Hannah Golden
The Native American Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS), in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), launched the Tribal Mapping Analytics Project to strengthen Indigenous leadership and capacity in the collection, management, and analysis of wildlife movement data. Rooted in the principles of Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Responsibility, this initiative ensures that tribal data are used to advance self-determination, equity, and the collective benefit of Indigenous communities. The project established a tribal representative on the USGS Corridor Mapping Team—originally formed in response to Department of the Interior Secretary’s Order 3362—to ensure tribal perspectives and priorities inform national efforts to map and conserve ungulate migration corridors for elk, mule deer, and pronghorn. Through this collaboration, tribes receive technical assistance to map ungulate migration routes, identify critical stopovers, assess threats, and guide conservation decisions. By building technical capacity through workshops, training, and direct analytical support, the Tribal Mapping Analytics Project empowers tribes to manage and interpret their own movement data responsibly. This presentation will highlight how the project embodies responsible data governance—ensuring that Indigenous data are protected, tribally controlled, and used to sustain both cultural values and ecological resilience.