Collaborative geomatics and the Mushkegowuk Cree First Nations: Fostering adaptive capacity for community-based sub-arctic natural resource management

Resource type
Authors/contributors
Title
Collaborative geomatics and the Mushkegowuk Cree First Nations: Fostering adaptive capacity for community-based sub-arctic natural resource management
Abstract
The remote First Nation (FN) communities of the Mushkegowuk Territory on the west coast of James Bay, Ontario, Canada are currently facing increased development pressures and the imposition of a government land use planning process. The land use planning process is mandated in the Far North Act (received Royal Assent on September 23, 2010). There is a need for capacity enhancement for community-based natural resource planning and management in the Territory. A number of frameworks are emerging for addressing change brought on by resource development and building resilience to such change at the community level. Among these include the concept of adaptive capacity. In collaboration with FN community leaders, we explored the use of “collaborative geomatics” tools to foster adaptive capacity. Our action research suggests that collaborative geomatics technologies should enhance the Mushkegowuk First Nations’ adaptive capacity to address environmental and policy change by allowing them to collect and manage data collaboratively (e.g., traditional environmental knowledge, western science) to create opportunities for innovative community development, including natural resource development and management.
Publication
Geoforum
Volume
43
Issue
2
Pages
305-314
Date
March 1, 2012
Series
SI - Party Politics, the Poor and the City: reflections from South Africa
Journal Abbr
Geoforum
ISSN
0016-7185
Short Title
Collaborative geomatics and the Mushkegowuk Cree First Nations
Accessed
03/05/2019, 22:13
Library Catalogue
ScienceDirect
Citation
McCarthy, D. D. P., Whitelaw, G. S., Anderson, S., Cowan, D., McGarry, F., Robins, A., Gardner, H. L., Barbeau, C. D., Charania, N. A., General, Z., Liedtke, J., Sutherland, C., Alencar, P., & Tsuji, L. J. S. (2012). Collaborative geomatics and the Mushkegowuk Cree First Nations: Fostering adaptive capacity for community-based sub-arctic natural resource management. Geoforum, 43(2), 305–314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2011.07.015