Today Indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and Aotearoa people in New Zealand have been put on the map – forever.
Apple has taken the significant step to represent Indigenous heritage and culture with a major update to Apple Maps. By collaborating with Indigenous advisors, cartographers, Traditional Owners, and community members, Apple Maps now highlights Indigenous Protected Areas, place names, Traditional Country, and dual-language labels. This initiative not only enhances user experience but also acknowledges and honours Indigenous history.
The new Indigenous lands place cards (see below) provide detailed insights about the local area and Traditional Owners. These cards can be customised by communities, allowing them to add their own photos, notable destinations, and even text in their native language. This feature ensures that Apple Maps users gain a richer understanding of the history and significance behind these locations.
Before the official announcement yesterday, Women Love Tech was invited to an Apple press meeting where the team who worked on the project shared how they hope this is just the beginning, and said they want to encourage indigenous communities to use what’s been created to share their rich heritage with the world. This can include rich cultural knowledge and traditions and even local attractions, who knows maybe even local recipes one day?
One poignant example of this initiative’s impact is how young students from Mamadawerre School in the Northern Territory were given IPads so they could record their own stories and share more about their school and surroundings. As one Apple representative said: “That was one cool school project they won’t forget.”
Australia’s Indigenous Languages Represented
In Australia, Apple worked with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) to integrate language data with insights from local language holders, language centres, Aboriginal Land Trusts, and ranger groups. This update ensures that Indigenous languages and land names are accurately represented in Apple Maps.
Rodriguez Pindiying, a community member from Mamadawerre, shared the profound impact of this update: “Sharing our story and deep connection to the land is a meaningful moment for our community — a testament to our resilience, history, and vision for the future. This isn’t just about geography; it’s about preserving our culture and ensuring Mamadawerre’s legacy for generations. Through Apple, we have the rare privilege of sharing our heritage on a global stage, reminding the world that no matter how distant we may seem, our connection to the land, to each other, and to the world is universal.”
In New Zealand, Apple partnered with Indigenous cartographers and iwi (Māori tribes) to develop place cards and map icons, including one for marae — a significant meeting place and cultural hub for Māori communities.
Annie Balle from Tūhourangi iwi expressed the importance of this collaboration: “For Tūhourangi, this partnership with Apple Maps is more than just a technological collaboration — it reflects our role as kaitiaki (caretakers), ensuring the protection and accurate representation of our cultural heritage. By bringing our stories to a global audience, we can uphold our narratives, safeguard our data sovereignty, and demonstrate how Indigenous knowledge and technology can work together to promote cultural understanding and sustainability.”
A Seamless Integration Across Apple’s Ecosystem
Apple Maps plays a vital role in various Apple services, including Weather, Apple Car Play, Find My, and supports third-party apps via MapKit. With this update, Indigenous lands and their cultural significance will be visible across multiple digital platforms, ensuring a broader audience can engage with and appreciate these rich histories.
Tech for Good: Empowering Indigenous Communities
This move is not only a tech advancement but is also a cultural milestone, promoting cultural preservation and education by acknowledging these lands. It shows how technology can bridge gaps and foster understanding. On a practical level, it provides accurate geographical representations but also serves as a digital canvas showcasing the rich heritage and stories of the Indigenous peoples.
In a partnership with the Karrkad Kanjdji Trust (KKT) in the Northern Territory, Apple is supporting Indigenous women’s ranger programs, providing employment and leadership opportunities in remote communities. These programs blend traditional practices with modern scientific methods, reinforcing environmental regeneration efforts and combating climate change.
“At Karrkad Kanjdji Trust, we know that caring for Country is a deeply interconnected practice — one that brings together people, culture, knowledge, and landscapes,” said Stacey Irving, KKT’s CEO. “This work is powerful because it weaves together First Nations leadership, traditional knowledge, science, technology, and community, creating a holistic approach to sustaining both people and place.”
Expanding Horizons: An Invitation for Greater Involvement
Apple’s initiative is just the beginning. The company is inviting Indigenous communities to get more involved, offering them a platform to share their stories, heritage, and knowledge with a global audience. By integrating Indigenous lands into Apple Maps, the initiative paves the way for future developments, where technology and tradition can coexist harmoniously.
The impact of this initiative could be profound. As more Indigenous communities become engaged, the representation of their lands on digital platforms can lead to greater awareness and appreciation of their culture. This approach has the potential to foster a deeper connection between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, promoting mutual respect and understanding.
A Proven Track Record: Benefits in America and Canada
Apple’s commitment to Indigenous representation is not new. Similar initiatives in America and Canada have yielded significant benefits for Indigenous communities. In these regions, the mapping of Indigenous lands has facilitated cultural preservation, education, and environmental stewardship.
For instance, in Canada, Apple’s collaboration with Indigenous cartographers has helped preserve Indigenous languages and traditions through detailed place cards and map icons. In the United States, partnerships with Indigenous communities have led to the creation of digital resources that support cultural and environmental initiatives.
As Apple continues to expand this initiative, the positive ripple effects are expected to grow, offering a model for how technology can be harnessed to support and uplift Indigenous cultures worldwide.
Apple Grants for A/NZ Indigenous Communities
Today, Apple also unveiled new community grants for local partners, and expanding the Apple Foundation Program to help students pursue careers in the growing iOS app economy.
Across Australia, grants from Apple also support:
— Worawa Aboriginal College, a boarding school in Victoria for young Aboriginal women who come from communities in urban, regional, and remote Australia. Apple is working with Elder in Residence Dr Lois Peeler AM and artist Dr Baden Pailthorpe to use iPad to deepen the students’ creativity as they preserve the school’s story and heritage.
— The Djamu Youth Justice Program, an initiative from the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Apple’s funding supports Indigenous young people in the justice system, creating meaningful connections to art and culture, and providing opportunities to learn about vocational pathways in the arts.
— ID. Know Yourself (IDKY), a not-for-profit organisation that supports Aboriginal children and families impacted by the out-of-home care, child protection, and justice system within Gadigal Country, Sydney, Australia. Through its partnership with Apple, IDKY is making technology accessible for the community, advancing skills development, and unlocking creativity.
— Common Ground, an organisation that’s using iPad to advance the storytelling capability of First Nations people to strengthen cultures, languages, and traditions.
In New Zealand, grants from Apple support:
— Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, a Māori iwi based in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), and partners in the Revive Our Gulf project. The project helps restore the mussel reefs of the Hauraki Gulf, improve water quality, stabilise the seafloor, and restore biodiversity.
— Te Karanga, an organisation that supports young people excluded from mainstream education, and its Creative Pathways program. The program focuses on career exploration, entrepreneurship, and creativity for young people from the Māori and Pasifika communities.
— Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, a Māori iwi from the North Island, and its seaweed hatchery and carbon sequestration research project.
