Enhancing Tribal Integrated Resource Management Plans by Integrating Traditional Knowledge with GIS Technology


Bryan A. Marozas
GIS Coordinator, Bureau of Indian Affairs

Abstract
In the past, the tribal decision making process relied upon a valuable set of cultural and ecological knowledge to make resource management decisions. More recently, some American Indian tribes have begun developing Integrated Resource Management Plans in an attempt to make informed resource management decisions. The premise of this paper is that it would be important to incorporate traditional cultural and ecological knowledge into the Integrated Resource Management Planning process. Due to the spatial nature of traditional cultural and ecological knowledge, Geographic Information System (GIS) technology can facilitate the inclusion of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in the tribal decision making process.

For more information, please contact:

Bryan A. Marozas
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Albuquerque Area Office
Branch of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 26567
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87125-6567
(505) 766-3334

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