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The Development of an Indigenous Knowledge Participatory GIS for an Iñupiaq Community, North Slope, Alaska

Jelacic, Jessica L.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1276980601

Abstract Details

2010, MA, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences : Geography.
Recent studies suggest that climate-warming will impact the Arctic regions more so than anywhere else on Earth. Drastic and sometimes catastrophic changes have been occurring in the Arctic within the last few decades. The Iñupiat people of the North Slope of Alaska have an urgent interest in addressing potential changes to their environment. They have firsthand knowledge of these changes, and their insights can provide a level of understanding not often available through traditional scientific methods. This research explores the intersection between science, technology and indigenous knowledge. In the last five years, 53 interviews were conducted which collected a variety of information involving landscape processes, natural resources, vegetation, cultural/historical sites, life stories, and language. This information was incorporated into a GIS database; the data was then used to create an indigenous knowledge website. This research has produced a viable Web-based GIS that houses a repository of elder and community knowledge from four villages on the North Slope of Alaska. The goal of this project is to return all of the data to the community in a method that is engaging and educational and also promotes community participation and collaboration. By providing the means for the stakeholders to participate in this process, it is anticipated that the community will assume control of data collection, thereby preserving their own culture and creating a living document.
Wendy Eisner, PhD (Committee Chair)
Changjoo Kim, PhD (Committee Member)
Kenneth Hinkel, PhD (Committee Member)
94 p.
Geography
Indigenous Knowledge; Participatory GIS; Arctic; Geographic Information Systems

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Jelacic, J. L. (2010). The Development of an Indigenous Knowledge Participatory GIS for an Iñupiaq Community, North Slope, Alaska [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1276980601

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Jelacic, Jessica. The Development of an Indigenous Knowledge Participatory GIS for an Iñupiaq Community, North Slope, Alaska. 2010. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1276980601.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Jelacic, Jessica. "The Development of an Indigenous Knowledge Participatory GIS for an Iñupiaq Community, North Slope, Alaska." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1276980601

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1276980601
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© 2010, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.