Alaska TTAP: BIA Geospatial Resources Webinar
The presentation will be on BIA Geospatial Resources for tribes by Martin Weiser, Regional Geospatial Coordinator – Alaska Region for the BIA.
Title: BIA Geospatial Resources and Products
Abstract: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) serves 229 federally recognized tribes in the Alaska Region. Within the BIA and Office of Trust Services, the Division of Resource Integration and Services (DRIS) provides geospatial resources and products that support tribes across Alaska. Through this program managed by the Branch of Geospatial Support (BOGS), tribes have access to geospatial software and licenses for Esri’s ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Enterprise, Maxar’s GEGD Pro (Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery Pro, and Avenza Maps Pro.
These tools support tribal self-governance by enabling the mapping of natural and culturally significant resources, fire breaks and fuel loads for community protection, and land and boundary information. Federally recognized tribes enter into an Enterprise License Agreement (ELA) with the BIA, after which software licenses can be distributed to an individual tribe and its users. Under the ELA, tribes also gain access to various geospatial training resources, including self-paced courses and a limited number of instructor-led classes offered on a space-available basis.
The agreement provides:
• ArcGIS core software and limited extensions
• Select Esri e-Learning courses and workshops
• Paid maintenance for existing products
• A limited number of Esri specialty products
• Discounts on additional Esri and third party software
• Technical support
The BIA’s ELA Program provides GIS training and software to employees of federally recognized Tribal Governments in support of Indian Self Determination. This does not include corporations or individuals contracted to do work for the Tribe. The software is only available to not-for-profit entities and only to direct employees of a tribal government. Participation in the ELA also includes requirements for data sharing in support of trust resource management.
Martin Weiser is a member of the Native Village of Minto and has been with the BIA since early 2025. He has been a GIS professional since 2017. Prior to joining the BIA, he worked in utility GIS and served as a GIS and Natural Resource Analyst for Doyon, Limited in the Lands Department. His professional background includes database development and management, as well as GIS systems architecture and deployment.
Please join us at https://alaska.zoom.us/j/87219425479?pwd=3aZ112XBbQJW4eFWBBUXEUNyn7fyN5.1 at 2 pm Alaska time (3pm PT) on February 19.