Summary of Our Home on Native Land: Connecting People and Stories using Indigenous Geographies

Summary of "Our Home on Native Land: Connecting People and Stories using Indigenous Geographies"

Main Ideas and Concepts:

• Introduction to Native Land Digital:
  • Christine McCray, Executive Director, and Rudolph (Rudo), a board member, introduce Native Land Digital, an online mapping resource.
  • The initiative aims to map Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages, challenging the settler colonial narrative that lands were uninhabited prior to colonization.
• History and Development:
  • Founded in 2014-2015 by Victor Temperano, who engaged with Indigenous communities in British Columbia.
  • The project evolved from a personal initiative to a not-for-profit organization governed by an Indigenous board of directors.
• Functionality of the Map:
  • Users can search locations to see associated Indigenous territories, languages, and treaties.
  • Each territory has a dedicated page containing sources, related resources, and a change log for transparency.
  • The map intentionally keeps data somewhat vague to avoid precise land demarcation, focusing instead on the overall historical context.
• Community Engagement and Collaboration:
  • The organization seeks to enhance community involvement in content representation and map updates.
  • Plans to include Indigenous languages and storytelling layers to enrich the educational aspect of the map.
• Technical Aspects:
  • Data is managed through a WordPress plugin, allowing non-GIS experts to contribute to map updates.
  • An open-source API enables third-party developers to create applications using the map data.
• Future Goals and Improvements:
  • Seeking volunteers for digitization and technical support.
  • Plans to improve website functionality, user engagement, and educational resources.
  • Exploring ways to represent changes in Indigenous territories over time.
• Community Involvement:
  • Encouragement for Indigenous communities to contribute their knowledge and stories.
  • Open invitation for suggestions and collaboration to enhance the platform.

Methodology and Instructions:

• Engagement with Native Land Digital:
  • Users are encouraged to:
  • Search for their location on the map to learn about associated Indigenous territories.
  • Access dedicated pages for each territory for detailed information and resources.
  • Participate in volunteer opportunities for map digitization and technical support.
  • Provide feedback or suggestions for content and functionality improvements.

Speakers:

• Christine McCray (Executive Director, Native Land Digital)
• Rudolph (Rudo) (Board Member, Native Land Digital)
• Victor Temperano (Founder, Native Land Digital)

Conclusion:

The video emphasizes the importance of Indigenous representation in mapping and storytelling, aiming to educate and engage the public in recognizing the historical and contemporary significance of Indigenous lands.

Notable Quotes

— 01:24 — « Our goal is to shift the common held settler colonial narrative that these lands were kind of void of people upon arrival. »

— 08:46 — « We intentionally keep it vague because we don't want this site to be used as a way for thinking about land demarcation in an exact way. »

— 16:46 — « Having them on the map speaks to that larger story of genocide. »

Category

Educational

Video