From Cognitive Maps to Transparent Static Web Maps: Tools for Indigenous Territorial Control in La Muskitia, Honduras

Indigenous Miskitu, Tawahka, and Pech communities in Honduras, in collaboration with university geographers, have developed transparent static web maps as a tool for maintaining indigenous territorial control. This approach allows them to share their cognitive maps publicly while retaining the original design and intended representation of their lands. The project began with large-scale paper maps created in 1998–1999 during the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve participatory research mapping (PRM) initiative, which were later digitized into GIS vector files by 2012 and converted to web-based transparent static maps between 2013–2014. This method addresses the challenge of public access to map data without losing control over its representation, offering a solution for long-term indigenous land management while reflecting distinct indigenous concepts and practices.

Kelly, J., Herlihy, P., Tappan, T., Hilburn, A., & Fahrenbruch, M. (2017). From Cognitive Maps to Transparent Static Web Maps: Tools for Indigenous Territorial Control in La Muskitia, Honduras. Cartographica, 52(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.3138/cart.52.1.3811