my ipad mini can't locate me on maps..how do i fix it?

If you are using a Wi-Fi *only* iPad, that model does not have a hardware-embedded GPS chip to locate your position and instead must use Wi-Fi to do it. In other words, if you have a Wi-Fi *only* iPad, you need to be connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot for location services to work correctly.

Is this a WiFi-only iPad, or a WiFi+Cellular unit? If it's a WiFi-only unit, location depends on the WiFi router being registered in Apple's database. If it's not, no location can be returned. I've read that if you have someone with an iPhone with location services turned on connect to that WiFi router, that will update Apple's databases, but I don't know if that's correct and if it is how quickly that will happen.

If you have a WiFi+Cellular iPad, make sure that Location Services are turned on:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5467

Regards.