Indigenous Mapping Network 2010: Restoring our Home Places Call for Proposals

Written by Steven DeRoy, IMN2010 Event Coordinator

IMN Conference - IMN 2010

The Suquamish Tribe and the Indigenous Mapping Network (IMN) are organizing the fourth IMN conference. The topics of discussion are framed around IMN's guiding principles - Plan, Protect and Preserve. This theme will provide a platform for sharing knowledge. The conference will explore past Indigenous and Tribal mapping experiences and strategies for the future. We are currently looking for speakers to share their experiences with mapping in an Indigenous/Tribal context.

The conference will explore some of the following topics:
- Gathering and protecting community knowledge
- Participatory demos
- Native Languages
- Protecting Tribal Lands and Resources
- Various GIS software options (ESRI, Google Earth, Open Source, etc)
- Lessons Learned
- Funding opportunities
- How technology & techniques are being employed with indigenous knowledge
- Natural resource management issues.

In addition to speakers, we are also looking for people to participate in a display/poster/vendor session. This will be an informal session during the two days, giving Indigenous mapping practitioners a chance to share their own work, and the work of their communities. It is a great opportunity to showcase some of the different kinds of mapping that are happening now, in addition to the speakers and panelists.

Since registration will be limited to 100 participants, priority will be given to Indigenous/Tribal organizations, in the spirit of an Indigenous organized conference for Indigenous peoples. CFP submission ended on April 22, 2010.

Thank you,
The IMN2010 Planning Committee!