California Indian Museum and Cultural Center

California Indian Museum and Cultural Center staff members and youth from the center’s Native Youth in Action Service Learning Program will create datasets for California Indigenous, an interactive Geographic Information System (GIS)-based map exhibit designed to enhance K-12 instruction on California Indian history and cultures under existing curriculum standards. The grant will support a GIS consultant to train Native youth on GIS procedures to produce datasets for exhibition maps and consolidate datasets into a complete exhibit database; fund two week-long GIS Tribal Ambassador summer camps where Native GIS professionals and cultural center staff members will provide information about GIS careers and potential educational training opportunities to pursue those careers; and support a STEM college/career fair at the cultural center to present STEM educational opportunities to Native youth. The project will spark Native youth interest in STEM education and careers and build their digital media technology skills while increasing the cultural center’s GIS capacity.