The Leq’á:mel First Nation GIS and Drone Program provides critical technical support for environmental management, monitoring, and planning across all Natural Resource portfolios. Through the integration of geospatial technologies, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and traditional knowledge, the program enhances the Nation’s ability to make informed, evidence-based decisions about its lands and waters. The program plays a key role in mapping and monitoring projects related to fisheries, forestry, flood mitigation, and cultural resource protection. This work ensures that spatial information collected within the territory is managed under Leq’á:mel’s jurisdiction and used to advance sustainable development, environmental resilience, and data sovereignty. Posts/Purpose/Objectives The GIS and Drone Program supports the Nation’s broader environmental governance and capacity-building goals by: Generating accurate and high-resolution spatial data for land and resource management; Monitoring habitat, forest, and waterway conditions through aerial imaging and mapping; Supporting flood risk assessments and hydrological modeling in collaboration with consultants and agencies; Assisting Guardian field operations and environmental monitoring through mobile data collection tools; and Building internal technical capacity for long-term GIS data management and analysis. Together, these objectives position Leq’á:mel as a leader in technology-enabled environmental stewardship, ensuring that data collected within the territory directly benefits the Nation and supports decision-making rooted in both cultural and scientific knowledge. Integration with the Natural Resources Department The GIS and Drone Program supports each portfolio area: Fisheries: Mapping aquatic habitats, monitoring restoration sites, and documenting hydrological features such as fish passages and spawning channels. Forestry: Conducting aerial surveys of forest stands, assessing vegetation health, and supporting wildfire risk planning. Guardians: Equipping field crews with spatial data tools, Survey123, and mobile GIS applications to capture environmental and cultural site information in real time. Flood Mitigation and Risk Analysis: Supporting engineering partners with precise elevation data, floodplain mapping, and post-event documentation to guide infrastructure design and emergency response.