GRI's GEO Project Expands Tribal GIS Training Partnership with In-Person Workshop in New Mexico

September 28, 2026

The GEO Project reached an exciting milestone recently with its first in-person training for Tribal participants outside the state of Mississippi.

Offered in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Branch of Geospatial Support, the two-day workshop was held at the National Indian Programs Training Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Eighteen participants representing Tribes from across the Southwest and Alaska attended the training, bringing a wide range of professional perspectives in areas such as water resources, environmental programs, archaeology, GIS analysis, transportation, and planning.

Designed for GIS professionals seeking to strengthen practical geospatial skills, the workshop provided participants with a solid foundation in geospatial technology using Esri ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online. Through hands-on instruction, participants built skills for creating, managing, analyzing, and sharing geospatial data that can support the diverse needs of their communities and organizations. Training instructors Dr. Claire Babineaux and Dr. Joby Czarnecki were joined by GEO Project Director Dr. John Cartwright and GRI Training & External Facilitator Dixie Cartwright in traveling to Albuquerque to deliver and facilitate the workshop.

"I am always grateful for the opportunity to be part of these trainings—to share what I have learned, but also to learn from the participants," Babineaux said. "Getting to know them and hearing how GIS supports the work, communities, and cultures that matter so much to them is one of the most rewarding parts of these experiences."

The in-person format created new opportunities for conversation, collaboration, and one-on-one interaction, allowing the GEO Project team to better understand how participants are applying geospatial technology in their work.

"It is exciting to see how our partnership with BIA continues to evolve and grow through these new in-person trainings," said Dixie Cartwright. "Since the project began in 2023, our trainings have been offered online. This new phase gives us the opportunity to meet people where they are, interact with them one-on-one, and hear firsthand how GIS is making an impact in their work and communities."

The Albuquerque workshop represents an important step forward for the GEO Project and its partnership with BIA—and the team hopes it is the first of many opportunities to bring hands-on geospatial training directly to Tribal professionals. Another in-person training is already scheduled for October in San Diego, California, continuing the project's efforts to expand access to practical GIS education and build lasting connections with Tribal communities.