"Thank you for doing the work you do. My maps have arrived and they are powerful, uplifting, and very affirming. I look forward to ordering the last three: South America, Central America, and the Carribeans soon! Kindly"-Tara Evonne Trudell (daughter of John Trudell)
"Dear Aaron: As a fellow Okie, let me congratulate you on your very interesting and useful career, which you developed yourself. Your work helps to celebrate American Indian culture, and I thank you for it." - Kevin Washburn, Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs- United States Department of the Interior
"Our school district Title VI program which serves tribally enrolled Native students has purchased a few maps to enhance our ability to teach others about where a student's tribe would be located. Families enjoy the ability to see their tribe and get excited when they are able to also see the traditional name used on the map. There is a great sense of pride and ownership when they see their tribe represented. These maps have helped us to gain momentum within our schools and community to see the importance of recognizing students and their affiliated tribes.
Thank you from the Bethel School District Title VI Indian Education Program"
Thank you from the Bethel School District Title VI Indian Education Program"
My Mother and Grandmother were from Anvik, AK. We are Deg Xit'an. I am one of the authors of the updated Indigenous Peoples and Languages of Alaska map. I am glad to see that you have worked hard to find the names that Indigenous peoples call themselves. It was the main reason I embarked on updating the map I worked on.
Dogidin (Thank you)
Jim Kerr
Dogidin (Thank you)
Jim Kerr
"We have used this map as part of a workshop called "Walk with Me" where our intention is to raise consciousness about colonial history (especially in what is now called Canada). Many thanks for your contribution to our efforts."
Catherine Etmanski, PhD
Professor and Director, School of Leadership Studies
Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences | Royal Roads University
Catherine Etmanski, PhD
Professor and Director, School of Leadership Studies
Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences | Royal Roads University
"Tonight we had parent conferences and a mother with indigenous heritage noticed the Native American Nations map I have up in my room. She expressed that she has never ever seen a map that mentioned her people, the Lumbee Tribe because it wasn't recognized federally....the shock, appreciation, and tears this momma had because FINALLY, her identity was mentioned and recognized on a map. She was so appreciative that I even had it hung up. I can't express how heart warming this was to witness. There is so much power in being SEEN for who you are and seeing others. Thank you Aaron Carapella for the work you do!" - Symone James - Teacher
"Greetings Aaron - Okii (blackfeet for hello),
Thank You for your generous donation of the Tribal Nations Maps. I am the current Native American Culture Specialist here at Cherry Valley Elementary. Our school is located in Polson, Montana on the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe. Your gift will educate my kindergarten and 1st grade classes about cultural diversity and Native American culture.
Your thoughtfulness means so much to the future generations who will use these maps in the 2017-2018 school year. I am integrating these maps in my lessons to illustrate the many tribal nations in North America and its territory to go along with Native American history. Your maps showcase the indigenous aspect the world needs to visually see the true history of the Native American people and our struggle to exist today.
Thank You from my heart,
Regina Mad Plume
Native American Culture Specialist"
Thank You for your generous donation of the Tribal Nations Maps. I am the current Native American Culture Specialist here at Cherry Valley Elementary. Our school is located in Polson, Montana on the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe. Your gift will educate my kindergarten and 1st grade classes about cultural diversity and Native American culture.
Your thoughtfulness means so much to the future generations who will use these maps in the 2017-2018 school year. I am integrating these maps in my lessons to illustrate the many tribal nations in North America and its territory to go along with Native American history. Your maps showcase the indigenous aspect the world needs to visually see the true history of the Native American people and our struggle to exist today.
Thank You from my heart,
Regina Mad Plume
Native American Culture Specialist"
"About three years ago I bought maps covering North America, South America and the Caribbean to be resources for my Spanish and History courses. A lot of my work focuses on teaching about the indigenous Americas before the arrival of Europeans. With these maps we were able to differentiate the Northeastern Woodland Peoples, add nuance to conversations about the Mexica (Aztecs) and their subjugation of neighboring ethnic communities, and clarify the differences in groups and their cultures in the Caribbean. Tribal Nations Maps have been indispensable for my work as a classroom teacher." -Menelik Tafari, Los Angeles, CA
"I really appreciate your work, as do my students. I previously taught on Rosebud in SD before relocating to FL, and used the map as a teaching tool almost every day." - Melissa Johnson, teacher
"I help facilitate a Grief and Trauma Recovery program with Green Arrow Healing and White Lightening Consulting in Northern Saskatchewan. I always begin with pulling out my huge canvas Tribal Nations Turtle Island map. The look on all the youths faces when they see All the many Nations of "North America" is priceless!! They see no borders...just Territories! (I have almost all the maps)
When I first saw these maps I thought this is Armor and way to re-root, reclaim and look at the Power Network of what these youth come from! Ancestry and Elder Nations...Thousands of years...
It opens so much discussion of the many Traditional Governing systems, Food systems, Languages, Indigenous family Trees, Waterways, Travel and Trade routes, Ancient Civilizations, Creation, Migration and Prophecy!! It opens up everything!
Gives them a sense of who they are and what their people have been through... "
Pura Fe
member of Ulali
When I first saw these maps I thought this is Armor and way to re-root, reclaim and look at the Power Network of what these youth come from! Ancestry and Elder Nations...Thousands of years...
It opens so much discussion of the many Traditional Governing systems, Food systems, Languages, Indigenous family Trees, Waterways, Travel and Trade routes, Ancient Civilizations, Creation, Migration and Prophecy!! It opens up everything!
Gives them a sense of who they are and what their people have been through... "
Pura Fe
member of Ulali
"As a student of cartographic visualization and the development of the sense of place, I was struck
by the fascinating simplicity of Mr. Carapella’s magnificent designs. Captured on his maps are
the pre-European contact tribal identities from a Native American geographic perspective. This
is a singular and comprehensive achievement. Mr. Carapella is to be commended for his depth
and dedicated research, illustrated so thoroughly on his maps. His maps are a unique celebration
of tribal heritage. Mr. Carapella has created splendid representations of native lands through the
restoration of traditional cultural names. His exceptional designs assure the continued existence
of not only native identities but also the sacred places/spaces of North America’s first people."
Jeffrey M. Williams
GIS Systems Administrator
President of the Caddo Mounds State Historic Site Friends Group
Stephen F. Austin State University
Nacogdoches, Texas
by the fascinating simplicity of Mr. Carapella’s magnificent designs. Captured on his maps are
the pre-European contact tribal identities from a Native American geographic perspective. This
is a singular and comprehensive achievement. Mr. Carapella is to be commended for his depth
and dedicated research, illustrated so thoroughly on his maps. His maps are a unique celebration
of tribal heritage. Mr. Carapella has created splendid representations of native lands through the
restoration of traditional cultural names. His exceptional designs assure the continued existence
of not only native identities but also the sacred places/spaces of North America’s first people."
Jeffrey M. Williams
GIS Systems Administrator
President of the Caddo Mounds State Historic Site Friends Group
Stephen F. Austin State University
Nacogdoches, Texas
"I recently received the maps and they are wonderful! I ordered the one that includes all of North America with no boundary lines. And I am very glad I chose the canvas, it is high quality and well worth it. I had the pleasure this Saturday morning of showing my 6 year old and 4 year the maps, along with a very nice, but frank, important history discussion. Thank you Aaron for the cool and inspirational work you're doing!- Carrie Christos
I am the proud owner or purchaser of 8 maps to date and all but 1 were given as a gifts! For so many years I had been searching for a map that detailed the First Nations Indigenous People prior to the Europeans arrival. I wanted to know what this land (USA) looked like before then and where all of the tribes were. Every year any time I would travel, I would look for maps - never found anything. What I did find (like on a placemat for example) was grossly inaccurate. Every now and again I would search online for these maps - for one that I could purchase. Last November, I looked online again after returning from some traveling and again not finding the maps I was looking for, and was completely and pleasantly surprised to find the Tribal Nations Maps and Aaron Carapella. I have purchased both large canvas all the way down to posters. All of my gifts have been given to Indian Centers or organizations that couldn't have otherwise afforded to purchase the maps. The best part of these gifts has been watching all of the people interacting with the maps and talking with each other - learning! I believe these maps should be in all classrooms, textbooks, museums, our homes - this list is truly endless. The most compelling fact surrounding these maps, for me personally, was learning about a young man who began drawing these maps when he was in his mid teens, over 15 years ago. I truly don't know, which is more amazing to me - this young man, Aaron Carapella or the wonderful maps he has created. What I do know, is that both the man and the maps have an amazing future ahead of them. I had the opportunity to meet Aaron personally - such an intelligent and knowledgeable man. I asked him, "so, are you going to keep going creating maps for the rest of the world?" He said, "no, I think probably not." Then he said " "well, in all fairness that's what I say after every map I finish." Three weeks later, the South America map came out. Five week later, he signed a contract with Hayden McNeil, textbook publishers! I can't recommend the Tribal Nations maps highly enough - everyone should own at least 1 of them! Thanks so much for giving them to all of us Aaron!- Lisa Lu, Overland Park, KS
I have the first I believe of just the USA. I am so thrilled to have this information which is not taught anywhere and I wouldn't take anything for it.. Just wish I had a big room so I could purchase all and display them all... Teachers in the USA and schools should have to teach this history.- Ginger Little Wren House
Wow! That’s amazing. Interesting how everyone is so focused on trying to make ends meet, we don’t take time to sit back and try and put the shattered puzzle back together. Such amazing work you’ve done and still doing for our Native people. Thank you.-Cassandra Raye Chee , Dine' Nation
" A few years back, I purchased several PDF maps for a research project and for personal interest. Aaron was so helpful and kind, assisting me with some technical difficulties. This work is so important - restoring our true history. I look forward to the day when I can purchase all the maps in frames and display them proudly. Thank you, Aaron, for all the wonderful work you do! " Heathyr See, Maumee, OH
"Aaron Carapella's Tribal Nations Maps are rendered with a faithfulness to history and respect for ancestors that excel as educational and meaningful tributes to America's indigenous populations. They have been an invaluable resource, used to recognize our predecessors during seasonal meetings."
- Frank Perrelli, Presbytery of Baltimore
- Frank Perrelli, Presbytery of Baltimore