Partnerships in ecology within the indigenous community: Why it is important to remember that traditional ways of knowing are the standard western science wraps itself around

Background/Question/Methods

When partnering with indigenous communities, it is important that western scientific approach be focused on the sovereign rights and cultural cosmologies of these communities.    Historically the western world view steeped in settler colonist ideologies have devastated indigenous life ways causing extreme changes in cultural traditions, language loss, and subsistence practices.  Partnerships forming around traditional ways of knowing or TEK need to be approached with the understanding that TEK is the standard that western science wraps itself around.    Indigenous scientific thought is complex and the connectivity of all beings; seen and unseen, have a place within the management of ecological systems.  Building partnerships, western scientists need to embrace ideologies not supported in their discipline and collaborate within cultural models of connectivity respecting the sovereignty and rights of Indigenous Nations. 

Results/Conclusions

This is an igite session