IISD Experimental Lakes Area is a collection of 58 lakes in Northwestern Ontario set aside for scientific research. IISD is working together with Indigenous groups to discuss freshwater science, climate change, and environmental policies.
“In Canada, Western and Indigenous approaches to science are often considered incompatible. We explore how they can and should be working in tandem to further our understanding and protection of fresh water and the environment.”
IISD discusses that there are two ways of knowing, Western and Indigenous approaches. Western approaches focus on the evidence-based science of existing environmental problems to create solutions. Indigenous approaches or TEK is rooted in experience and skill gained over thousands of years for practical ecological sustainability. This resource will provide insight on TEK as well as western science through the website and exploring science and data. The video below can be found on the IISD website, it is currently being translated into Ojibwe, so that the communities can best benefit from research findings. It resonates deeply with me as the community I live in has been affected by the mercury content in the fish in the reservoir the community is built on. IISD studies the effects humans have on the environment and is working closely with Indigenous communities to integrate TEK and western science.
References
IISD Experiemental Lakes Area. (2019, January 10). Indigenous and Western Approaches to Environmental Science: What integration means to us. https://www.iisd.org/ela/blog/commentary/indigenous-western-approaches-environmental-science-integration-means-us/