Critical Approaches to Geospatial Research in Canada
Building respectful and informed geospatial practice in Northern and Indigenous contexts, based on a critical approach to remote sensing and geomatics.
COURSE DETAILS
Geospatial projects inherently involve Indigenous lands, territories, and communities, most prominently in remote areas with limited access, such as northern Canada. This course provides practical guidance for researchers and professionals working with geospatial data in such contexts across Canada.
Dates: November 30-December 11, 2026
Format: Online (live)
Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (ET)
DAILY STRUCTURE
- 11:00am – 1:00pm → Concepts, guided readings, discussion
Post-course Follow-up: The instructor will be available on a limited basis to review REB applications or community engagement plans.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
- GIS / remote sensing professionals
- Geomatics practitioners
- Environmental consultants
- Graduate students (Geomatics, Geography, Environmental Science, related disciplines)
- Researchers & postdocs
- Government scientists & analysts
No prior knowledge of Indigenous perspectives or community engagement practices is required.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- A broad understanding of Indigenous lands, territories, and stewardship.
- An introduction into the interaction between Indigenous knowledge systems and geospatial technologies.
- An introduction to the concepts of Data Sovereignty and OCAP®
- Basic ethical engagement practices.
- Community-based monitoring and participatory mapping
COURSE OUTLINE
Module 1: The Self & The Scientific Lens — Topics: positionality, objectivity, power dynamics in community research
Module 2: Research in Indigenous Contexts — Topics: worldviews, knowledge systems, respectful interactions
Module 3: Data Governance, Data Sovereignty & The Digital Landscape — Topics: data governance, data sovereignty, data labelling
Module 4: Natural Sciences in the Field — Topics: field footprints, the tension between Open Data and local knowledge, Local Context Labels (Biocultural and Traditional Knowledge labels in metadata)
Module 5: Relational Impact & Future Legacies — Topics: data accessibility, knowledge dissemination, community benefits
INSTRUCTOR(S)
This course is delivered by instructors affiliated with Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, and partner organizations. Instructors bring expertise in working with Indigenous communities, land-based knowledge, Indigenous data sovereignty, and geospatial technologies, combining academic research with practical experience in environmental stewardship, community engagement, and applied geospatial projects in collaboration with northern and Indigenous communities and organizations across Canada. This cohort’s instructor is Dr. Sam Darling.
Sam has over 15 years of experience living and working in northern Canada, with a PhD from the Natural Resource Science dept at McGill and a Masters of Geography from University of Ottawa. She is particularly interested in helping geomatics practitioners reexamine their approaches to research and community interactions towards respectful engagement and critical approaches.
FEES & REGISTRATION
Regular: C$750 + Tax
Student pricing (open to all institutions): C$250 + Tax (limited spots)
Registration Link (click to the left to register)
Deadline: November 27, 2026
Contact: Ashraf Elshorbagy (ashraf.elshorbagy@carleton.ca)
WHY THIS COURSE?
- Designed specifically for geospatial professionals
- Grounded in Canadian Indigenous contexts
- Practical and professionally relevant
- Supports ethical and respectful engagement
Benefit from expert advice on REB submissions and community engagement strategies, helping ensure your research projects are well-designed, ethically compliant, and positioned for success.