Google is inviting indigenous people across the world to take time today to add local geographic and commercial features to its online maps. The company, in partnership with the National Congress of American Indians, is making today its first-ever Indigenous Mapping Day. Many U.S. tribal communities lack accurate mapping of roads, buildings and other services available to tribal members or the general public, said Sarah Beccio, a spokeswoman for the National Congress of American Indians. “Basically, you can improve driving directions, enhance public safety or put tribal businesses on the map,” she said. “Also, you can identify areas that maybe shouldn’t be on a map; for instance, a store in the wrong place.” Edits to Google maps can be made anytime, but Google chose today in honor of the U.N. International Day of the World’s Indigenous People.Get the Story:
Dalton Walker: Google asks tribes to map their lands (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 8/9)
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