North of Infinity Research (NOIR) is an Indigenous-led research and data firm.
North of Infinity Research (NOIR) is an Indigenous-led research and data firm dedicated to the protection and reclamation of important information. We bridge the gap between traditional ancestral knowledge and modern data sovereignty.
Our mission is to provide culturally safe, trauma-informed pathways for Indigenous Nations and families to access their own histories. We believe that data regarding Indigenous Peoples belongs in the hands of Indigenous Peoples. By strictly adhering to the First Nations Principles of OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession) and the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance, we ensure that every search, every file, and every record is handled with the highest standard of ethical and cultural integrity.
From navigating federal archives to implementing secure data reclamation frameworks, NOIR provides the technical and cultural bridge necessary to bring history home.
The pathway forward is together.
We offer specialized services designed to help Nations and individuals reclaim their data and navigate complex systems with a culturally safe partner.
Process Navigation Support: Guiding individuals and organizations through the technical and emotional complexities of data reclamation and various records-access applications in ways that are culturally safe.
Specialized Archival & ATIP Research: Comprehensive research across federal, provincial, religious, and private archives to locate and repatriate family histories, residential school records, and colonial documents wherever they are held.
Indigenous Data Sovereignty Consultation: Strategic guidance on implementing OCAP® and CARE principles to help Nations build their own data governance frameworks.
Data Reclamation & Analysis: Secure, high-integrity processing of sensitive historical data using specialized tools designed to protect information from external exploitation.
Culturally Safe Workshops: On-request educational sessions and dialogue circles regarding data sovereignty, archival processes, and the ethical use of technology in research.
Cultural Safety Audits: NOIR provides comprehensive assessments of organizational environments, policies, and research practices to ensure they are safe for Indigenous people and knowledge. We move beyond basic compliance, evaluating how your systems interact with sensitive data and community members through a trauma-informed lens to identify gaps and implement meaningful, culturally grounded improvements.
Wraven is Inuvialuit Entrepreneur and Researcher and the Sole Proprietor of North of Infinity Research.
Wraven Papik-Sibbeston is an Inuvialuit entrepreneur and researcher with Dene and Irish heritage. Wraven bridges the gap between ancestral knowledge and modern data sovereignty.
The foundation of NOIR is deeply personal. In 2022, after decades of mystery, Wraven’s great-grandfather was identified in a residential school site mass grave through the Nanilavut Initiative. This discovery sparked a rigorous journey into federal archives to reclaim family records and uncover truths long buried.
With a background in trauma-informed crisis management and non-profit governance, Wraven founded NOIR to ensure that other Indigenous Nations and families do not have to navigate these fragmented histories alone. By combining technical expertise in data analysis with a commitment to OCAP® and CARE principles, NOIR’s goal is to empower Indigenous Peoples for generations to come in reclaiming OUR stories, and OUR history.
Today, Wraven NOIR advanced research techniques with deep cultural awareness to help communities navigate the archives of Library and Archives Canada (LAC) and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs (CIRNAC), and other Archives, ensuring that the process of finding the truth is as safe and supportive as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions?
Who is North of Infinity Research? NOIR is currently an Indigenous-owned sole proprietorship based in Victoria, BC. While the firm is growing, every project is handled directly by the founder, ensuring a personal, trauma-informed, and highly secure approach to your data.
What records can you access? I specialize in navigating any public or private archive I am authorized to enter. While I have deep experience with federal systems (LAC/CIRNAC), my research is driven by the “paper trail,” wherever it leads. Please note that access to specific records is always subject to the privacy laws and policies of the institution holding them.
How is my data protected? Even as a small firm, security is my priority. I utilize “Clean Room” protocols and OCAP® principles to ensure your information is never stored on unsecured public clouds or accessed by unauthorized third parties.
What is Data Sovereignty? Data Sovereignty is the right of Indigenous Peoples to own, control, access, and possess information that belongs to them. For too long, our history, our research, our data, has been owned and controlled by government archives and colonial institutions.
At North of Infinity Research, Data Sovereignty means:
- Ownership: The stories and records we find belong to the families, and the Indigenous and Inuit community, not to a database or a corporation.
- Control: Our people decide how this information is used, shared, or protected.
- Access: We ensure that families can actually see and understand the records that have been hidden from them for decades.
- Possession: We work to “bring history home” so that it is physically and digitally held by Indigenous people, ensuring it can never be lost or hidden again.
