Ethnoecological perspectives on environmental stewardship: Tenets and basis of reciprocity in Gitxsan and nłeʔkepmx (Nlaka'pamux) Territories
Abstract Local and Indigenous Peoples steward and protect a significant proportion of biologically diverse ecosystems globally. This fact is increasingly acknowledged by researchers and international organizations, offering both opportunities and challenges at the intersection of Indigenous and west...
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| Format: | Article |
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Wiley
2025-05-01
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| Series: | People and Nature |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10641 |
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| author | Chelsey Geralda Armstrong Jennifer Grenz Jennifer Zyp‐Loring Jade LaFontaine Leslie Main Johnson Nancy J. Turner |
| author_facet | Chelsey Geralda Armstrong Jennifer Grenz Jennifer Zyp‐Loring Jade LaFontaine Leslie Main Johnson Nancy J. Turner |
| author_sort | Chelsey Geralda Armstrong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Local and Indigenous Peoples steward and protect a significant proportion of biologically diverse ecosystems globally. This fact is increasingly acknowledged by researchers and international organizations, offering both opportunities and challenges at the intersection of Indigenous and western knowledge production in the context of environmental management research and policy. Drawing on half a century of ethnoecological research and personal experiences in Gitxsan and nłeʔkepmx Territories in the Pacific Northwest of North America, this research considers the role of reciprocity as an inherent philosophy and tenet for successful environmental stewardship. Reciprocity is a legal responsibility and moral perspective that foregrounds many Indigenous worldviews. Such cultural drivers and obligations towards lands and biota appear to be unknown, marginalized or instrumentalized in mainstream and western science and policy. We conclude that fundamental elements of reciprocity may not be adequately blended or braided into western environmental management frameworks. As such, alternatives to blending include acknowledging sole proprietary and self‐determining rights for Indigenous Peoples to govern and steward lands outside of western infrastructures and value systems. This study raises critical questions about the feasibility of reconciling reciprocity with western environmental management practices and regulations. It explores the implications for Indigenous rights and sovereignty, and climate change mitigation. By addressing these complex issues, we contribute to ongoing discourse on the integration of Indigenous and western knowledge in environmental stewardship research, and the ethical, historical and cultural challenges that come with it. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-38809b1f606d40e08a5da4b895949373 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2575-8314 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | People and Nature |
| spelling | doaj-art-38809b1f606d40e08a5da4b8959493732025-08-20T03:31:11ZengWileyPeople and Nature2575-83142025-05-017593494610.1002/pan3.10641Ethnoecological perspectives on environmental stewardship: Tenets and basis of reciprocity in Gitxsan and nłeʔkepmx (Nlaka'pamux) TerritoriesChelsey Geralda Armstrong0Jennifer Grenz1Jennifer Zyp‐Loring2Jade LaFontaine3Leslie Main Johnson4Nancy J. Turner5Indigenous Studies Simon Fraser University Burnaby British Columbia CanadaDepartment of Forest Resources Management University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia CanadaWilp Gwininnitxw, Lax'yip Gitxsan Hazelton British Columbia CanadaLanguage and Literacy Education University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia CanadaFaculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Athabasca University Athabasca Alberta CanadaEnvironmental Studies University of Victoria Victoria British Columbia CanadaAbstract Local and Indigenous Peoples steward and protect a significant proportion of biologically diverse ecosystems globally. This fact is increasingly acknowledged by researchers and international organizations, offering both opportunities and challenges at the intersection of Indigenous and western knowledge production in the context of environmental management research and policy. Drawing on half a century of ethnoecological research and personal experiences in Gitxsan and nłeʔkepmx Territories in the Pacific Northwest of North America, this research considers the role of reciprocity as an inherent philosophy and tenet for successful environmental stewardship. Reciprocity is a legal responsibility and moral perspective that foregrounds many Indigenous worldviews. Such cultural drivers and obligations towards lands and biota appear to be unknown, marginalized or instrumentalized in mainstream and western science and policy. We conclude that fundamental elements of reciprocity may not be adequately blended or braided into western environmental management frameworks. As such, alternatives to blending include acknowledging sole proprietary and self‐determining rights for Indigenous Peoples to govern and steward lands outside of western infrastructures and value systems. This study raises critical questions about the feasibility of reconciling reciprocity with western environmental management practices and regulations. It explores the implications for Indigenous rights and sovereignty, and climate change mitigation. By addressing these complex issues, we contribute to ongoing discourse on the integration of Indigenous and western knowledge in environmental stewardship research, and the ethical, historical and cultural challenges that come with it. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10641environmental managementethnoecologyIndigenous land stewardshipreciprocityscience and policy |
| spellingShingle | Chelsey Geralda Armstrong Jennifer Grenz Jennifer Zyp‐Loring Jade LaFontaine Leslie Main Johnson Nancy J. Turner Ethnoecological perspectives on environmental stewardship: Tenets and basis of reciprocity in Gitxsan and nłeʔkepmx (Nlaka'pamux) Territories People and Nature environmental management ethnoecology Indigenous land stewardship reciprocity science and policy |
| title | Ethnoecological perspectives on environmental stewardship: Tenets and basis of reciprocity in Gitxsan and nłeʔkepmx (Nlaka'pamux) Territories |
| title_full | Ethnoecological perspectives on environmental stewardship: Tenets and basis of reciprocity in Gitxsan and nłeʔkepmx (Nlaka'pamux) Territories |
| title_fullStr | Ethnoecological perspectives on environmental stewardship: Tenets and basis of reciprocity in Gitxsan and nłeʔkepmx (Nlaka'pamux) Territories |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ethnoecological perspectives on environmental stewardship: Tenets and basis of reciprocity in Gitxsan and nłeʔkepmx (Nlaka'pamux) Territories |
| title_short | Ethnoecological perspectives on environmental stewardship: Tenets and basis of reciprocity in Gitxsan and nłeʔkepmx (Nlaka'pamux) Territories |
| title_sort | ethnoecological perspectives on environmental stewardship tenets and basis of reciprocity in gitxsan and nleʔkepmx nlaka pamux territories |
| topic | environmental management ethnoecology Indigenous land stewardship reciprocity science and policy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10641 |
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