Using Spatial Information Using Spatial Information Technology To Fuse Traditional Technology To Fuse Traditional

Native and Modern Resource Native and Modern Resource Management StrategiesManagement Strategies

Authors:

Bryan A. Marozas & Jhon Goes In Center

IntroductionIntroduction Integrated Resource Management Integrated Resource Management

Plans (Plans (IRMPIRMP) ) Traditional Ecological Knowledge (Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEKTEK)) Geographic Information System (Geographic Information System (GISGIS) )

technologytechnology Application - DemonstrationApplication - Demonstration

Integrated Resource Integrated Resource Management PlanManagement Plan

1.) Resources are Inventoried1.) Resources are Inventoried

2.) Resources are Classified and 2.) Resources are Classified and Profiled i.e., land composition is 12% Profiled i.e., land composition is 12% range, 16% riparian etc.range, 16% riparian etc.

3.) Management Units are Defined3.) Management Units are Defined

Integrated Resource Integrated Resource Management PlanManagement Plan

4.) Tribal Future Goals and Priorities are 4.) Tribal Future Goals and Priorities are Identified in Terms of Land Identified in Terms of Land Management Goals i.e., 8% of land Management Goals i.e., 8% of land base should remain cultivated.base should remain cultivated.

5.) Land Management Alternatives and 5.) Land Management Alternatives and Impacts are ModeledImpacts are Modeled..

Management Alternativesare based on:

• Tribal Priorities

• Tribal Goals

• Tribal Principles

Management Alternatives

• Economic Development

• Ecological

• Balanced

GIS Based IRMPGIS Based IRMP

GIS is an automated information GIS is an automated information management system designed to management system designed to manipulate and manage spatial data.manipulate and manage spatial data.

A GIS links spatially referenced A GIS links spatially referenced information (attributes) to the geographic information (attributes) to the geographic location of a feature.location of a feature.

A GIS is used as a tool to a.) inventory, b.) A GIS is used as a tool to a.) inventory, b.) analyze and c.) manage spatial analyze and c.) manage spatial informationinformation..

GIS Based IRMPGIS Based IRMP

Cartographic Modeling abilities of a GIS Cartographic Modeling abilities of a GIS include:include:

1.) digitally combining or overlaying 1.) digitally combining or overlaying features,features,

2.) determining feature proximity and2.) determining feature proximity and 3.) generating buffers.3.) generating buffers.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge is Traditional Ecological Knowledge is “integrated knowledge of the “integrated knowledge of the

ecosystems within the community ecosystems within the community traditional resource use area.”traditional resource use area.”

Chief Robert Wavey Chief Robert Wavey Fox Lake First NationFox Lake First Nation

Manitoba, CanadaManitoba, Canada

“The settlers have interfered The settlers have interfered with the dynamics of Native with the dynamics of Native

knowledge.”knowledge.”

Professor Leroy Little Bear,Professor Leroy Little Bear,

University of Lethbridge, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta , Canada 1994Alberta , Canada 1994

Including Traditional Including Traditional EcologicalEcological Knowledge in the Knowledge in the

IRMP ProcessIRMP Process IRMP’s can curate and integrate TEK that IRMP’s can curate and integrate TEK that

may be critical to solving problems.may be critical to solving problems. Two opportunities for including TEK in IRMP: Two opportunities for including TEK in IRMP:

a.) Sensitive Area Analysis anda.) Sensitive Area Analysis and b.) Developing a GIS database on the terms b.) Developing a GIS database on the terms

of the tribe. of the tribe.

Mapping Traditional Land UseMapping Traditional Land Use

Developing a GIS on the terms of the Developing a GIS on the terms of the tribe requires mapping from the tribal tribe requires mapping from the tribal perspective.perspective.

Mapping and automation of subsistence Mapping and automation of subsistence related activities.related activities.

Mapping Traditional Land UseMapping Traditional Land Use

Utilizing community members in the Utilizing community members in the mapping process ensures that the land mapping process ensures that the land use is mapped from the tribal use is mapped from the tribal perspective.perspective.

FUSIONFUSION

Utilizing Traditional Ecological Utilizing Traditional Ecological Knowledge in the IRMP Decision Knowledge in the IRMP Decision

Making ProcessMaking Process

Utilizing Traditional Ecological Utilizing Traditional Ecological Knowledge in the IRMP Decision Knowledge in the IRMP Decision

Making ProcessMaking Process Traditional resource use layers become Traditional resource use layers become

valuable when modeled with other valuable when modeled with other geographic data sets. This helps to geographic data sets. This helps to make decisions on potential impacts to make decisions on potential impacts to any traditional activity.any traditional activity.

GIS database becomes a framework to GIS database becomes a framework to which traditional knowledge can be which traditional knowledge can be attached.attached.

Considering the Relevance of Considering the Relevance of Aboriginal TerritoriesAboriginal Territories

TEK provides a resource management TEK provides a resource management strategy that extends throughout an strategy that extends throughout an aboriginal territory.aboriginal territory.

Considering the Relevance of Considering the Relevance of Aboriginal TerritoriesAboriginal Territories

Tribes should examine the definition of Tribes should examine the definition of their aboriginal territory and assess the their aboriginal territory and assess the implications of the boundary for:implications of the boundary for:

a.) the co-management of resourcesa.) the co-management of resources b.) treaty rightsb.) treaty rights c.) sovereignty andc.) sovereignty and d.) the protection and/or restoration of cultural d.) the protection and/or restoration of cultural

featuresfeatures.

Native American Graves Native American Graves Protection and Protection Protection and Protection

ActAct

NAGPRANAGPRA

PL 101-601PL 101-601

What’s Next ?What’s Next ?

Tribes may still have outstanding claims Tribes may still have outstanding claims and rights within aboriginal territories.and rights within aboriginal territories.

Tribes should re-consider the possibility Tribes should re-consider the possibility of re-defining their aboriginal territories.of re-defining their aboriginal territories.

Tribes should retrieve and curate Tribes should retrieve and curate traditional ecological knowledge for their traditional ecological knowledge for their aboriginal territory.aboriginal territory.