The Aboriginal Mapping Network : a case study in the democratization of mapping ...

• Main Author: Johnson, Benjamin David
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2009
• Subjects: First Nations
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0099349; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0099349

Land claims, increased control over natural resources and movement towards self-government demand that First Nations produce maps that bring local knowledge into planning and governance processes. For their mapping needs, First Nations are turning largely to geographic information systems (GIS), complex and expensive computer-based spatial database systems. They are, however, developing their technical skills independently of each other, rarely experiencing the knowledge-sharing benefits characteristic of an integrated community. To address this problem, and to help build mapping capacities in general, the Aboriginal Mapping Network was created by Ecotrust Canada, an environmental non-governmental organization, and several First Nations. Using the medium of the World Wide Web, the Network seeks to create linkages between First Nations mappers and to provide a space for the sharing of knowledge. This thesis uses a formative program evaluation framework to assess the strengths, weaknesses and potential of the ...