{"id":2961681,"date":"2026-04-01T11:00:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T18:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=2961681"},"modified":"2026-04-09T07:14:45","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T14:14:45","slug":"casting-communities-as-the-protagonist-of-your-geospatial-story","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/sharing-collaboration\/casting-communities-as-the-protagonist-of-your-geospatial-story","title":{"rendered":"Casting communities as the protagonist of your geospatial story"},"author":9422,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[22941,37511],"tags":[398132,43821,770882,27881],"industry":[],"product":[36611,380802],"class_list":["post-2961681","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mapping","category-sharing-collaboration","tag-arcgis-storymaps","tag-conservation","tag-storyscape","tag-storytelling","product-story-maps","product-arcgis-storymaps"],"acf":{"short_description":"Learn how Brian Hettler and the Amazon Conservation Team build trust and award-winning stories with participatory mapping.","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"quote","author_name":"Brian Hettler","author_profession_organization":"Director of Mapping, Amazon Conservation Team\u202f","image":{"ID":2961795,"id":2961795,"title":"act logo","filename":"act-logo.png","filesize":17197,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/act-logo.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/sharing-collaboration\/casting-communities-as-the-protagonist-of-your-geospatial-story\/act-logo","alt":"Amazon Conservation Team logo","author":"9422","description":"","caption":"","name":"act-logo","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2961681,"date":"2026-04-01 18:01:51","modified":"2026-04-01 18:02:05","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":200,"height":200,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/act-logo.png","thumbnail-width":200,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/act-logo.png","medium-width":200,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/act-logo.png","medium_large-width":200,"medium_large-height":200,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/act-logo.png","large-width":200,"large-height":200,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/act-logo.png","1536x1536-width":200,"1536x1536-height":200,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/act-logo.png","2048x2048-width":200,"2048x2048-height":200,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/act-logo.png","card_image-width":200,"card_image-height":200,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/act-logo.png","wide_image-width":200,"wide_image-height":200}},"text":"The Amazon Conservation Team, as an organization, really tries to highlight community voices. The communities are the protagonists. "},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2961796,"id":2961796,"title":"BrianHettler_Kogui","filename":"BrianHettler_Kogui-scaled.jpg","filesize":1298210,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/BrianHettler_Kogui-scaled.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/sharing-collaboration\/casting-communities-as-the-protagonist-of-your-geospatial-story\/brianhettler_kogui","alt":"Brian Hettler (left) builds maps in Colombia with local communities.","author":"9422","description":"","caption":"Brian Hettler (left) builds maps in Colombia with local communities.","name":"brianhettler_kogui","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2961681,"date":"2026-04-01 18:03:35","modified":"2026-04-09 14:14:40","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1983,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/BrianHettler_Kogui-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/BrianHettler_Kogui-scaled.jpg","medium-width":337,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/BrianHettler_Kogui-scaled.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":595,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/BrianHettler_Kogui-scaled.jpg","large-width":1394,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/BrianHettler_Kogui-1536x1190.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1190,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/BrianHettler_Kogui-2048x1586.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1586,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/BrianHettler_Kogui-600x465.jpg","card_image-width":600,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/BrianHettler_Kogui-1394x1080.jpg","wide_image-width":1394,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"right","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Brian Hettler,\u00a0Director of Mapping\u00a0for the Amazon Conservation Team (ACT), recognized early on the potential of using ArcGIS StoryMaps to communicate his organization\u2019s work\u2014and has since produced several\u00a0award-winning\u00a0stories that keep our storytelling community in awe, both in design and purpose.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The latest, a finalist in the 2025 ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition<\/a>, features the territorial areas of isolated Indigenous peoples in South America. Created in collaboration with the International Working Group on Indigenous Peoples in Isolation and Initial Contact (GTI-PIACI),\u00a0<\/span>A Fight for Survival<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0combines maps, images, and text to show where isolated peoples live, the\u202fgrowing\u202fthreats they face, and strategies for their protection.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Join the ArcGIS Storytelling team in conversation with Brian Hettler as he shares his approach to community-centered mapping.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2937432,"id":2937432,"title":"separator-opening-2025","filename":"separator-opening-2025.png","filesize":88738,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/announcements\/show-us-your-geospatial-storytelling-skills\/separator-opening-2025","alt":"Three hexbins in a horizontal row filled with Living Atlas map images","author":"9422","description":"","caption":"","name":"separator-opening-2025","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2922302,"date":"2025-08-27 09:04:35","modified":"2025-08-27 09:05:02","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1952,"height":237,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":56,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":93,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","large-width":1920,"large-height":233,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-1536x186.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":186,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","2048x2048-width":1952,"2048x2048-height":237,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-826x100.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":100,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-1920x233.png","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":233}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Brian, for readers new to your work and ACT, can you provide a little background?\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Sure.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

ACT<\/span><\/a>\u00a0partners with\u00a0Indigenous and other local communities to protect tropical forests and strengthen traditional culture.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For about 15 years now,\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0led\u00a0the organization\u2019s\u00a0participatory mapping initiatives across South America.\u00a0The mapping team and I\u00a0work closely\u00a0with\u00a0Indigenous communities to create cultural maps that record and preserve traditional knowledge\u00a0and support conservation efforts unique to each community and ecosystem.<\/p>\n

\n

My first experiences with \u201cstorytelling with maps\u201d really started with this participatory mapping work.<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Maps are<\/span>\u00a0a facilitation tool<\/span>, a conversation<\/span>\u00a0with local communities<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0Through maps, they tell their stories.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2937432,"id":2937432,"title":"separator-opening-2025","filename":"separator-opening-2025.png","filesize":88738,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/announcements\/show-us-your-geospatial-storytelling-skills\/separator-opening-2025","alt":"Three hexbins in a horizontal row filled with Living Atlas map images","author":"9422","description":"","caption":"","name":"separator-opening-2025","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2922302,"date":"2025-08-27 09:04:35","modified":"2025-08-27 09:05:02","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1952,"height":237,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":56,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":93,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","large-width":1920,"large-height":233,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-1536x186.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":186,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","2048x2048-width":1952,"2048x2048-height":237,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-826x100.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":100,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-1920x233.png","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":233}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

How does that approach apply to your latest story,\u00a0<\/span><\/b>A Fight for Survival<\/span><\/i><\/b>?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Over the past few years, we\u2019ve worked closely with GTI-PIACI<\/a>\u2014an international working group of 21 Indigenous organizations and non-government organizations from Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. These organizations support the recognition and protection of Isolated peoples and public policies that promote \u2018No Contact\u2019 protection strategies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mapping plays a critical role in this work<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2961805,"id":2961805,"title":"a fight for survival blog","filename":"a-fight-for-survival-blog.png","filesize":1047238,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a-fight-for-survival-blog.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/sharing-collaboration\/casting-communities-as-the-protagonist-of-your-geospatial-story\/a-fight-for-survival-blog","alt":"A map of the Biodiversity Intactness Index with dark green as most intact","author":"9422","description":"","caption":"A map of the Biodiversity Intactness Index from A Fight to Survival Story.","name":"a-fight-for-survival-blog","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2961681,"date":"2026-04-01 18:29:49","modified":"2026-04-01 18:32:49","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":932,"height":770,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a-fight-for-survival-blog-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a-fight-for-survival-blog.png","medium-width":316,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a-fight-for-survival-blog.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":635,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a-fight-for-survival-blog.png","large-width":932,"large-height":770,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a-fight-for-survival-blog.png","1536x1536-width":932,"1536x1536-height":770,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a-fight-for-survival-blog.png","2048x2048-width":932,"2048x2048-height":770,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a-fight-for-survival-blog-563x465.png","card_image-width":563,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a-fight-for-survival-blog.png","wide_image-width":932,"wide_image-height":770}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/abf6ac19ba9442a7b7594eaf944ca6d0"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Together, combining local knowledge with satellite imagery, we compiled the first complete maps of isolated Indigenous peoples across South America. The resulting maps show how isolated Indigenous peoples\u2019 territories encompass some of the best-conserved ecosystems in the region and how development threats are encroaching on those areas. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

ACT and GTI-PIACI hope that,\u00a0after exploring the\u00a0story, readers will realize that protecting isolated Indigenous peoples is a critical human rights issue that also has far-reaching environmental consequences.<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2937432,"id":2937432,"title":"separator-opening-2025","filename":"separator-opening-2025.png","filesize":88738,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/announcements\/show-us-your-geospatial-storytelling-skills\/separator-opening-2025","alt":"Three hexbins in a horizontal row filled with Living Atlas map images","author":"9422","description":"","caption":"","name":"separator-opening-2025","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2922302,"date":"2025-08-27 09:04:35","modified":"2025-08-27 09:05:02","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1952,"height":237,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":56,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":93,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","large-width":1920,"large-height":233,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-1536x186.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":186,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","2048x2048-width":1952,"2048x2048-height":237,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-826x100.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":100,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-1920x233.png","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":233}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

As a competition finalist, the story includes content from Esri\u2019s ArcGIS Living Atlas. Can you tell us about your data and map choices?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>The forests where isolated Indigenous peoples live are often very remote with few biological studies about their importance for preserving biodiversity and mitigating climate change. To better understand the environmental importance of isolated people\u2019s territories without putting communities at risk of contact, the\u202fstory\u202fdraws on global and regional datasets derived from satellite imagery, including data layers available through Living Atlas.\u202fThese regional layers, including forest integrity and human modification indices, provided consistent insight into isolated Indigenous territories across South America.<\/p>\n

We analyzed\u00a0Living Atlas and other geospatial\u00a0layers\u00a0by overlaying\u00a0the\u00a0dataset\u00a0developed by GTI-PIACI\u00a0that\u00a0indicates\u00a0that territories of isolated Indigenous peoples across\u00a0South America.\u00a0When it came to presenting this data\u00a0in maps, we\u00a0generalized the visualization of\u00a0the territories of Isolated Indigenous peoples\u00a0to\u00a0maintain\u00a0confidentiality\u00a0and avoid someone potentially using these maps to make unwanted contact.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2937432,"id":2937432,"title":"separator-opening-2025","filename":"separator-opening-2025.png","filesize":88738,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/announcements\/show-us-your-geospatial-storytelling-skills\/separator-opening-2025","alt":"Three hexbins in a horizontal row filled with Living Atlas map images","author":"9422","description":"","caption":"","name":"separator-opening-2025","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2922302,"date":"2025-08-27 09:04:35","modified":"2025-08-27 09:05:02","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1952,"height":237,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":56,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":93,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","large-width":1920,"large-height":233,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-1536x186.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":186,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","2048x2048-width":1952,"2048x2048-height":237,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-826x100.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":100,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-1920x233.png","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":233}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

How did ArcGIS StoryMaps help you turn individual maps into a unified story?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

ArcGIS StoryMaps helped us tell a unified story about who isolated Indigenous peoples are, the environmental importance of their territories, and the significant threats those areas are facing. The builder’s capacity to integrate photos of isolated Indigenous peoples alongside maps helps to humanize these communities and to show that there is a diversity of isolated Indigenous cultures across South America, instead of just showing points on a map.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

We used the sidecar block in ArcGIS StoryMaps to present unified sequences of maps highlighting the environmental conditions in their territories and encroaching threats from extractive development activities to communicate how preserving isolated peoples\u2019 right to self-determination and to remain isolated is an urgent issue that has an impact on us all.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2937432,"id":2937432,"title":"separator-opening-2025","filename":"separator-opening-2025.png","filesize":88738,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/announcements\/show-us-your-geospatial-storytelling-skills\/separator-opening-2025","alt":"Three hexbins in a horizontal row filled with Living Atlas map images","author":"9422","description":"","caption":"","name":"separator-opening-2025","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2922302,"date":"2025-08-27 09:04:35","modified":"2025-08-27 09:05:02","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1952,"height":237,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":56,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":93,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","large-width":1920,"large-height":233,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-1536x186.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":186,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","2048x2048-width":1952,"2048x2048-height":237,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-826x100.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":100,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-1920x233.png","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":233}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Are there any storytelling tips or best practices that you can share?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, a few things come to mind.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Before we build a story, our team identifies key messages and language. There are sensitivities around some of the topics we discuss, and we always want to communicate respectfully and in an appropriate way. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The close working relationships of our local teams with Indigenous communities and organizations helps ensure we keep communities at the center of the stories.<\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

From a visual standpoint, each story typically opens with eye-catching photographs to hook people right away and to establish the cultural and environmental richness of the places we work. <\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2961809,"id":2961809,"title":"fight for survival","filename":"fight-for-survival.avif","filesize":219719,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/fight-for-survival.avif","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/sharing-collaboration\/casting-communities-as-the-protagonist-of-your-geospatial-story\/fight-for-survival","alt":"A dense green forest with small grass and wood structures hidden in between the trees","author":"9422","description":"","caption":"The cover photo of A Fight for Survival sets up the context for the story.","name":"fight-for-survival","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2961681,"date":"2026-04-01 18:36:37","modified":"2026-04-01 18:38:41","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/avif","type":"image","subtype":"avif","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1858,"height":914,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/fight-for-survival-213x200.avif","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/fight-for-survival.avif","medium-width":464,"medium-height":228,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/fight-for-survival.avif","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":378,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/fight-for-survival.avif","large-width":1858,"large-height":914,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/fight-for-survival-1536x756.avif","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":756,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/fight-for-survival.avif","2048x2048-width":1858,"2048x2048-height":914,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/fight-for-survival-826x406.avif","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":406,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/fight-for-survival.avif","wide_image-width":1858,"wide_image-height":914}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/abf6ac19ba9442a7b7594eaf944ca6d0"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

We establish a visual rhythm of photos followed by maps that provide more in-depth information. A style guide with custom colors and fonts helps us maintain a unified visual narrative across media and maps.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And we consider different interest levels as the story builds where each reader gets a basic idea of the story while others can click links and learn more<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2937432,"id":2937432,"title":"separator-opening-2025","filename":"separator-opening-2025.png","filesize":88738,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/announcements\/show-us-your-geospatial-storytelling-skills\/separator-opening-2025","alt":"Three hexbins in a horizontal row filled with Living Atlas map images","author":"9422","description":"","caption":"","name":"separator-opening-2025","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2922302,"date":"2025-08-27 09:04:35","modified":"2025-08-27 09:05:02","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1952,"height":237,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":56,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":93,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","large-width":1920,"large-height":233,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-1536x186.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":186,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","2048x2048-width":1952,"2048x2048-height":237,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-826x100.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":100,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-1920x233.png","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":233}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Many of your stories, including\u00a0<\/span><\/b>A Fight for Survival<\/span><\/i><\/b>, are told in multiple languages. Can you share the impact of multilingual stories for local communities? <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2961812,"id":2961812,"title":"a fight for survival multilingual","filename":"a-fight-for-survival-multilingual.gif","filesize":11179370,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a-fight-for-survival-multilingual.gif","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/sharing-collaboration\/casting-communities-as-the-protagonist-of-your-geospatial-story\/a-fight-for-survival-multilingual","alt":"An animated screen recording showing a reader changing the story languages with built in story functionality","author":"9422","description":"","caption":"Readers can easily change the language in A Fight for Survival.","name":"a-fight-for-survival-multilingual","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2961681,"date":"2026-04-01 18:45:28","modified":"2026-04-01 18:46:44","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/gif","type":"image","subtype":"gif","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1460,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a-fight-for-survival-multilingual-213x200.gif","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a-fight-for-survival-multilingual.gif","medium-width":464,"medium-height":229,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a-fight-for-survival-multilingual.gif","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":379,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a-fight-for-survival-multilingual.gif","large-width":1460,"large-height":720,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a-fight-for-survival-multilingual.gif","1536x1536-width":1460,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a-fight-for-survival-multilingual.gif","2048x2048-width":1460,"2048x2048-height":720,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a-fight-for-survival-multilingual-826x407.gif","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":407,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a-fight-for-survival-multilingual.gif","wide_image-width":1460,"wide_image-height":720}},"image_position":"left","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/abf6ac19ba9442a7b7594eaf944ca6d0"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

We strive to translate as many of ACT\u2019s stories to local languages as we can because we feel it is important for local people\u2014especially our partner communities and organizations\u2014to be able to access and review the stories we publish. Usually, we do this at the end of the process by translating a mostly finished story with careful consideration for not only languages but also what additional information is relevant for those local audiences. For example, we may include additional details or links to local resources.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The GTI-PIACI story was co-authored by representatives from many of the organizations participating in the coalition to protect isolated Indigenous peoples. We developed the story in English, Spanish, and Portuguese simultaneously so that everyone could read the story and add their contributions.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2937432,"id":2937432,"title":"separator-opening-2025","filename":"separator-opening-2025.png","filesize":88738,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/announcements\/show-us-your-geospatial-storytelling-skills\/separator-opening-2025","alt":"Three hexbins in a horizontal row filled with Living Atlas map images","author":"9422","description":"","caption":"","name":"separator-opening-2025","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2922302,"date":"2025-08-27 09:04:35","modified":"2025-08-27 09:05:02","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1952,"height":237,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":56,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":93,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","large-width":1920,"large-height":233,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-1536x186.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":186,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","2048x2048-width":1952,"2048x2048-height":237,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-826x100.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":100,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-1920x233.png","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":233}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

What\u2019s\u00a0next for you, ACT, and your partners?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

ACT is celebrating 30 years of biocultural conservation this year and will be reflecting on our history and growth over the life of the organization. We’re putting together a story to highlight some milestones in the organization’s history and to visually show on a map what Indigenous and local communities have been able to accomplish.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2961793,"id":2961793,"title":"actimage5","filename":"actimage5.jpg","filesize":155366,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/actimage5.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/sharing-collaboration\/casting-communities-as-the-protagonist-of-your-geospatial-story\/actimage5","alt":"A screen shot of the opening page of the The Amazonian Travels of Richard Evans Schultes story","author":"9422","description":"","caption":"The Amazonian Travels of Richard Evans Schultes was one of ACT's first stories made with Esri's storytelling tools.","name":"actimage5","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2961681,"date":"2026-04-01 17:39:14","modified":"2026-04-01 17:41:23","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1071,"height":868,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/actimage5-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/actimage5.jpg","medium-width":322,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/actimage5.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":622,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/actimage5.jpg","large-width":1071,"large-height":868,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/actimage5.jpg","1536x1536-width":1071,"1536x1536-height":868,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/actimage5.jpg","2048x2048-width":1071,"2048x2048-height":868,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/actimage5-574x465.jpg","card_image-width":574,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/actimage5.jpg","wide_image-width":1071,"wide_image-height":868}},"image_position":"right","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

This year, we also will release\u00a0a new version\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span>The Amazonian Travels of Richard Evans Schultes,<\/span><\/i> about the famous American mid-20th century ethnobotanist who collaborated with Indigenous communities to document their traditional knowledge about plants. This was one of ACT\u2019s first interactive stories, created in 2016 with the classic Esri Story Maps templates and then updated in 2019. The new version, likely to be issued this summer, will move the content to the current ArcGIS StoryMaps platform with a lot of new improvements.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ll\u00a0also be releasing an English version of a virtual museum exhibit created\u00a0with\u00a0ArcGIS StoryMaps in partnership with the Gold Museum in Bogot\u00e1, Colombia. Titled\u00a0<\/span>Living Words: Indigenous Perspectives on the Leticia Ethnographic Museum\u2019s Collections<\/span><\/i> (Palabras de Vida: Una investigation\u00a0participativa\u00a0de la collection del Museo\u00a0Etnogr\u00e1fico\u00a0de Leticia\u00a0desde\u00a0las\u00a0miradas\u00a0ind\u00edgenas), the project is the first Indigenous-led research project into the Museum\u2019s collections, representing an important shift in perspective on objects first collected and described by Christian missionaries in the 1960s and 1970s.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2937432,"id":2937432,"title":"separator-opening-2025","filename":"separator-opening-2025.png","filesize":88738,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/announcements\/show-us-your-geospatial-storytelling-skills\/separator-opening-2025","alt":"Three hexbins in a horizontal row filled with Living Atlas map images","author":"9422","description":"","caption":"","name":"separator-opening-2025","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2922302,"date":"2025-08-27 09:04:35","modified":"2025-08-27 09:05:02","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1952,"height":237,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":56,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":93,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","large-width":1920,"large-height":233,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-1536x186.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":186,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","2048x2048-width":1952,"2048x2048-height":237,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-826x100.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":100,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-1920x233.png","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":233}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Do you have any\u00a0final\u00a0advice\u00a0for\u00a0other storytellers?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are a few important things that\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0learned, sometimes the hard way, with ArcGIS StoryMaps projects.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

I think it’s helpful to take a combined approach\u2014first outline your story draft for a little structure and then jump into the ArcGIS StoryMaps builder.<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Experiment with the blocks. Use text,\u00a0media,\u00a0and\u00a0maps.\u00a0Move them around\u00a0and find structures that you can repeat throughout the story.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0about finding the right combination of structure and flexibility.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I recommend the same approach\u00a0to\u00a0maps. Before you\u00a0invest\u00a0too deeply in one style or type, try out 2D and 3D maps.\u00a0Insert\u00a0static and interactive maps. Check them on different devices.\u00a0Find out earlier\u00a0rather than later\u00a0whether\u00a0an idea will work.\u202f\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And\u00a0finally, if possible, involve a multidisciplinary team.\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0try to do\u00a0it all\u00a0yourself.\u202f\u00a0It’s\u00a0important to involve other people and provide different perspectives outside of the mapping team \u2014 from communications professionals to graphic designers to community coordinators.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2937432,"id":2937432,"title":"separator-opening-2025","filename":"separator-opening-2025.png","filesize":88738,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/announcements\/show-us-your-geospatial-storytelling-skills\/separator-opening-2025","alt":"Three hexbins in a horizontal row filled with Living Atlas map images","author":"9422","description":"","caption":"","name":"separator-opening-2025","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2922302,"date":"2025-08-27 09:04:35","modified":"2025-08-27 09:05:02","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1952,"height":237,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":56,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":93,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","large-width":1920,"large-height":233,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-1536x186.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":186,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025.png","2048x2048-width":1952,"2048x2048-height":237,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-826x100.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":100,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/08\/separator-opening-2025-1920x233.png","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":233}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

This featured storyteller interview was prepared as a part of the April 2026 Issue of StoryScape.<\/p>\n

For more interviews and articles like this one, be sure to check out\u00a0<\/span>StoryScape<\/span><\/a>, a monthly digital magazine for ArcGIS StoryMaps that explores the world of place-based storytelling.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"}],"authors":[{"ID":9422,"user_firstname":"Michelle","user_lastname":"Thomas","nickname":"Michelle Thomas","user_nicename":"mthomas","display_name":"Michelle Thomas","user_email":"mthomas@esri.com","user_url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/en-us\/arcgis\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/overview","user_registered":"2019-04-05 16:54:26","user_description":"Michelle Thomas is a communications lead and content strategist on Esri's StoryMaps team. She manages the annual ArcGIS StoryMaps competition, digital platforms, and storytelling campaigns that feature storytellers globally.\r\n\r\nPrior to joining Esri, Michelle created digital campaigns at the U.S. Interior Department and U.S. Department of Agriculture. She leveraged Esri's storytelling tools at both agencies, tying people, resources, and places together through stories. She joined Esri's StoryMaps team to share those experiences widely and empower storytellers to tell stories that matter.","user_avatar":""},{"ID":345372,"user_firstname":"Andria","user_lastname":"Olson","nickname":"Andria Olson","user_nicename":"aolson","display_name":"Andria Olson","user_email":"aolson@esri.com","user_url":"","user_registered":"2023-09-05 16:47:59","user_description":"Andria Olson is a senior content specialist on Esri's ArcGIS Storytelling team.","user_avatar":""}],"related_articles":[{"ID":2953909,"post_author":"9422","post_date":"2026-02-10 03:00:46","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-10 11:00:46","post_content":"","post_title":"Our picks for the 2025 ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition finalists are in. Vote for your favorite story!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"vote-for-your-favorite-2025-arcgis-storymaps-competition-finalist","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-03-10 17:45:17","post_modified_gmt":"2026-03-11 00:45:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=2953909","menu_order":0,"post_type":"blog","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2173422,"post_author":"9422","post_date":"2023-12-07 06:00:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-12-07 14:00:26","post_content":"","post_title":"Meet the 2023 Storytellers of the Year","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"meet-the-2023-storytellers-of-the-year","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-09 06:06:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-09 13:06:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=2173422","menu_order":0,"post_type":"blog","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"show_article_image":false,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/act-interview-gallery-card.jpg","wide_image":false},"yoast_head":"\nCasting communities as the protagonist of your geospatial story<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/sharing-collaboration\/casting-communities-as-the-protagonist-of-your-geospatial-story\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Casting communities as the protagonist of your geospatial story\" \/>\n<meta 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