Amira Ismail
When we think about protecting and conserving our oceans, we usually turn to scientists and researchers for guidance, answers, and all the related information.
But what if there is another avenue of knowledge, an alternative source that has been backed scientifically and can significantly enhance our conservation efforts?
Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) has been obtained over thousands of years by indigenous people, helping them interact and manage their environments in sustainable ways.
This alternative perspective is equally essential as it offers a richer understanding of these complex environments, and it is being more integrated into our modern ecological management approaches, illustrating its potential for helping improve our preservation methods.
Real-world examples:
Inuit Knowledge of Sea Ice
Having lived along the shores of the frozen Arctic Ocean for hundreds of years, Inuit’s culture became deeply infused with cryospheric science, encompassing knowledge about the different dynamics and processes of their environment, helping them understand and explain changes in the sea ice conditions.
Their seasonal calendar and even their language are intertwined with their connection to Arctic Ice, and their awareness is not just about the acquired insights through generations, but it also includes their beliefs and ethics, and it has even been integrated into climatology research and studies to inform about the changing sea ice conditions.
Clam gardens: a great approach to marine resource management
Consisting mainly of a rock wall built at the low tide mark, clam gardens are coastal structures that modify the beach slope by reducing it and trapping sediments to grow and harvest clams to provide food for indigenous communities like Native Americans.
This form of mariculture ensures a reliable and sustainable food source for native people and animals since it increases shellfish growth and protects them, but it also provides habitat for other marine organisms such as sea urchins, sea cucumbers, Whelks, and others.
Guardianship Over-Exploitation
In Aotearoa New Zealand, the Māori have a deep and intrinsic connection to the environment, informed by their traditional knowledge system known as mātauranga Māori.
This perspective highlights the aspect of reciprocation and mutual relationship between humans and nature and reinforces the fact that Māori should act as stewards and custodians of the environment, reflected through the term kaitiakitanga which means guardianship.
Māori belief system promotes the idea that humans have a responsibility to protect and respect every element of the environment, which not only includes the concept of preserving resources for future generations but also contains a holistic approach to ecological management, emphasizing sustainable practices to ensure the health and well-being of the land.
Challenges and Opportunities
Historical injustices, colonial settlements, and detached and aloof research methods have resulted in unequal power dynamics that often marginalized Indigenous voices, especially in the area of decision-making and having their rights officially recognized.
This creates a barrier to their meaningful participation, sidelining them from this field and exacerbating the gap between them, policy-makers, and scientists.
Moreover, financial and logistical challenges may hinder their involvement in marine conservation efforts. Their limited access to training, technology, and funding may sometimes limit their ability to implement their traditional methods along with modern ones.
It is also important to note the cultural sensitivity aspect. Engaging and communicating with native people requires a good understanding of their values and principles, as well as being respectful of what may or may not align with those frameworks and methods.
While it is essential to recognize these challenges and address obstacles to create a more inclusive and effective marine conservation approach, the integration of Indigenous knowledge presents many opportunities that allow for a better understanding of ecosystems, given that these native people have lived around their lands for centuries, passing down their knowledge from one generation to another.
Collaborations between researchers and native communities can facilitate exchanging knowledge and information, and give better and more effective outcomes.
Conclusion
Embracing traditional ecological knowledge and leveraging years of wisdom and acquired insights represents a key step toward creating sustainable and effective management practices for our oceans.
Moving forward, it is essential to close the gap between scientists and indigenous people and address the challenges that impede the collaboration, enabling native communities to have a role in conserving their lands and making decisions.
Citations
1. National Park Service. (2023, June 29). Overview of TEK - Traditional Ecological Knowledge (U.S. National Park Service). Www.nps.gov. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/tek/description.htm
2. Beaulieu, L., Arreak, A., Holwell, R., Dicker, S., Qamanirq, O., Moorman, L., Wilson, K., Segal, R., Crichton, S., & Bell, T. (2023). Indigenous self-determination in cryospheric science: The Inuit-led Sikumik Qaujimajjuti (“tools to know how the ice is”) program in Inuit Nunangat, Canada. Frontiers in Earth Science, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2023.1076774
3. Nicholas, G. (2018, February 21). When Scientists “Discover” What Indigenous People Have Known For Centuries. Smithsonian; Smithsonian.com. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-science-takes-so-long-catch-up-traditional-knowledge-180968216/
4. Indigenous Clam Gardens. (2020, August 21). Ocean Wise. https://ocean.org/blog/indigenous-clam-gardens/
5. Mātauranga Māori: Applying a Māori lens to environmental management | EPA. (2022). Govt.nz. https://www.epa.govt.nz/community-involvement/science-at-work/matauranga-maori
6. Proulx, M., Ross, L., Macdonald, C., Fitzsimmons, S., & Smit, M. (2021). Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Ocean Observing: A Review of Successful Partnerships. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.703938