How does indigenous knowledge make sense of the world?

Indigenous communities have for centuries drawn on native scientific knowledge to help them understand the world around them. Known popularly as Traditional Knowledge, this observational evidence is verified by elders and passed on to successive generations, largely as an oral tradition.

Traditional Knowledge encompasses practices as varied as farming, fishing and medicine. And it gives insight into climate change, which frequently impacts on indigenous communities. In July the Nenets of Siberia joined several Native American tribes in the northwestern United States for the 2018 Canoe Journey, a yearly gathering aimed at fostering inter-tribal community. Researchers taking part in the journey through the Salish Sea gathered water quality data through probes attached to their vessels, enhancing their understanding of how the sea is changing.

Traditional Knowledge is also of great value to Western scientists, with the learning and experience of indigenous communities useful to archaeologists, climatologists, and botanists. In some cases, Traditional Knowledge can help researchers refine or complete historical accounts – and even give Western scientists a brand-new understanding of incidents long ago.

Yet the scientific accounts of indigenous communities are sometimes considered by Western scientists as inferior for not rigidly conforming to Western standards of objectivity and quantifiability. Practitioners of Traditional Knowledge say they often struggle to be taken seriously by scientists working in the Western paradigm. They are concerned that such attitudes could limit opportunities for young indigenous people to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

We’ll meet leading Traditional Knowledge scientists and consider what their approaches have brought indigenous communities and beyond. We’ll also hear about the challenges they face when working alongside Western science professionals. 

On this episode of The Stream, we speak with:

Jonathan Waterhouse
Indigenous Peoples Scholar, Oregon Health & Science University
ohsu-psu-sph.org

Tero Mustonen
Researcher in Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Change
snowchange.org

Samantha Chisholm-Hatfield @drsamzs
Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Northwest Climate Science Adaptation Center 

Read more:
How Indigenous knowledge advances modern science and technology – The Conversation
Indigenous knowledge crucial to tackling climate change, experts say – Reuters

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