Indigenous Spatial Knowledge (ISK) And GIS Data:Control And Access Issues For Indian Nations In The Untied States

Abstract

Ownership, control of and access to indigenous spatial knowledge (ISK) and geographic information systems (GIS) data are long-standing issues for Indian nations in the United States, but recent federal and state court decisions, changes in federal regulations, and the sophisticated data integration and analysis capacity of GIS software have brought these concerns to the forefront. Fundamental issues are at stake, including Indian nations’ rights and interests in their knowledge and resources,federal agencies’ authority and decision-making processes that affect those resources, and the public’s right to know. This research explores Indian nations’ concerns, and the legal and regulatory circumstances under which tribes’ spatial knowledge and GIS data may become accessible to third parties. To build trust and more effective working relationships, federal agencies and other organizations working with Indian nations will need to understand these issues and to develop guidelines for the ethical handling, protection and appropriate dissemination of spatial knowledge and GIS data shared by or created with Indian nations as part of these collaborations.