CSTC WEBMAPPING PORTAL

The Carrier Sekani Geospatial Toolset is ready for testing and use by its 8 member First Nations.  A test site has been set up for CSTC First Nations to begin using the CSGT. The links below will take you to the offical CSTC CSGT websites:

OFFICIAL CSGT PORTAL SITE (TEST SITE)

CSGT INFORMATION POSTER

Carrier Sekani Geospatial Toolset (CSGT) Information Poster - (578 MB)

BACKGROUND

The Carrier Sekani Geospatial (CSGT) Project was initiated because of the technical gap in making mapping information available via the Internet to CSTC communities, and the need to monitor government and industry activities occurring in CSTC territories. As a service provider to the Carrier and Sekani people, in-house mapping services are extremely limited due to financial constraints and a lack of affordable mapping software available to CSTC communities.  In mid 2007 the CSTC Natural Resource Department successful secured some funding to being the project. 

The CSGT Project will enable the Carrier and Sekani people, through the CSTC, to standardize their mapping needs and provide additional technical support to the work being done in natural resource management and monitoring including land use planning, economic development, and education.  Ultimtely this project will assist the CSTC and its communities with a tool to monitor and track activities that impact the aboriginal rights and title of CSTC communities.  

The CSGT works with applications and strategies built upon standardized Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI) applications that provide web-based mapping tools to assist with making better informed decisions about cultural, land and water resources within Dakelh territory.  The CSGT also builds upon the work being done by the Tsilhqot’in National Government (TNG) project, called the Tsilhqot’in Stewardship Planning Portal (TSPP).

The long-term goals of the CSGT are to offer more assistance and services to the CSTC member First Nations for the purposes of:

·          Effectively organize existing traditional and contemporary mapping data, including use and

            occupancy data;

·          Better collecting & representing traditional knowledge in a spatial context;

·          Perform spatial analysis of traditional data with respect to other information;

·          Provide in-house mapping services;

·          Improving communications with the Crown, other First Nations and industry;.

·          Assist with managing project proposals resulting from Referrals, environmental

            assessments and other processes

While several members of the CSTC have gathered and/or created geospatial data for cultural and natural resource management (i.e. Traditional Use Studies, Land Use and Occupancy Studies, contaminated sites studies), the ability for key staff and leaders to access mapping data has been problematic because of the level of technical understanding these users require to view, add to, and/or produce maps.  Mapping applications, tools, standards and accessibility are ongoing challenges for all the CSTC communities due to changing technologies, staff and financial resources.  This project allows CSTC communities to provide cost savings through the coordination of mapping services and information management standards.

BENEFITS

DATA COLLECTION:

Provide a Carrier Sekani model for incorporating oral histories and field data into a spatial data framework.

COMMUNITY MAPPING DATA ACCESS:

Allow for mapping data to be accessible using the Internet to community leaders, staff, government and industry.  Not all the data is accessible.  Users will only have permission to see data that is relevant to them.  No traditional knowledge data will be shared with anyone without permissions granted by the traditional knowledge holder, and according to CSTC policies and protocols. 

TRACK ACTIVITES THAT IMPACT THE LAND:

Provide staff and leaders with up-to-the-minute information regarding proposed projects occurring within CSTC territory.  The CSGT acts as a tool for CSTC communities to be a ‘Tracking Tool’, which means that the CSTC its communities and proponents (i.e. companies, government, or individuals) can track project information, including referrals, community projects, etc.

TRAINING:

Provide training and understanding in mapping, GIS, information management and policy development.

CSGT OUTCOMES

CAPACITY:

TECHNICAL:

Build upon the software application (based on Open Source technology) developed by the Tsilhqot’in National Government (TSPP Project);

Develop, design and implementation of a Cumulative Impacts Model interface using web-based interfaces.

RELATIONSHIPS:

USERS

SECURITY

CSGT TEAM