# Get and use your API key
As of late 2024, Native Land Digital started requiring all requests to use an API key. This is to help us steward this data more responsibly and learn more about who is using the data we provide. The data is still free, you just need to sign up to get a key.
[Sign up at https://native-land.ca/auth/signup](https://native-land.ca/auth/signup).
Once you sign up, press the API tab. There will be a checkbox you need to check and agree to in order to get an API key.
**This is important!** Part of using our dataset responsibly means understanding the data behind this isn't just anonymous or random. This dataset represents thousands of different nations, knowledge, and values. Please read our [Data Sovereignty Treaty](/data-sovereignty-treaty.md) carefully before you go ahead with the API.
Once you're agreed, the page will refresh and you will be able to see your API key.
Copy your API key and include it in your requests as an additional parameter called `key`. For example,
```
https://native-land.ca/api/index.php?maps=languages&position=42.553080,-86.473389
```
Will now become:
```
https://native-land.ca/api/index.php?maps=languages&position=42.553080,-86.473389&key=your_api_key
```
For post requests, send the key as an additional field, called `key`.
---
# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:
```
GET https://api-docs.native-land.ca/get-and-use-your-api-key.md?ask=
```
The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.