Tribal GIS: Supporting Native American Decision Making chronicles the challenges and successes of Native American tribes in implementing and using geographic information systems (GIS) to address their unique circumstances as sovereign nations.

Published by Esri Press, the book provides Native American policy makers, administrators, scientists, and instructors with information on how GIS and the spatial perspective can be used to make their organizations more efficient and effective. It illustrates how they can use GIS to solve problems on their lands and in tribal programs on local, regional, and national levels.

“Native American tribal governments are some of the earliest adopters of GIS technology and have used it to support thousands of programs and initiatives,” says Jack Dangermond, Esri president. “As GIS has evolved into an enterprise platform for information management, many tribes are establishing enterprise GIS platforms within their governments, enabling them to better address the complex challenges of sovereign nations.”

Tribal GIS was coauthored by Anne Taylor, David Gadsden, Joseph J. Kerski, and Heather Warren. The book offers insight into how tribal governments and supporting organizations are employing GIS, from day-to-day operations to special projects for tribal leadership. Tribal GIS also highlights how GIS is being used to embrace a new movement in tribal governance toward improving citizen services, decision support for community leadership, sustained economic development, and the protection of tribal assets.

“The importance of the book, in my view, is that the people telling the stories are actually working with GIS on a day-to-day basis in tribal governments, colleges, schools, and other organizations,” says Kerski. “These people are dedicated and visionary, and their stories are real, diverse, and powerful.”

Tribal GIS: Supporting Native American Decision Making (ISBN: 978-1-58948-320-0, 174 pages, US$19.95) is available at online retailers worldwide, at esri.com/esripress, or by calling 1-800-447-9778. Outside the United States, visit esri.com/esripressorders for complete ordering options, or visit esri.com/distributors to contact your local Esri distributor. Interested retailers can contact Esri Press book distributor Ingram Publisher Services.

[Source: Esri press release]