Native Land Digital is a Canadian not-for-profit organization, incorporated in December 2018. Native Land Digital is Indigenous-led, with an Indigenous Executive Director and Board of Directors who oversee and direct the organization. Numerous non-Indigenous people also contribute as members of our Advisory Council. The Board of Directors govern finances, set priorities, and appoint staff members as required. Native Land was created in 2015 by Victor Temprano, a settler hailing from Okanagan territory. You can learn more about us on the About section of our website at https://native-land.ca/about/.

Industry

Technology, Information and Internet

Company size

2-10 employees

Headquarters

Vancouver, British Columbia

Type

Nonprofit

Founded

2018

• 1,063 followers

  1mo

  Mānawatia a Matariki! (Happy Matariki) Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades. It rises in midwinter and for many Māori, it heralds the start of a new year. Iwi (tribes) across New Zealand understand and celebrate Matariki in different ways and at different times. According to Māori tradition, the god of the wind, Tāwhirimātea, was so angry when his siblings separated their parents, Ranginui the sky father and Papatūānuku the earth mother, that he tore out his eyes and threw them into the sky. Matariki is an abbreviation of ‘Ngā Mata o te Ariki Tāwhirimātea (‘The eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea’). In New Zealand it comes into view low on the north-eastern horizon, in the tail of the Milky Way, just before dawn in midwinter. Leading Tuhoe Astronomer Dr Rangi Matamua extensively researches our ancestral knowledge of the skies, and many of us are so grateful for his work. You can find his books, talks and research online. According to his tupuna (ancestors) the 9 stars of the constellation are named: Matariki: the star that signifies well-being, reflection, hope and the gathering of people; considered to be a female star which is the guardian of the other stars in the cluster. The name Matariki denotes both this individual star and the whole cluster. Waitī: the star linked with fresh water and food that comes from fresh water. Waitā: the star linked with the ocean and food that comes from it. Tupuānuku: the star linked with food that grows in the ground. Tupuārangi: the star linked with food that comes from the skies: fruits, berries, and birds. Waipunarangi: the star linked with the rain. Ururangi: the star that determines the winds for the year. Pōhutukawa: the star associated with those who have died. Hiwa-i-te-rangi: the star associated with dreams and aspirations for the coming year. Matariki is a time to honour those who have passed, acknowledge the natural world with gratitude and plan for the following seasons. To celebrate this years Matariki Native Land Digital is releasing our 1st edition publication 'Relative' honouring our lands & waters. You can access the digital version from 4pm (NZ time) 12am (US) today in our Patreon shop below. https://lnkd.in/em3tmjAY Nga mihi, Native Land Digital whanau (Image: constellations courtesy Space Place)

• 1,063 followers

  1mo

  Kia ora koutou, exciting news - the 1st issue of our Native Land Digital zine 'Relative' will be published on 10th July (Matariki) in Aotearoa! This issue invited global Indigenous writers, poets, artists and creative makers to submit mahi sharing their relationships with land and waters. We received such beautiful work, and it has taken us a full cycle of seasons to gather, immerse and prepare this edition with aroha. It has been an honour and joy working with these pieces, and collectively bringing them all together. The digital version will be released on our Patreon 10th July (Aotearoa New Zealand time). We will also have a print copy available to purchase in our new shop coming very soon. Sales from the zine are split evenly with the artist collective. Native Land Digital's percentage will go to creating the next edition. Please share this with your networks. If you have ever wondered how you can support our work - this is the perfect opportunity. Ātaahua cover photograph by Ti Eversole: Ti Eversole (Chishi Diné) is a storyteller, photographer, and outdoor brand strategist based in Durango, Colorado. When she’s not rafting through the stunning canyons of the Southwest, you’ll find her wandering in the mountains and desert year-round with her two pubbies in tow. Follow along on Instagram at @run.wander.ride. Check out our Native Land Digital instagram for more previews - Nga mihi nui, Native Land Digital whanau 🍃

• 1,063 followers

  4mo

  Kia ora (hi, be-well, thank you)! We've been thinking - how NLD platform can encourage building relationship to land and waters through Indigenous languages. The most obvious way to change perspective is to change the way we talk about our land & waters. We can all shift the language balance from 'ownership, resource, natural resource, land-use, land-control, land-management, value-per-acre'. To a language of care - personal and environmental. 1. Learn the Indigenous language to greet and thank the land and waters where you live. 2. Build the greeting into your daily morning and evening routines. This simple relationship building activity will be beneficial to you in more ways than you know, note the changes in your - Te Reo (Māori language): Tinana (body, or trunk of a tree..) Hinengaro (mind, thought, consciousness, awareness..) Wairua (spirit, soul, nature, essence, quintessence, atmosphere..) As peoples together lets re-balance with Te Taiao - the natural world 🍃 Nga mihi (thank you)

• 1,063 followers

  4mo

  Kia ora! Today we are sharing the next updates on the Native Land Digital platform. Now when you visit the website you will notice we have removed the visualisation of territory boundaries and borders. This is because territorial boundaries are used to divide, control, and obscure the deeper relationships Indigenous peoples hold with land and waters. Image 1: You can still search your address to find local tribal nations. Image 2: When you click on the nations name, it will take you to their page. a) Here tribal nations will see the most exciting change to the NLD platform so far - nations are now able to govern their pages. (We are currently working to notify all mapped nations of this new function). b) At the bottom of the page there is also a contribution and fixes section this is for map users to notify us if there are broken links on the page. Image 3: The classic map now prioritises language, this changes how users learn from the map. Centering Indigenous language allows us to engage with ecological biomes, and shifts the map from a tool of identification toward a tool of relationship. By acknowledging Indigenous local languages we create an entry point to deeper questions such as: What does this language hold about this place? What relationships and responsibilities are embedded within it? You can read more about our updates here https://lnkd.in/erdeSG-6. We hope you enjoy exploring these new changes and our new maps. Nga mihi! NLD team

• 1,063 followers

  6mo

  Kia ora koutou, We would like to share an update on our current research and governance work. In alignment with our Indigenous Data Sovereignty Treaty, we are now directly emailing all mapped Nations to seek permission and open lines of communication. We have completed outreach across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, and have begun connecting with tribal Nations in so-called Canada, where NLD is based. This is a significant undertaking, but it is essential. Building relationships directly with Nations is the only appropriate pathway forward for ethical Indigenous-led mapping. To support this mahi (work), we have transitioned community discussions to Discord, creating a dedicated space for kōrero (conversations) about mapping methodology, regional representation, and areas yet to be mapped. We have also cleared a substantial research backlog responding to over 1,100 emails in recent months. This work is currently supported by two team members working casual hours. We look forward to welcoming an Aotearoa-based Indigenous creative to strengthen our communications and social engagement. As Indigenous peoples, we understand what it means to live as tribal Nations in a contemporary digital world. There is a clear distinction between non-Indigenous expectations of how “territories” should be represented, and Indigenous understandings of lands and waters as relational, living systems. Our work continues to navigate that space with care. We are also deeply grateful to the artists who contributed mahitoi (artworks) to our NLD zine. Spending time with these works has been sustaining for our team. In the coming months, we look forward to sharing their work with our wider community. With appreciation and solidarity, NLD whānau 🌿

• 1,063 followers

  7mo

  Mōrena koutou, today we're sharing our 2026 Annual Report - the past year has been one of large and quiet achievements. It reminds us of the Whakatauki (Māori proverb) 'Kāore te kumara e kōrero mō tōna ake reka' translation 'the kumara (sweet potato) does not speak of its own sweetness'. Meaning: be humble and modest, your good qualities should be evident through your actions, not your words .. Kia pai te rā! (have a great day) Native Land Digital acknowledges the Indigenous homelands, waters, and spiritual beings across the globe who uphold the knowledge, languages, genealogies, and responsibilities that guide our work. We honour the sovereignty of Indigenous peoples past, present, and emerging whose enduring relationships with land and water remain the foundation of our collective future. We recognise that Indigenous geographies are rivers, mountains, animals, ecosystems, and the many unseen beings. The maps we create reflect these living relationships a constellation of stories. This Annual Report is grounded in Indigenous data sovereignty and respect for the many nations present on our maps.

• Native Land Digital reposted this

  8mo Edited

  During my time working at Greenpeace , under the amazing leadership of Ebony Twilley Martin , I learned to use a powerful tool called Native Land Digital We practiced going beyond answering “Where are you based?” with just a city or state. Instead, we ALSO named the Indigenous lands we are living on now, grounding ourselves in deeper historical and cultural context. As well as connecting us always to the deeper protection of our Earth and its original protectors. The tool shows that there were never strict borders, but closely Connected communities and shared resources. That practice stayed with me. There is real power in naming things. Naming places, naming histories, naming truths that were intentionally erased or overlooked. When we name, we acknowledge. When we acknowledge, we create space for accountability, respect, and more honest relationships with place and people. It reminds me of #ToniMorrison, who spoke often about language as an act of power. She taught us that naming is not neutral. To name something is to give it visibility, meaning, and dignity. To leave it unnamed is often a form of control. Tools like Native Land are not just educational. They are acts of remembrance. And remembrance, when practiced collectively, can quietly reshape how we move through the world. https://native-land.ca/ #EnvironmentalJustice #SocialImpact #SystemsChange #PeaceBuilding

  We're glad you're here. native-land.ca

• 1,063 followers

  7mo

  Question: Do you know what the longest place name in the world is? Kia ora koutou, hari tou hou! Happy 2026! Thank you for all your support and the wonderful feedback we've received regarding our new Constellations map! Have you seen our new Indigenous place names map? (https://lnkd.in/eBgAwNu9). It's so beautiful to see all those sounds starting to flow across the lands & waters. I think we're going to need to add some sound bites so you can hear them too! If you want to add your place names head over to our Discord, click on the #mapping channel - all we need is the name & location. Answer: It's here in Aotearoa NZ.. Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu! https://lnkd.in/ejfy_A-M if you want to learn more about the name, history, tupuna (ancestor) and how to pronounce it! Hei konā mai! (bye for now)

• Native Land Digital reposted this

  7mo Edited

  What will education look like in 30 years? The technologies we use today will shape how future generations understand the world—whether through primary-source narratives, data visualizations, artificial intelligence, or tools not yet imagined. One thing we know to be true: to earn attention, stories must be authentic—and they must be beautiful—if they are to be memorable and impactful. We are deeply grateful to our partners who help champion this vision. This year, together, we created seven new immersive reality narratives, piloted standards-aligned curriculum in five states, and presented two gallery exhibitions. Whether experienced on VR headsets, through WebXR, on mobile devices, or in screen-free exhibition spaces, at OurWorlds, Inc. we believe education is all around us. As we continue exploring how to connect knowledge systems, communities, and technology, we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone walking this path with us. In addition to continuing to build new partnerships, this year we received our patent 12/364,161: "XR360º Extended Reality System and Tool Suite," as well as our B Corp certification from B Lab. What we build together will help guide today’s students as they become the next generation of citizens and leaders. We are committed to creating a company that preserves these precious, vital contributions from our communities for the future. Best wishes for a 2026 filled with clarity and courage. Shoutout to our amazing supporters, collaborators, and partners - we would not be here without you: Agog, Media Arts Center San Diego, NewSchools, UC San Diego Design Lab, Getty, Birch Aquarium at Scripps, e3 Civic High, Bayfront Charter High School, The National WWII Museum, Choctaw Cultural Center, Codefy, The Ohio State University, Arizona State University, ASU+GSV Summit, Native Land Digital, Creative Visions, SXSW, SXSW EDU, San Diego County Engineering Council, Qualcomm Institute - UC San Diego Division of Calit2, Apple, New Mexico Public Education Department Projects & credits in order of appearance: Cannupa Hanska Luger, "G.H.O.S.T. Rider, Behind the Scenes" Jericho zornes, "Descending Manoomin" Shaandiin Tome, XR Documentary Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, "Choctaw Code Talkers 1918" #LearnKumeyaay, Birch Aquarium at Scripps