Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDS) is the right of Indigenous communities to control data about their land, people, and resources and determine who can access and apply this data. In a world where information is one of the most valuable resources, IDS is essential to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities pursuing self-determination and governance. If Indigenous data sovereignty is the goal, then a strong data strategy is the path to achieving it.

From September 30th to October 4th, the Winyama team—Joel D’Antoine, Grady Toomath, and Kass Boladeras—embarked on a mission in the Northern Territory, starting with a meeting in Darwin with Nina Westenraad. Their goal: to empower Indigenous communities by ensuring they control how their lands and cultural heritage are represented.

In Barrapunta (Emu Spring), the team conducted training to equip local rangers with skills in advanced mapping software, essential for managing their landscapes and addressing feral species. As the rangers learned to create maps reflecting their deep knowledge of the land, they reclaimed their narratives and strengthened their roles as environmental stewards. Through this initiative, Winyama aims to empower Indigenous communities to advocate for their rights and shape their futures with confidence.

Dive into River Bali’s experience as a Winyama GIS intern! From drone mapping to Geographic Informations Systems (GIS), River’s path is filled with hands-on learning and real-world impact. Discover how his internship journey is shaping his career and empowering Indigenous communities through cultural mapping projects.

Over 100 learners from across Australia gathered at Curtin University for our fourth National Indigenous Mapping Workshop (IMW).

We sat down with our IT Consultant and Chef Drone Pilot, Grady, to dig deeper into his journey of mapping, his dedication and passion for sharing knowledge, and becoming one of Winyama’s Chief Drone Pilots. Grady also reflects on how the Indigenous Mapping Workshop Australia is a place where Mob can learn to collect, host, visualise, share, and manage their data in the digital age and participate in the digital economy.

We sat down with our lead Cloud Consultant, Kat, to explore her unexpected path into mapping, her exciting career journey, the inspirations that keep her passionate about mapping and her adventure to Winyama!

We're excited to announce our new service, the ‘Ngurra Portal’. This custom mapping service transforms access to native title data, simplifying complex information into user-friendly visualisations for our clients. By doing so, our clients can effortlessly view the locations of Indigenous land use agreements, the specifics of native title claims and resources on who to engage with regarding the location.

Inspired by this year’s National Reconciliation Week theme, Now More Than Ever, and the recent testimony during the Land, Sky and Waters Hearings by the Yoorook Justice Commission we explore the role maps have played in dispossessing Australia’s Indigenous peoples and how they can be used to reconcile with those truths.

Winyama announces a strategic partnership with ASAC Consultancy to revolutionise the delivery of medical care in remote and regional Australia.

Amos is a Balanggarra man but grew up living in Kalgoorlie and Albany, before relocating to Perth in 2020 to pursue his Bachelor's degree in Conservation Biology at the University of Western Australia.

Before starting his internship as a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Intern, specialising in Drones at Winyama, Amos came to us by participating in the 2023 National Indigenous Mapping Workshop in Melbourne.

With how AI is able to analyse data, particularly large amounts of data, important questions to consider are, how does AI play a role in cultural sensitivity and content diversity? What role could AI play in eliminating human bias from data? And how can we ensure that the impact AI plays in culturally sensitive data will be positive?

Despite the representation of Indigenous people within the tech industry being slim around the globe, we are here to challenge the status quo by highlighting influential Indigenous women paving their paths within the world of technology.

We sat down and spoke with three inspiring women, with vastly different backgrounds, all of these women are making waves within the tech industry with their unique inspirational stories.

One thing they have in common is that they are making a definitive impact and a source of inspiration for every Indigenous, or non-Indigenous, woman.

Navigating the unfamiliar territory of buying a drone for the first time? Check out our comprehensive guide of things you’ll want to consider before you purchase.

Cultural mapping encapsulates the process of documenting and representing the cultural resources and assets of a particular person, community or area. Cultural mapping goes beyond documentation, exploring elements such as landmarks, traditions, advocacy tools and truth telling. Winyama has a commitment to environmental preservation. We actively engage in planning and revisiting traditional cultural mapping techniques, seeking innovative ways to integrate them into new technologies. By harnessing the power of established methods and adapting them to contemporary challenges, we aim to create sustainable solutions that contribute to the preservation of our culture and environment for future generations.

Indigenous representation in the technology sector is few and far between. Realising this, Associate Professor, Marnee Shay and Quandamooka postdoctoral fellow, Ren Perkins from the University of Queensland launched a podcast series named “The Big Mob, STEM it up” which platforms Indigenous voices in STEM. Listen to episode 12, which features Winyama’s Managing Director, Andrew Dowding.

Winyama and Curtin University announce partnership at MoU signing held at Curtin’s Bentley campus.

Over the last few months our staff at Winyama have been very busy with a successful few months attending an array of events across Australia. Our staff have travelled to the Northern Territory, Queensland and even across our own backyard here in Western Australia.

In Australia’s thriving tech sector, a significant gap in representation persists. While an increasing number of the general population are entering the world of tech, only 1402 Indigenous professionals reported working in the space in the 2021 census.

The Voice referendum is swiftly approaching, and your participation on October 14th is crucial. In this era of extensive online information and conflicting messages, you might be experiencing a sense of overwhelm and confusion. Our aim isn’t to influence your decision in any direction, but rather to bring clarity to the essence of the referendum, its potential outcome, and to offer you reliable resources for your independent decision making.

Earlier this month the Winyama team headed to Larrakia Country to train PULiiMA conference attendees how to use Google Earth Pro and Google My Maps for language preservation.