British Columbia (North & Central Coast, Haida Gwaii)

First Nations’ Regional Monitoring System as a co-governed data platform

Problem

Corporate platforms (Facebook, Nextdoor, Google) control community data, conversation, and commerce. They prioritize profit over local needs and trust.

Solution

The Regional Monitoring System (RMS) is run by the Coastal Stewardship Network, a program of Coastal First Nations-Great Bear Initiative, an alliance of eight First Nations (Gitga'at, Gitxaala, Haida, Heiltsuk, Kitasoo Xai'xais, Metlakatla, Nuxalk, Wuikinuxv) on BC's North and Central Coast and Haida Gwaii. It began as paper field cards in 2009, moved to CyberTracker handhelds in 2011 and since 2018 has run as an in-house Android app (CoastTracker), a BC-hosted database and a web portal (CoastViewer) where each Nation controls access to its own data; the development team is trained in the FNIGC's OCAP principles. In 2025 it supported 20 sighting and 10 survey types, and the network holds monthly Guardian calls and an annual gathering dating to 2008.

Patterns used: Co-Governed Platforms

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