As regards researching indigenous cultures, a specific section of Aboriginal Canada Portal (entitled Research) offers useful resources about tips for researching indigenous communities.

In particular, it includes Ethical Principles for the Conduct of Research in the North published by Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (2003). In addition, the site is linked to First Peoples Child and Family Review which include some articles discussing research ethics in indigenous communities; among others, an article entitled Re-conceptualizing research: an indigenous perspective provides a good and practical summary of key issues on researching indigenous communities.

Both articles (‘ethnical principles for the conduct of research in the North’ and ‘Re-conceptualizing research’) emphasizes respect and sensitivity for indigenous communities.

Ky (Module 3: #4)

In addition to my previous posting on Western education scholar’s application of the concept of ecology, I have found Ivan Illich (1926-2002) interesting. Illich is a non-indigenous thinker, but his works seem to provide an alternative and ecological view on Western mainstream education and Western conception of technology.  Some of his writings are available online at the Preservation Institute.  There is an International Journal committed to the study of Illich; one of article published in the journal compares Illich and Daniel Goleman (which I introduced in my previous posting) in terms of the concept ecological intelligence (the article written by C.A. Bowers).

With regard to ecological thinking, Illich in his book Tools for Conviviality suggested the concept of conviviality which means “individual freedom realized in personal interdependence”. He criticizes industrially-oriented use of technology, while searching for a convivial society which is the result of “social arrangements that guarantee for each member the most ample and free access to the tools of the community and limit this freedom only in favor of another member’s equal freedom”. Illich’s thought implies that an alternative and ecological thinking in the West can have some points overlapping with indigenous ecological thinking, although his ecological thinking is not as fully holistic as that of indigenous peoples.

Ky (Module 3: #3)

While learning and discussing traditional ecological knowledge for the past few weeks, I wondered how ecological thinking had recently been embraced in Western mainstream academia and schools. In Western academia and public discourse, the concept of ecology seems to be applied more practically, rather than philosophically. As one example, I like to point out Daniel Goleman’s notion of Ecological Intelligence; it emphasizes the enhanced awareness of environments, which may be different, to some extent, from indigenous ecological thinking and living based upon a fundamental harmony between the land and the human. Goleman defines Ecological Intelligence as “the ability to adapt to our ecological niche” and argues that “an all-encompassing sensibility can let us see the interconnections between our actions and their hidden impacts on the planet, our health, and our social systems”.

Although it is not certain if Goleman’s writings are influenced by indigenous ecological knowledge, his concept of Ecological Intelligence seems to present how the Western industrialist way of thinking is negotiated by an ecological approach. That is, I would suspect that Western adoption of ecological thinking as shown in the concept of Emotional Intelligence may stem from a practical purpose (such as “safe” development; eventually for continuation of the industrialized world) rather than a fundamental harmony with the nature.

Goleman’s web-site of Ecological Intelligence does have some video resources (such as his PBS interview), yet it mainly aims to promote and sell his books and ideas. It appears that the site itself is an example of how ecological knowledge is commodified within the mainstream Western knowledge system.

Ky (Module 3: #2)

Indigenous Knowledge Commons is an ongoing project which provides resources for a better understanding and application of indigenous forms of knowing. It includes the section of showcases in which indigenous art and outreach courses are introduced for application to classrooms. Furthermore, its Tools and Resources Section shows examples of how technology can be integrated into indigenous knowledge, by using such tools as Google Maps.

I am not sure if those examples are fully successful in preserving Indigenous Knowledge through new technology, but at least they provide a way of thinking about co-existence of indigenous knowledge and Western technology.

The web-site appears to be under construction and it is not officially launched. However, the resources on this web-site seem worth reading, especially because they touch on our Week 7 reading/discussion about indigenous knowledge.

Ky (Module 3: #1)