Arnisson Andre Ortega

This project aims to reclaim mapping as a decolonial tool in promoting Indigenous traditions, knowledges, and land rights. Invoking the Indigenous adage - “ang lupa ay buhay” ("land is life"), our digital mapping project will collaborate with Indigenous partners in the Philippines who will “map back” to foreground their traditions and to support their ancestral land claims. We will develop a digital mapping dashboard that will consolidate indigenous narratives on land, locate them on map layers, strengthen local traditions, and promote community cohesion. Customizable maps will compare Indigenous land narratives with mainstream cartographic articulations of state territory, which may clarify Indigenous ancestral land claims and encourage critical conversations on Indigenous land rights.