Renee Louis, Department of Geography - Cartography Program, University of Hawai‘i, 2424 Maile Way #445, Honolulu, HI 96822. E-mail: reneel@hawaii.edu. The Indigenous Hawaiian Cartographer.

Maps have been criticized as weapons made for and used by the dominant culture to continue subjugating ‘other’ cultures that are not as technologically capable. In the wake of such criticism, what is the plight of the modern cartographer … when the foundation of the discipline is shaken and accused of cultural assimilative-ness? Furthermore, how does an indigenous cartographer deal with the internal battle between ‘drawing the line’ that defines who we are, and ‘walking the line’ between indigenous knowledge and scientific logic?

For some the term, indigenous cartographer, can be problematic. Linda Tuhiwai Smith states that in "positioning [her] self as an indigenous woman, [she] is claiming a genealogical, cultural and political set of experiences" (Smith, 1999, 12) Thus, to place myself as an indigenous Hawaiian cartographer means I am capable of drawing upon a vast amount of knowledge from both my training as a cartographer and my understandings of Hawaiian cultural traditions.

But what if those belief systems clash or pull in opposite directions? Welcome to the margin, the line drawn and walked by the indigenous researcher. Hooks sees this area as "margin of radical openness". (Hooks, 1990, 149) It is within these spaces that indigenous researchers, academics, and cartographers are born. 3 projects will be presented that bring both indigenous knowledge and scientific technology together in this "margin of radical openness".

Keyword: indigenous, cartography, margin