Tag Archives: traditional ecological knowledge

Indigenous knowledge and western science

Dr Gregory Cajete is the Director of Native American Studies at the University of New Mexico. In this talk he explains how Aboriginal ways of knowing are indeed compatible with western science.

He is very much involved in integrated curriculum development that is culturally responsive and aims to engage Aboriginal learners.

Module 4, post 5.

International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs

This is a fantastic site with resources for teaching about Indigenous peoples from all over the world. http://www.iwgia.org/index.php

It categorizes these resources to make it useful for teachers of science, languages, humanities and more.

I was particularly interested in their pages on Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

Module 4, post 3

Traditional Knowledge of Indigenous and Local Communities: International Debate and Policy Initiatives

Module 1 – Post 1

http://dayacenterforpeace.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Indigenous-Peoples-ts.pdRighf

This paper will review international law and policies regarding the rights of indigenous people and local communities. As such, they are defining the role of traditional and indigenous knowledge in the organization and conservation of biodiversity.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (or TEK) is deep understanding and knowledge of a land and its flora and fauna, gained and passed on through many generations by its inhabitants.

Forests and oceans for the future (http://www.ecoknow.ca/index.html) is the work of a broadly attended research group. It is a website that presents itself as a database or repository of digitized TEK. People from many different agencies and communities were brought together to create it, including members of the Gitxaala Nation and UBC faculty.

It provides many resources (including lesson plans for teachers) with the goal of discovering TEK solutions to many natural resource challenges.