ways that cause errors, for example, choosing more than one identity when only one should be selected.

  • If the issue cannot be reconciled at point of collection, record the data as it was provided, and interpret it during reporting
  • When reporting, always record which version of the standard was used for collection, and if different, which version was used to analyze or share the data

General usage

Supporting cultural safety

What to do:

  • Collect Indigenous identity data only when needed to help identify and address systemic racism, advance racial equity and/or deliver programs. Only collect what’s necessary 
  • Collect Indigenous identity data in a culturally safe manner that minimizes harm and respects the highly sensitive and personal nature of this data
  • Ensure staff collecting and handling data have the right training. This includes training in cultural safety, trauma-informed practice, anti-racism and intersectionality
  • Ensure people are told that providing information about Indigenous identity is voluntary and that benefits or services will not be withheld, altered or otherwise limited if an individual declines to provide their personal information, unless that information is needed to deliver the benefit or service
  • Ensure people are clearly informed about the purpose of collecting their information, following both the Anti-Racism Data Act (ARDA) and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA) notice requirements
  • Collect Indigenous identity data directly from the individual it is about as much as possible, unless it is indirectly collected from another public body, where permitted by law

Asking the identity questions

Each variable has one question to be asked when collecting Indigenous identity data.

What to do:

  • Always use the standard questions for each identity variable. Ask questions exactly as written
  • Only ask other questions about Indigenous identity if they are needed for specific services (for example, Indigenous liaisons, navigators), and ensure they are asked in a culturally safe way
  • Provide preambles if space allows, as they help explain the purpose of the questions

What not to do:

  • Change the wording or the order of the answers (the values)

Data entry and coding

What to do:

  • Where possible, use digital forms and drop downs to prevent unclear responses
  • Allow people to skip questions
  • If someone changes their answer on a paper form (for example, crosses something out and picks a different option), record the most clearly selected answer. If the answer is unclear, then treat it as a combination response (see table below)
  • Store data as raw values to make sharing and future analysis easier
  • Store data safely and follow security, metadata and record management rules of your organization

How to code responses

Situation How to code
Only identity values selected Record as given
Only "Prefer not to answer" selected Record as given
Only "I do not know / I am not sure" Record as given
No answer (for example, question skipped)

For measuring response rates, record as “Response Unknown”

For data register, record as NULL

Combinations not allowed (for example, identity and “Prefer not to answer” or identity and “I do not know / I am not sure”)

Check variable-specific usage rules