A bioregional atlas, made together.
A multiphase, community-guided bioregional mapping initiative in the Gwich’in Settlement Region. We worked with the GTC Lands Department to organize spatial information, ground it with knowledge holders, and shape it into a living Atlas the community can steward over time.
- Partner
- GTC Lands Dept.
- Year
- 2023 – 2024
- Service
- Community Mapping
- Output
- Atlas + GIS Layers
Project details.
Approach
Most of the work happened away from the screen, with knowledge holders walking us to the places that needed walking.
Phase 1 built the foundation: organizing spatial data, archival and external research, a spatial data warehouse and management plan, and supporting GIS training and long-term planning. Phase 2 co-developed the Atlas structure and an Inventory Atlas baseline, then worked with Gwich’in communities to validate and expand mapped information through engagement grounded in Free, Prior and Informed Consent, knowledge sovereignty, and clear access controls.
Alongside Atlas development, the project includes ongoing GIS and advanced drone training to build in-house capacity. Together, these efforts support GTC in stewarding and communicating place-based knowledge through tools and governance practices designed to evolve over time and reflect community priorities.
What was made
- Atlas
- Multi-plate Bioregional Atlas, printed and bound
- GIS Layers
- Use-and-occupancy, place names, watersheds
- Data Warehouse
- Centralized, access-controlled spatial archive
- Protocols
- Data governance under FPIC and CARE principles
- Training
- GIS and drone capacity-building with Lands staff
By the numbers
2
phases
of multi-year fieldwork and Atlas development
4
communities
across the Gwich’in Settlement Region
1
living atlas
designed to grow with community priorities
Next project.
Next project →
GIS capacity building with Taku River Tlingit.