The Wide World of Indigenous Geographies

A CFP in collaboration between NiCHE and the Geographic Indigenous Futures Collaboratory

 Series Editor: Niiyokamigaabaw Deondre Smiles, deondre.smiles@ubc.ca

Submissions Accepted on Rolling Basis

Indigenous geographies can be understood as the ways that Indigenous communities engage with core principles of Geography—space, place, and environment—and the relationships among them. Indigenous geographies also extend beyond academic study: they are lived and embodied, shaping how communities and individuals move through the world, how they are shaped by their environments, and how they shape environments in turn.

There has been growing interest in Indigenous topics within Geography and Environmental Studies in recent years. Through this collaborative series, NiCHE and the Geographic Indigenous Futures Collaboratory seek to provide an outlet for short pieces that highlight the vibrant diversity and resurgence found within Indigenous relationships to space and place.

What we’re looking for

We invite short articles, blog posts, and creative works that highlight, showcase, and uplift Indigenous relationships with environment, place, and space across a wide range of contexts. A focus on Indigenous communities/nations in Canada (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) and the United States (Native American, Alaska Native, and Kanaka Maoli) is encouraged, but submissions engaging Indigenous geographies from international, non–North American perspectives will also be considered.

Pieces will be published on the NiCHE website and should be written for a broad audience of scholars, students, educators, and community readers. We welcome accessible writing and storytelling alongside scholarly approaches.

How to submit

• Email submissions as a .docx attachment or Google Doc link to: deondre.smiles@ubc.ca
• Include a 2–3 sentence bio and affiliations/community connections (as you wish to share)
• Include image credits/captions and permissions as needed
• Simultaneous submissions are permitted
• We welcome pieces in English, French, and Indigenous languages (translations are welcome but not required)

Length and format

• Blog posts: 500–1,000 words
• Short articles: 1,000–3,000 words
  All submissions will be reviewed by the series editor for clarity and fit with the series theme.
• Creative works may include photo essays, maps, visual art, poetry, short audio, or mixed media. Please include a short creator’s note (100–200 words) and any necessary permissions for images or community-held materials. (If submitting audio or image-based work, please note file format and approximate length/number of images.)

Ethics and permissions
If your submission includes interviews, direct quotes, or community-held knowledge that is not already public, please describe how consent and community approval were obtained (e.g., community partner confirmation, written consent, or REB/IRB approval where applicable). We encourage authors to follow Indigenous data governance and research ethics best practices appropriate to their context (e.g., OCAP in First Nations contexts where relevant; CARE principles).

Review timeline
Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis, and review will also occur on a rolling basis. We aim to provide editorial decisions within approximately two weeks of submission. Pieces will be copyedited; author approval of all edits will be sought.

Contact
Questions about the series or submission fit can be sent to Niiyokamigaabaw Deondre Smiles at deondre.smiles@ubc.ca.

Feature Image: “Thirteen Moons” by Alex Janvier. “Thirteen Moons (360º Photo)” by AkaashMaharaj is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.