A revolutionary system for combining Aboriginal perspectives of the land with predominant techniques for mapping and resource management has been developed by researchers at the University of Northern British Columbia and the Halfway River First Nation. The development could usher in a new era of Aboriginal participation in resource management decision-making and communication of traditional Aboriginal knowledge.

The new system is called a Geographic Valuation System (GVS) that incorporates traditional Aboriginal values and uses of the land into an Internet-based, multimedia application. From a computer-generated view of the landscape, clickable icons allow community users to access traditional knowledge associated with geospatial data (latitude/longitude, wildlife habitat, roads, and rivers, etc). Halfway River has already catalogued traditional knowledge and uses in documents, photos, audio clips, and videos and so far, more than 4000 of these materials (including 120 videos) are in the GVS. They can now be accessed by the community for day-to-day decision-making.

“The GVS has at least two main advantages for our Nation,” says Halfway River Chief Roslyn Pokiak, who has been the community’s lead participant in the development of the system. “First, it will allow us to effectively communicate with government and industry in discussions about the potential effects of resource management decisions, such as the expansion of oil and gas exploration. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, it will be a tool for educating our future generations about our traditional practices and make our landscape literally come alive, even if some of the Elders who are captured in photos or videos have already passed away.”

Joining Chief Pokiak in developing the GVS has been Alex Hawley, a professor in the UNBC Ecosystem Science and Management program, and PhD student Nancy Elliot.

“The GVS enables Elders and other community members to participate in land use decisions, such as a proposal to establish a seismic line, without compromising their values.  It also forms the foundation for an educational approach that fosters the incorporation of traditional Aboriginal values in community development,” says Dr. Hawley.  “It has been a challenge – and incredibly rewarding – to emphasize the oral tradition as a vital component of land management processes. Our western map-making tradition has never been very successful in doing this,” adds Nancy Elliot. 

Halfway River First Nation has a population of 135 people on the reserve, which is located 35km west of the Alaska Highway and about 90km north of Fort St. John. Their traditional lands cover one of northeastern BC’s richest oil and gas regions.

Contact:

Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622