Research Guides: Indigenous Research &amp; Knowledges in North America: Geographic & Cartographic Resources

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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.

Resources

Counter Mapping
Jim Enote, a traditional Zuni farmer and director of the A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center, is working with Zuni artists to create maps that bring an Indigenous voice and perspective back to the land, countering Western notions of place and geography and challenging the arbitrary borders imposed on the Zuni world.
Navajo Nation Boundary Map
The Navajo Land Department GIS section acquires data from numerous internal divisions, departments, with permission from respective sources for mapping purposes only. However, if one requires certain GIS data, please feel free to contact the respective owners (ex: Navajo Department of Water Resources, Navajo Division of Transportation, Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, etc..), the Navajo Community Boundary Data, we use the US Census boundaries for the communities of the Navajo Nation, and if you require Grazing Boundaries, please contact BIA area offices.
The Rockies: An Arapaho Perspective
Hinono’eino (Arapaho) knowledge of the land extends far and wide across the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, and beyond. This map covers the modern states of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
Southern Ute Land Status Map (GIS)
For more information about Southern Ute mapping, please contact: Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Department of Natural Resources
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https://www.southernute-nsn.gov/natural-resources/

Indian Lands Judicially Established
Defenders of Wildlife: Bison Restoration on the Great Plains
Over the last decade, Defenders of Wildlife along with several national parks, tribes, the InterTribal Buffalo Council, World Wildlife Fund, National Wildlife Federation and the Wildlife Conservation Society, are cooperating to relocate bison to the plains. The goal is to help achieve management goals that are designed to increase land for bison habitat and grow the herds for long-term conservation. This effort involves documenting the current herds, acres of lands managed for bison as wildlife, and to track where individual animals are transferred to supplement conservation herds on tribal and public lands. Defenders of Wildlife's GIS tracking tool, showing historic movements of bison from Badlands, Wind Cave and Theodore Roosevelt National Parks, also has direct applications to tracking animals translocated to various conservation herds across the plains. These are the herds dedicated as wildlife. With an absence of predators and limited hunting, maintaining the appropriate herd to land ratios as well as diversity are important to overall bison management.
Indigenous Mapping Collective
Mapping is critical to supporting Indigenous rights and interests, decolonizing place and space, and sharing Indigenous stories of the land. We provide training on a number of Geographical Information Sciences (GIS) tools including Google Earth Pro, Esri ArcGIS, satellite remote sensing with NASA and the Canadian Space Agency, computer coding and so much more! In the hands of Indigenous peoples, these can be powerful tools in the preservation and promotion of Indigenous land stewardship practices.
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The Indigenous Mapping Workshop began in 2014, with a vision to build a conference that gave Indigenous peoples direct access to the tools and training they need to map their lands. In 2020 we launched the Indigenous Mapping Collective, a virtual space for mappers and trainers to share knowledge and resources with each other and view IMW content on demand. Now with 2000+ members from across the globe, we are the Indigenous Mapping Collective. We welcome mappers from all skill levels including those that have never mapped before.
Invasion of America
Between 1776 and 1887, the United States seized over 1.5 billion acres from America's Indigenous peoples by treaty or executive order. This interactive map explores each Native American land cession during that period.
Land-Grab Universities
Nearly 11 million acres of Indigenous land. Approximately 250 tribal nations. Over 160 violence-backed treaties and land seizures. Fifty-two universities. Discover the bloody history behind land-grant universities.
National Atlas of Indigenous Tribes, Cultures & Languages
Tribal Lands Ceded to the United States
Sixty-seven maps from Indian Land Cessions in the United States, compiled by Charles C. Royce and published as the second part of the two-part Eighteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1896-1897 have been scanned, georeferenced in JPEG2000 format, and digitized to create this feature class of cession maps. The mapped cessions and reservations included in the 67 maps correspond to entries in the Schedule of Indian Land Cessions, indicating the number and location of each cession by or reservation for the Indian tribes from the organization of the Federal Government to and including 1894, together with descriptions of the tracts so ceded or reserved, the date of the treaty, law or executive order governing the same, the name of the tribe or tribes affected thereby, and historical data and references bearing thereon, as set forth in the subtitle of the Schedule.
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https://data-usfs.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/usfs::tribal-lands-ceded-to-the-united-states-feature-layer/about

Canadian Geographic
Published by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, each issue of Canadian Geographic is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest science, environment, travel and human and cultural stories from across the country.
Coming Home
To mark the 150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada, the Canadian-American Center at the University of Maine is pleased to release a new map, Coming Home to Indigenous Place Names in Canada. The map honors Indigenous place names in Canada and the assertion of Indigenous authority through place names.
ELOKA: Exchange for Local Observations and Knowledge of the Arctic
Exchange for Local Observations and Knowledge of the Arctic (ELOKA) fosters collaboration between resident Arctic experts and visiting researchers to facilitate the collection, preservation, exchange, and use of local observations and Indigenous knowledge of the Arctic. We also provide data management and user support to Indigenous communities to ensure their data and knowledge are managed, visualized, and shared in an ethical manner in order to work toward information and data sovereignty for Arctic residents.
First Nations Maps of Vancouver Island
First Peoples' Map of British Columbia
The First Peoples’ Map of B.C. has 18 layers that explore over 200 First Nations communities in the province. It features profiles of local artists, organizations and information about community events and heritage sites. Indigenous languages are also listed alongside common greetings and pronunciation guides.
Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada
In this atlas, you will find reference maps of Indigenous Canada, including detailed pages on many aspects of the topic with contemporary and historical photography, maps and more. There’s also a glossary of common Indigenous terms. This atlas was created by The Royal Canadian Geographical Society in conjunction with the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Métis Nation, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and Indspire.
Knowing Nuna
Saskatchewan First Nations Traditional Place Names Map
The Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre (SICC), in partnership with the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport (PCS), created a database and platform that shares Saskatchewan First Nations traditional place names.
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These are usually the original lands of First Nations, lakes, stones, etc. that have existed before colonization. The names may be in any of the Saskatchewan language groups and contains the traditional place name in the First Nation language, the English name, a short description and when available, an image and video. SICC expects this traditional place names map to be populated slowly and over time as communities undertake community projects.
Tribal Nations Maps
This is a Native-owned business that offers maps of how Indigenous nations looked before contact with outsiders.

The Decolonial Atlas
This a growing collection of maps which, in some way, help us to challenge our relationships with the land, people, and state. It’s based on the premise that cartography is not as objective as we’re made to believe. The orientation of a map, its projection, the presence of political borders, which features are included or excluded, and the language used to label a map are all subject to the map-maker’s bias – whether deliberate or not. Because decolonization is a process of unlearning and rediscovering, we’re especially committed to Indigenous language revitalization through toponymy – the use of place names.
Native Land
Native Land is a growing, interactive app to help map Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages. This map does not represent or intend to represent official or legal boundaries of any Indigenous nations. To learn about definitive boundaries, contact the nations in question. You can use it directly by entering your address, or by mousing or clicking around on the map to see the relevant territories in a location. Once you click, a number of links will appear with different nation names. By clicking on those links, you will be taken to a page specifically about that nation, language, or treaty, where you can view some sources, give feedback, and learn a little more. It is created by Native Land Digital, a Canadian not-for-profit, Indigenous-led organization that is always trying to expand their resources on these pages.
LandMark
LandMark is the first online, interactive global platform to provide maps and other critical information on lands that are collectively held and used by Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The global platform is designed to help Indigenous Peoples and communities protect their land rights and secure tenure over their lands.
Native Skywatchers: Indigenous Astronomy Revitalization
The Native Skywatchers research and programing initiative grounded in Indigenous Knowledge Systems brings to the conversation that part that is critically and urgently needed, the big picture... our part in the Earth-Sky relationship. The Native Skywatchers research and programming initiative is rooted in wellness as we aim to remind every human being that we come from the stars.