What brings you to the AMN?


Hi guys, 

I’m very curious what brought you to the AMN. What can we help you find, create, imagine, organize, or ??

Please let us know – your comments will help make the AMN more useful for everyone! 

Thanks so much for visiting our little corner of the internet. 

Happy holidays, Eliana. 

22 thoughts on “What brings you to the AMN?

  1. Hello All – My name is Larry Gilbertson. I’m the Senior Scientist at the Quinault Indian Nation Department of Fisheries. I am interested in this website and its participants because I appreciate the insights that come from seeing distributions of cultures, resources, and values at boundaryless, landscape levels. In addition, my Department has a large amount of current and historic resources data to organize in GIS formats so I’m always looking for new ideas and organizational schemes.

  2. My name is Pano Skrivanos and I am the GIS Coordinator for the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. The biggest reason I visit the AMN is to keep up-to-date on happenings (events, issues, jobs, etc.) within the specialized field of aboriginal mapping.

  3. Hi everyone,

    I’m here for a few reasons. I used to do Traditional Land Use and mapping work for First Nations in BC and Alberta. Currently I’m doing a PhD down in New Zealand, and I’m hoping to look at the ethnoecological knowledge held by Indigenous elephant handlers in India. The idea is to do Use and Occupancy mapping of elephants in the area via the understandings held by Adivasi mahouts. I figure there’s good people who come here, and good resources here as well.

    Kierin Mackenzie
    PhD Candidate
    University of Canterbury
    Christchurch, NZ

  4. Really interested to learn about innovative approaches to integrating geospatial technology as it relates to First Nation land and resource management!

    My Bio!
    Cheryl Recollet was born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario and is a member of Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve located on Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron. Cheryl is currently working for Wahnapitae First Nation as the Environmental Coordinator.
    In her role as Environmental Coordinator, Cheryl is responsible for implementing and monitoring environmental components of mining relationships; coordinating environmental community initiatives such as the Environmental Management Framework, Land Use Planning, Ecological Land Classification, Waste Diversion Strategy, environmental monitoring, and water source protection; managing traditional knowledge data collection methodologies; overseeing the implementation of robust geographic information systems.
    Cheryl has recently graduated from the McGill University/United Nations Environment Program Master of Science Program (MSc) in Environmental Assessment. Her graduate research was titled First Nation Decision Making Authorities: Examining Opportunities for Inclusion within the Environmental Assessment Framework. Her program at McGill was a unique program that included a 500-hour internship which she completed with the Cree Regional Authority (CRA) which represents nine Cree communities in Northern Quebec and has their own Environmental and Social Protection Regime detailed within the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (1975).
    Cheryl has completed undergraduate studies at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario. She successfully obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography, an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Anthropology and completed a certificate in Applied Geography. Prior to Laurentian University, Cheryl graduated from Cambrian College of Applied Arts and Technology in which she obtained a Diploma in Native Lands Management, a program that highlighted the jurisdictional challenges often associated with First Nation land bases. Throughout her academic career, Cheryl has been fortunate to gain employment experience in varying capacities within First Nation communities in Ontario. She has been involved in First Nation policy development, strategic plan development, comprehensive community planning initiatives, land-use planning, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge methodologies.

  5. Nice to be involved. I am an Indigenous Chef living in British Columbia. I am interested in protecting bio-diversity and come to this website seeking various maps mostly environmental in nature. I believe in reconstructing our planting, farming and dwelling framework to balance the ratio of planted earth to human populated areas. I seek connections to others who are engaged in this way.

  6. Hey All,

    my name is Matt and I work with Planet Drum Foundation in San Francisco, CA USA (Shasta bioregion). I would love to get involved with anyone in the Bay Area/Delta region in California to figure out how to map and rebuild a sustainable subsistence base for human societies (including perennial polycultures for food) and localized, democratic communities that uphold human rights.

    Beyond that, I think it would be absolutely fantastic to develop a self-reliant federation of bioregions that are able to exist in dynamic ecological harmony in a delicately complex interregional, continental, intercontinental and global ecosystem. If anyone has any idea how this could get going, or if it is already in different ways, let me know!

    1. Hi Matt…

      Is that ‘Planet Drum’ as in ‘Mickey Hart’s Planet Drum’ ex-Grateful Dead drummer …?

      Anyway, these bioregions you speak of have existed since time immemorial on Turtle Island. They are called First Nations – right now they are on ‘pause’ for the last 200 years while we deal with this thing that has quashed us and overlaid us with a self-actualized colonial import that has no legal basis except in its own assumptions since it never signed treaties that actually honour the original residents, and preferred instead to drive us from our land, round up our kids, and either starve us or contaminate us with diseases under the only race-based legislation still left in the western world called the ‘Indian Act’ – the country is called: ‘Canada’.

      I am currently trying to gather as much data as I can to show the actual countries that DO exist here, underneath the facade.

      Best,

      glenn g.

  7. I am a student at the University of Waterloo and am working on a large project concerning the use of traditional ecological knowledge in local-based projects located in the Great Lakes basin. I am very interested in discovering the wide variety of projects that not only benefit the local communities in the basin but also work to achieve the same committments that the federal, as well as the provincial, governments have pledged to fulfill (e.g. nutrient control, habitat and species conservation, invasive species control and prevention, etc.). While researching, I stumbled across this website and found interesting resources on the use of TEK in mapping. If anyone has any suggestions to help me in my research, please let me know!

    Thanks,
    Dominique

    1. hello Dominique
      My curiosity is piqued by your work at the university. I am interested in whether you are working with First Nation communities in your work and if so who you might have consulted with. I have many connnections with First Nation communities across the southern region of Ontario and have a cultural mapping programme that accommodates the collection of TEK as well.
      I look forward to hearing from you if this work is still active.
      Kim

      1. As I just stated in a post after being admitted to this fascinating network, I would like to know the tribal identity of the people who lived in the South-Western part of Ontario in the 1830s and ’40s, and as much as possible about what kind of life went on there.
        My people ‘settled’ there around 1840 after they were displaced from Scotland by the Highland Clearances…
        I think I’m on a personal ‘reconciliation’ quest

  8. I am avid outdoorsmen and fisherman from Tonawanda,New York. Lake Erie and Lake Ontario are my playgrounds year round. My reason for being here is to seek a Bathymetric map of Wakami Lake. I spend a week in the spring,summer and fall at various central and northern Ontario parks and lakes with friends and family members. Mainly to fish and relax and to escape the daily stress of work,life. With that being said about myself.I find it interesting in reading why other are here also. So my search for a Wakami Lake map is the main purpose of being here. Any direction to obtaining one would be greatly appreciated.

  9. Hello Everyone!
    I am the programme coordinator for a unique grant funded Aboriginal Conservation programme housed at the Toronto Zoo called Turtle Island Conservation.
    We use a First Nation cultural lens perspective to facilitate a cultural mapping process completely controlled and directed by First Nation community members that allows them to record their relevant sacred spaces and places. This process provides a living document outcome that can not only record geographic values but layers of community cultural values as well.
    It is a google based application that is not only user friendly but community defined. All information submitted belongs solely to the First Nation community utilizing the programme application. This map was designed and defined at the request of our province wide First Nation community partners, located primarily in the southern region of Ontario, Canada who were seeking a way of recording western scientifc and traditional knowledge in one convenient format.
    These maps are never available for public viewing but are always accessible to community partner members as asigned by the designated map administrator.
    I wanted to share our unique approach to working with our First Nation community partners to create awareness of our unique cultural niche in Ontario, Canada and also to glean relevant perspectives.
    Should you have further inquiries please contact our programme through our website or email. http://www.turtleislandconservation.com or turtleisland@torontozoo.ca.
    Best,
    Kim

  10. Hi,

    my name is Flurina and I’m a PhD student in Geography at the University of Zurich, Switzerland.

    I’m interested in landscape perceptions and land-use of indigenous peoples in the Amazon. In my thesis I study how these landscape perceptions and land-uses can be represented on maps and in a Geographic Information System (GIS) through participatory mapping, to challenge the conventional approaches of bio-physical maps of the Amazon and advocate for indigenous land rights.

    I joined the AMN to get to know other mapping initiatives around the globe and share experiences. Thanks for letting me join!

    Best regards,
    Flurina

  11. What brought me to the AMN is while doing research for a book I am writing on survival through transformation. My research brought into focus a very small piece of land located in the Fraser Valley. Part of this lands story involves first nations, but not exclusively. To fully appreciate this aspect of the story I need to understand what the transformation of the first nations history component experience was, from the beginning.

    A wonderful opportunity to learn about their culture, build new relationships and paint a true picture in time and place.

  12. Hi!

    I’m a children’s & teen services librarian at the Vancouver Public Library’s Britannia Branch in East Vancouver. Right now I’m looking for a map that shows the City of Vancouver AND the nearby unceded Coast Salish territories on the same page – especially Musqueam, Squamish, Sto:lo and Tsleil-Waututh.

    Ideally, I’d like to blow it up nice and big, and post it on the wall for for everyone to see.

    It’s exciting to discover this online community! Thanks for any advice you might have. 🙂

    Cheers,
    Ariel

  13. I am an epidemiologist working with First Nations in Canada and I am interested in having multiple reosurces for my work projects.

  14. I’ve been a GIS mapper for over 16 years, deeply rooted in First Nations of western Canada including in the Territories, Tribes in Arizona, indigenous population of Colombia and Brazil, as well as with Tribes in Western Africa.

    In my experience, all indigenous/aboriginal mapping share the same challenges, and the solutions to solving these challenges tend to be unique for the situation.

    I’m currently working for an indian band located within the sunshine coast of BC

    Cheers
    Nathan

  15. éy swàyèl,
    ‘yhsima’ tel skwí:x
    te lítsel kwa Ts’elxwíqw-

    good day, my name is yhsima, I am from Chilliwack. Currently I am in university studies of Upriver Halq’eméylem. Also have recently completed a certificate in land-use/mapping. I have interest in land-claim mapping, and am pleased to be here to learn more.

  16. Greetings All,

    I am excited and honored to have my membership approved for the Aboriginal Mapping Network. I am just now completing the requirements for the Selkirk Colleges Advanced GIS Diploma program through a co-op placement with a consulting company here at Kamloops BC.

    As a ‘Artist’ I am seeking new and exciting methods of map creation. I would like to learn what color schemes is most effective, where I can go to learn more and perhaps more importantly to network with other First Nation GIS Professionals.

    Kc

  17. Hello,

    I work with a regional organization that provides support services for four remote First Nation communities in northeastern Manitoba. These communities recently initiated a land use planning project. Part of this project is a Traditional Knowledge Study that will identify traditional occupancy areas of the family groups of the communities. The communities wish to conduct the mapping activities through their respective community land use committees.

    Our organization will assist the communities to identify their traditional territory through a mapping process. If I have any questions or require resources, I am hoping that I can access the support through this forum.

    Thank You

    Vin Wood

  18. As a writer, I have been on a journey of reconnection with my ancestral lands in the Highlands of Scotland, and now want to learn more about the Indigenous people who were displaced from around Molesworth, Ontario (then, Upper Canada) when my people were displaced from the Scottish Highlands by the Highland Clearances.

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