indigenous mapping: emerging cultures on the geoweb

Indigenous Mapping:Emerging Cultures on the GeoWeb

Rebecca MooreGoogle

Where 2.0 2009

May 21, 2009

"New Technologies and Indigenous Peoples"

Amazon Surui territory

In Google Earth todayAerial photograph at territory boundary

Surui Tribe is not unique

Chief Almir's request in 2007

Amazon chief Almir Surui came to Google:

• Help put his Surui Tribe "on the map":o Villages, history and culture of his peopleo Illegal logging and mining incursions o Preserve/strengthen culture, unify his peopleo Give them tools to direct their own destinyo Map 50-year sustainable plan for their futureo Raise awareness, win support from global

community

• Higher resolution imagery for his territory

• Train his people in how to use the Interneto To share, collaborate, learn, communicate

Why did we do this?

• Unique opportunity for Googleo Work with traditional, indigenous peopleo Using stone tools, bows and arrows until 1969 o Chief Almir's clear vision of appropriate use of

digital technology, digital cultureo Project could be a model for other Amazon tribeso Google tools and applications make sense!

o Fits mission of Google Earth Outreach

• But can we teach Indians how to use the Internet?

Surui Cultural Map

Surui Cultural Icons (subset)

Xingu Waura Tribe: Many different map symbols for “fishing spot”

Vasco van Roosmalen, Amazon Conservation Teamsigning data agreement with tribe

The brand-new "Google Maloca"

June 2008 Training in Cacoal, Brazil:

• Exploring• Creating• Sharing

SketchUp training

Surui VillageBuilding

Surui Tribe's First Sketchup Model

Amazon Indian Zeitgeist

• What did they search for?o "Surui" o "Povos Indigenas do Brasil"   "Indigenous Peoples of Brazil"o "Desmatamento Amazonia"    "Deforestation of the Amazon"o "Futebol"                                   "Football", "Soccer" o "Ronaldinho"   

Online cultural map, step 1: Import Surui gps-mapped sites into KML

Trading Bows and Arrows for Laptops (video)

Short version (3:55, shown at Where 2.0)

Full version (7:55)

To learn more, visit Google Earth Outreach: earth.google.com/outreach

Launching today:Google Earth Outreach Developer Marketplace

Thanks