Vision, Mission, and Values

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In February 2026, Steering Committee members, staff, and partners came together to celebrate our 10-year anniversary. Together, we considered our past, discussed present needs, and charted a path for the future. As part of this process, we refreshed the Vision, Mission, and Values to reflect our growth as an Alliance, our commitment to First Nations Data Sovereignty, and our evolving role in supporting self-determination, advocacy, and health justice.

Vision

Our vision is to be a trusted northern Ontario First Nations voice through which data, stories, and knowledge advance sovereignty, health justice, and self-determined wellbeing.

Mission

We are an alliance of First Nations organizations, Tribal Councils, and health authorities in northern Ontario who work with and for our communities to access, create, and steward data. We transform information into meaningful knowledge and stories that support data sovereignty, advocacy, and lasting improvements in health and wellbeing.

Principles and Values

Mamow Ahyamowen is grounded in values that ensure our work is meaningful, respectful, and community-driven.

  • Accountability: Mamow Ahyamowen is accountable to northern First Nations leadership and communities. Our priorities, decisions, and actions are guided by the needs, voices, and direction of the communities we serve.
  • Collaboration (Mamow – Working Together): We work in partnership with First Nations organizations, Tribal Councils, and health partners to co-create meaningful information. Our strength comes from relationships built on trust, reciprocity, and shared purpose.
  • Credibility and Trust: We are a trusted source of information. We apply rigorous, ethical, and transparent approaches to data and knowledge to ensure our work is accurate, reliable, and respected.
  • Growth and Evolution: We challenge the status quo in First Nations data and information systems. We seek new and better ways to access, create, and use data to serve our communities and advance their priorities.
  • First Nations Data Sovereignty: We uphold the principles of First Nations Data Sovereignty, including Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP®)1. Our work is community-driven, with data initiatives designed with, for, and by First Nations, guided by consent and an opt-in approach.
  • Meaning and Cultural Relevance (Reimagining KTE: Knowledge, Teachings, and Experience): We honour that data alone is not enough. We bring together information, stories, and lived experience to ensure our work reflects the realities, cultures, and strengths of our communities.
  • Impact and Continuous Learning: We are committed to making a difference. We measure what matters, learn from our work, and continuously improve to ensure our efforts lead to meaningful outcomes for communities.


1 OCAP® is a registered trademark of the First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC). Further information is available at www.FNIGC.ca/OCAP

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