Maps And Cartographic Resources Indigenous Mapping

Leo Migdal

-Dec 14, 2025, 10:21 AM

maps and cartographic resources indigenous mapping

We are now known as the Indigenous Mapping Collective. The Indigenous Mapping Workshop is only one part of our global Indigenous Mapping Collective. Our goal has always been to give Indigenous peoples access to the tools and technology they need to map their lands, share their stories, and support their rights and interests. Mapping is a skill built over time and connection to others. With the launch of our virtual Indigenous Mapping Collective in 2020, we are able to provide more opportunities than ever before for Indigenous mappers of all skill levels, 365 days a year. “Maps are a powerful tool to convey navigation and being able to see your place on the earth.

Historically, Indigenous peoples have been excluded from the map; we’re changing that.” We are the largest Indigenous geospatial network in the world thanks to the dedication of our partners, sponsors, and communities. Through our partnership with Google, Google Maps and Google Earth have added Indigenous territories and reserve boundaries to their base maps. Making Indigenous lands and waters visible and part of the landscape is critical for recognition and reconciliation. The Indigenous Mapping Workshop in Turtle Island has helped to launch the Indigenous Mapping Workshop in Australia and New Zealand, specifically with the Māori tribe. We have also hosted mapping events in South Africa and have members from 44+ countries on the Indigenous Mapping Collective.

Have a question? Need assistance? Use our online form to ask a librarian for help. Maps drawn by Indians and Indian mapping abilities have been documented in a number of sources, but because of their ephemeral nature, relatively few Indian-created maps exist today. The indigenous population was often sought out by European explorers to guide or provide geographical information about unknown lands, and Indian guides were also often enlisted to provide reconnaissance data for military and commercial... The cartographic and geographic information provided by Indian guides could appear in the explorer's report and might eventually be incorporated into published maps.

Maps drawn by Indians, as well as evidence of their contributions to European-created maps, are valuable and rare documents for studying Indian peoples' geographical knowledge and spatial understanding. They complement the oral record, and they also help establish and clarify the Indians' role as guides and informants in furthering European explorations in North America. The Geography and Map Division does not have original examples of Native American cartography that pre-date European contact, but it has two eighteenth-century manuscripts created by Indians for use by Europeans and a few... The maps in this section have been digitized by the Library and are available for viewing and download online. Select the link on the map or in the caption to view a copy of the map that can be enlarge to view the detail. Mathematician Thomas Harriot and artist John White were among the first English colonists settled at Roanoke Island in 1585.

Their manuscript map of the Outer Banks was revised and engraved by Theodore de Bry, and published in 1590 to accompany his reprint of Harriot's A briefe and true report of the new found... The map covers the North Carolina Coastal Plain, including the Chesapeake Inlet, Pamlico and Albermarle sounds, and Roanoke Island, and extends westward to the sources of the rivers of the sounds. It includes information derived directly from Native American sources and observations, such as the names and locations of Native American villages, most palisaded as in their actual construction; pictorial representations of individual Indians, taken... This map, based upon a three-month survey by boat by Captain John Smith and a small party of colonists, is the first published map of the Chesapeake Bay region. The copy here accompanied the 1624 edition of Smith's The generall Historie of Virginia. Sailing up the major rivers flowing into the bay from the west, Smith and his party encountered numerous Native American villages, in the process recording their names and populations.

The legend on the map and its concomitant symbols differentiates between areas and features that have been discovered by the English and those learned about by Native American informants. Indeed, the Maltese crosses on each river indicates the extent of the party's actual personal knowledge, versus the remainder reported as being taken from instructions furnished to them by local Indians. A cartouche in the upper left hand corner illustrates the chief of the Powhatan federation of Indians in council. This section of the guide suggests specific geographic and mapping resources related to Indigenous peoples, Indigenous land sovereignty, and treaties. It is important to note that most geographic names and categories are often different from the placenames Indigenous peoples use for their ancestral lands. Not all tribes offer public access to mapping of their lands, as tribal land information is proprietary.

For example, the Uintah and Ouray are a sovereign nation and do not share their maps with the public. Please consult tribal governments directly with requests for mapping. Sarah Lee AI generated Llama-4-Maverick-17B-128E-Instruct-FP8 6 min read · May 26, 2025 Photo by The New York Public Library on Unsplash Indigenous cartography is a vital aspect of Native American and Indigenous Studies, as it explores the intersection of geography, culture, and identity. At its core, Indigenous cartography is about reclaiming and reasserting Indigenous peoples' connections to their lands, territories, and resources.

In this article, we will delve into the definition and significance of Indigenous cartography, its historical context, and its contemporary relevance. Indigenous cartography refers to the practice of creating maps that reflect the geographical knowledge, cultural practices, and spiritual connections of Indigenous peoples. These maps are not just spatial representations but also embody the history, identity, and worldviews of Indigenous communities. Indigenous cartography is significant because it challenges dominant Western cartographic practices that have historically erased or marginalized Indigenous geographies. "Indigenous cartography is a powerful tool for Indigenous peoples to reclaim their territories, revitalize their cultures, and resist the ongoing legacies of colonialism." 1 Indigenous mapping traditions offer a fascinating window into how native peoples have understood and navigated their territories for thousands of years.

Unlike Western cartography that emphasizes precise measurements and cardinal directions these traditional mapping methods incorporate stories cultural knowledge and spiritual connections to the land. You’ll discover how indigenous communities worldwide have developed sophisticated ways to document their landscapes through oral histories songlines and other unique mapping practices that continue to influence modern cartography and land management approaches. The ancestral methods of recording spatial information aren’t just historical artifacts – they’re living knowledge systems that help preserve cultural heritage and support indigenous land rights today. These mapping traditions demonstrate that there are multiple valid ways to understand and represent geographic space beyond conventional Western approaches. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Indigenous mapping systems represent complex knowledge networks that combine geographic awareness with cultural wisdom passed down through generations. P.S. check out Udemy’s GIS, Mapping & Remote Sensing courses on sale here…

Maps And Cartographic Resources Indigenous Mapping

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