GIS for Indigenous land management

October 28, 2026

Brooke Hewitt

Indigenous communities across Ontario are using GIS to support land management in diverse ways. This ArcGIS StoryMap story brings together perspectives from community discussions, highlighting practical applications, shared learning opportunities and the evolving role of GIS in supporting informed land management decisions.

Indigenous communities across Ontario are using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to support land management activities including parcel administration, housing, infrastructure, environmental monitoring and emergency planning. Developed through a collaboration between the Ontario Aboriginal Lands Association (OALA), participating First Nations and Esri Canada, a new ArcGIS StoryMap story shares community experiences, common challenges and opportunities for strengthening GIS capacity in support of Indigenous land stewardship. The story shares perspectives from communities at different stages of their GIS journey, highlighting themes such as training, knowledge sharing and sustainability.

Explore the story to learn from the experiences shared by participating communities.

For questions or more information, we invite you to connect directly with:

Alexander Johnston - GIS Technician, OALA | gis@oala-on.ca
Land Information Solutions, Esri Canada | parcels@esri.ca

In Memory of Kelsey Davis

This initiative was one of many that Kelsey Davis helped bring to life through his passion for geospatial thinking, commitment to collaboration and dedication to Indigenous communities across Canada. His leadership helped shape the conversations that inspired this story.

We dedicate this story to Kelsey's memory with gratitude for all he contributed as a trusted advisor, respected colleague and valued friend. His legacy continues to inspire us and will remain an enduring part of the Esri Canada story.