Indigenous Cartography and Cartography of the Indigenous (Conversations on Cartography Series)

Featuring Timothy Norris, Data Scientist, University Libraries in conversation with Arthur Dunkelman, curator, Jay I. Kislak Collection, University Libraries.

Thursday, June 1, 2023, 1 p.m. (EDT)

Timothy Norris incorporates thinking in the disciplines of geography, history, anthropology, and the history of science to explore the intersection of map making and Indigeneity through ancestral, colonial, anti-colonial, and de-colonial lenses.

"More Indigenous territory has been claimed by maps than by guns." — Bernard Nietschmann, 1995*

Whether true or not, this statement underlines the importance of understanding how cartographic practices and performances form a part of the historical and contemporary Indigenous experience. Inquiry will focus on how maps are used as tools to claim power, territory, sovereignty, and identity, and how they are leveraged for conservation and natural resource management on Indigenous territory.

The experience from a recently taught course at the University of Miami serves as a guide for this conversation. The geographic scope is global with an emphasis on the Americas.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Timothy Norris holds a joint appointment between the University of Miami's Libraries and the Institute for Data Science and Computing. In this role, his daily service work focuses on the flow of data throughout the entire research cycle, from inception of the research question to the publication and preservation of the results. Dr. Norris' research program interrogates geographic information systems (GIS) and geospatial data visualizations (cartography), participatory research methodologies, and how the sustainable governance of human, natural and informational resources intersect.

Prior to arriving at the University, Dr. Norris' doctoral work focused on community based mapping and participatory research methods as tools to mediate public/private relationships centered on the management and governance of natural resources in the global south. This intersection of interests recently led to teaching a new course in the spring of 2023 titled Indigenous Cartography and the Cartography of the Indigenous. Read more »

ABOUT THE MODERATOR
Prior to joining the University of Miami Libraries as the Curator of the Kislak Collection, Arthur Dunkelman served as Director and Curator of the Jay I. Kislak Foundation for 24 years. In 2004 a portion of the Kislak Foundation Collection was donated to the Library of Congress; Dunkelman was responsible for managing the transition and establishing research and public outreach programs. Two exhibitions, "Treasures of the Jay I. Kislak Collection" (2005) and "Exploring the Americas" (2007 to present), highlighted the materials and brought them to national and international attention. He also edited a comprehensive catalog of the collection, published by the Library of Congress. Read more »