A Guidebook to Land Use and Occupancy Mapping, Research Design, and Data Collection
By Terry Tobias
A JOINT PUBLICATION OF THE UNION OF BC INDIAN CHIEFS AND ECOTRUST CANADA
This full-colour guidebook examines the common pitfalls encountered while designing and implementing cultural land use studies and offers clear guidance on how these problems can be avoided. The publication is laid out in a widely accessible format, with maps, pictures, and diagrams illustrating examples of what has worked in First Nations research across Canada.
The guidebook is now available in PDF format in its entirety or by specific chapters below.
To order a hard copy of this publication, please send an email message to [email protected] at Ecotrust Canada. The price is $14.99 plus $5.00 for shipping (in Canada) and 7% GST.
Note, the book is being sold at cost; we will not be providing discounts to academic institutions or other groups. The GST will be collected unless an exemption number is provided.
Download the entire guidebook:
Chief Kerry's Moose (2266KB)
Download specific chapters:
Introduction (337KB)
Chapter 1: Land Use and Occupancy Mapping: A Definition and a Warning (110KB)
Chapter 2: The Tasks of a Mapping Project (209KB)
Chapter 3: Map Biographies and Composites (401KB)
Chapter 4: Doing Quality Research (242KB)
Chapter 5: Designing the Project: Why, Who, When, Where and What (143KB)
Chapter 6: Principles of Research Design and Implementation (981KB)
Chapter 7: Measuring Quality (156KB)
Chapter 8: Creating a Culture of Research (80KB)
Summary (108KB)
Glossary (186KB)
Other resources:
Living Proof is a tool for Indigenous peoples who are looking for ways to assert their ongoing ties to the land or indeed for anyone working with resources on Indigenous territories.
Stolen Lands, Broken Promises: Researching the Indian Land Question in BC (2nd ed.) is a practical, hands-on resource for Indigenous community members wanting to conduct research on a variety of issues affecting traditional territory and reserve lands in British Columbia. It is designed to guide researchers through the processes of planning and successfully completing lands-related research projects that have a strong historical component.
Background documents:
For general background, read The Evolution Of British Columbia's Heritage Environment: An Overview and Discussion of First Nations Issues.
The website of the Aboriginal Mapping Network is a wealth of information and resources, including spatial data resources, project funding, legal information (including the Crown Lands Referrals Toolbox), mapping methods, useful publications, and training options.
Community examples: The Lheidli T'enneh Nation
The Lheidli T'enneh Nation have generously offered their Information Sharing Agreement as an example for all to view. You can also see the Lheidli T'enneh Nation's Traditional Use Study Proposal. The Lheidli T'enneh Nation also created the following documents:
- Lheidli T'enneh Traditional Use Study Release Form
- Band Council Resolution: Researcher Confidentiality
- Traditional Use Study Researcher Confidentiality
Josie Paul speaking to Clarence John during the Lheidli T'enneh Traditional Use Study