Do geospatial ontologies perpetuate Indigenous assimilation?

Abstract

Research on geospatial ontologies focuses on achieving interoperability by creating universal standards applied to data. We argue that universality through ontologies can potentially perpetuate homogenization of concepts, thus contributing to assimilation of Indigenous peoples. We cover the ways the conventional geospatial ontologies enable dichotomies between mental and physical concepts, reduce concepts during the classification process, attribute agency, and privilege ontological class over relationships. We further argue that the geospatial web and natural language processing should be inclusive of Indigenous people to ensure future access to geospatial technologies and to prevent further loss of Indigenous knowledge. We explore alternative approaches to universality such as hermeneutics and heuristics. These offer the potential for Indigenous geospatial ontologies considered as equal, instead of being reduced to fit within western concepts.

Understanding power positions in a new digital landscape: perceptions of Syrian refugees and data experts on relocation algorithm

“…Recent studies about the modelling of spatial choice focused on the increased complexity of these modelling tasks, which makes them more difficult to conduct. Several issues have been highlighted in relation to spatial data solutions, like creating universality through homogenisation of concepts and geospatial standards applied to data (Reid & Sieber, 2019), which lead to the assimilation of minorities. Similar to historical geo-spatial instruments (Kidd, 2019), like highlighting potential sites of minerals, algorithms as calculative devices have been used for expressing control across territories and over minority populations.…”

Extreme citizen science: Lessons learned from initiatives around the globe

“…The design and implementation of ECS with local and indigenous communities in some of the most remote areas of our planet comes with a set of challenges. Although the adoption of general citizen science initiatives is gaining momentum at a global scale (Mills et al, 2019), they are not necessarily immune from reinforcing prejudices against local people (Reid & Sieber, 2020). Therefore, it is fundamental to carefully consider the complex mix of methods and localized knowledge needed to deeply engage local communities in ECS projects equitably and successfully.…”

Bridging the geospatial gap: Data about space and indigenous knowledge of place

“…In a study of using GIS to map high-fertility soils at pre-colonial Amazonian settlement sites, WinklerPrins and Aldrich ( 2010) recognize the potential for applications of this data to lead to damage at archaeological sites and land use intensification. More recently, Reid and Sieber (2019) show how geospatial ontology engineering tended to promote stereotypical and homogenizing views of Indigenous knowledge.…”

“…Sieber and co‐authors have explored the extent to which geospatial ontologies can include and exclude Indigenous ways of knowing. In the case of the Cree Nation of Wemindji, geospatial ontologies provide a platform for recording and preserving Indigenous language and concepts as well as for homogenization of Indigenous language and assimilation of Indigenous peoples (Reid & Sieber, 2019; Sieber & Wellen, 2011; Wellen & Sieber, 2013). Underneath the challenges of ontological engineering for Indigenous knowledge lie more fundamental ontological differences (in the former, philosophical sense).…”