#WhyIMap: Growth within the Indigenous Mapping Workshop
Before Merindah Bairnsfather-Scott was a GIS analyst at Winyama and began working for Winyama prior to the Indigenous Mapping Workshop (IMW) in 2019. However, Merindah’s experience with Indigenous mapping started long before the IMW Australia existed.
We sat down with Merindah to discuss her Indigenous mapping journey and understand how her input within the Indigenous Mapping Workshop has evolved over the past year.
How did you first hear about IMW?
I first heard about the Indigenous Mapping Workshop when I was working on the Gnarla Boodja Mili Mili project within the Western Australian Government. This was a project that mapped Aboriginal place names throughout the Perth metropolitan area.
The IT team that was working on this project at the time subcontracted Winyama, that is how I was introduced to both Andrew Dowding, Winyama’s Managing Director, and the Indigenous Mapping Workshop. I asked Andrew how I could attend and he sent me the application form.
What was your personal experience at IMW?
After initially meeting Andrew, I applied to attend the 2019 Indigenous Mapping Workshop as an attendee. Whilst the application process was underway, I was offered a full-time job with Winyama as a GIS analyst. From there, my involvement within the workshop began to grow. Throughout the workshop I mostly participated in the Google sessions, which was great as I didn’t have much knowledge in the Google mapping suite.
Coming from a government background, I had much more experience working with Esri products such as ArcGIS and ArcGIS Pro.
Throughout the three-day workshop, I was lucky enough to assist in ArcGIS Pro sessions, and even undertook the role of trainer for a session on Story Maps, which is an Esri application.
How has your involvement with IMW changed?
My involvement with the IMW has progressed a lot in the last year as I am now working on the curriculum development for the 2020 workshop in Melbourne. I am in a great position to help shape what the curriculum should look like as I come from a non-technical mapping background and am predominantly self-taught. I understand what it’s like to be an entry-level Aboriginal participant because I have been there, I’ve been that person. However, I also understand what is involved and what the benefits are for an Intermediate participant. This is really where I believe the IMW is at right now. We have a strong entry-level and intermediate participation, but we are still working towards building up an advanced capability among participants.
During the workshop this year, I would like to train some of the beginner Esri sessions and assist with some others. I would also like to participate and learn more in the remote sensing sessions and expand my skill set through attending some of the earth observations sessions as well.
Do you have a similar story to Merindah? Or would you like to know more about how you can get involved in the Indigenous Mapping Workshop?
Check out IMW Australia - On Demand and send in your application to access our online learning platform.