A new tool, created by a Canadian programmer is available that lets users find which native peoples once lived where they are visiting or living, and in many cases, what wars and treaties took it from them.
The new interactive map, called Native Land, so far covers North America and Australia, and parts of South America, but its structure allows adding other places, notably Africa, in the future. It can be searched by address, zip code and more.
Many experienced traveler like to probe into the history of places they’re visiting, exploring the waves of Roman, Greek, Moorish and ‘barbarian’ peoples that have left their marks on Europe and its cultures. Up to now, that’s been nearly impossible for the Americas except in the case of major archaeological sites, such as those of the Mayas.
Victor Temprano, from Vancouver, says the project grew out of his involvement three years ago in anti-pipeline activism in British Columbia, which led to his researching indigenous land rights and ownership. He told an interviewer that “The map is really about me, as a settler, trying to educate other settlers, to plant a seed in their historical consciousness. I want it to get the message to people who don’t already agree with me already, who don’t think about this stuff. People who haven’t thought about Indigenous history or Indigenous land ownership.”
In addition to the website, Native Land is also available as an app for iOS and Android.
Illustration: Screenshot from NativeLand.ca
