Understanding Indigenous knowledge of conservation and stewardship before implementing co-production with Western methodologies in resource management
In the face of an increasing global human population and multiple anthropogenic environmental stressors including climate change, the limitations of relying solely on Western science and approaches to mitigating impacts, conserving biodiversity, and managing resources sustainably is apparent. Ma...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Lyson Center for Civic Agriculture and Food Systems
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development |
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| Online Access: | https://foodsystemsjournal.org/index.php/fsj/article/view/1326 |
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| author | Stafford Maracle Jennifer Maracle Stephen Lougheed |
| author_facet | Stafford Maracle Jennifer Maracle Stephen Lougheed |
| author_sort | Stafford Maracle |
| collection | DOAJ |
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In the face of an increasing global human population and multiple anthropogenic environmental stressors including climate change, the limitations of relying solely on Western science and approaches to mitigating impacts, conserving biodiversity, and managing resources sustainably is apparent. Many Indigenous Peoples have lived sustainably as part of their respective environments for millennia, passing conservation and management practices down generations despite colonization and genocide. Long-standing Indigenous knowledge and philosophies offer alternate worldviews that can complement Western conservation and resource management and may strengthen efforts to restore environmental integrity and conserve species and ecosystems. Researchers often tout the co-production of knowledge with Indigenous collaborators using frameworks like the Kaswentha (Two Row Wampum—Haudenosaunee) and the Etuaptmumk (Two Eyed Seeing—Mi’kmaw) without first seeking to understand the foundations of Indigenous knowledge itself, and its deep roots in environmental sustainability. We develop a thesis of the embedded relational nature of Indigenous knowledges and the unique strengths and perspectives that must be understood before effective and ethical co-production can be possible. We contend that Indigenous knowledge must be treated as a distinct framework to inform conservation and stewardship of biodiversity and nature, rather than selectively integrating it into Western science. Building relationships with local Indigenous nations will help actualize sustainable practices that are rooted in millennia of empirical data. This will help to promote a shift toward a holistic and relational worldview for more impactful conservation action.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-39623adde66b4c86a1da853c3db6e1f9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2152-0801 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Lyson Center for Civic Agriculture and Food Systems |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development |
| spelling | doaj-art-39623adde66b4c86a1da853c3db6e1f92025-02-06T21:50:47ZengLyson Center for Civic Agriculture and Food SystemsJournal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development2152-08012025-01-0114110.5304/jafscd.2025.141.024Understanding Indigenous knowledge of conservation and stewardship before implementing co-production with Western methodologies in resource managementStafford Maracle0Jennifer Maracle1Stephen Lougheed2Queens University, and First Nations Technical InstituteQueen’s University, and Loyalist College of Applied Arts & TechnologyQueen’s University In the face of an increasing global human population and multiple anthropogenic environmental stressors including climate change, the limitations of relying solely on Western science and approaches to mitigating impacts, conserving biodiversity, and managing resources sustainably is apparent. Many Indigenous Peoples have lived sustainably as part of their respective environments for millennia, passing conservation and management practices down generations despite colonization and genocide. Long-standing Indigenous knowledge and philosophies offer alternate worldviews that can complement Western conservation and resource management and may strengthen efforts to restore environmental integrity and conserve species and ecosystems. Researchers often tout the co-production of knowledge with Indigenous collaborators using frameworks like the Kaswentha (Two Row Wampum—Haudenosaunee) and the Etuaptmumk (Two Eyed Seeing—Mi’kmaw) without first seeking to understand the foundations of Indigenous knowledge itself, and its deep roots in environmental sustainability. We develop a thesis of the embedded relational nature of Indigenous knowledges and the unique strengths and perspectives that must be understood before effective and ethical co-production can be possible. We contend that Indigenous knowledge must be treated as a distinct framework to inform conservation and stewardship of biodiversity and nature, rather than selectively integrating it into Western science. Building relationships with local Indigenous nations will help actualize sustainable practices that are rooted in millennia of empirical data. This will help to promote a shift toward a holistic and relational worldview for more impactful conservation action. https://foodsystemsjournal.org/index.php/fsj/article/view/1326Indigenous knowledgeresource managementfisheriesknowledge co-productionconservationsustainability |
| spellingShingle | Stafford Maracle Jennifer Maracle Stephen Lougheed Understanding Indigenous knowledge of conservation and stewardship before implementing co-production with Western methodologies in resource management Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development Indigenous knowledge resource management fisheries knowledge co-production conservation sustainability |
| title | Understanding Indigenous knowledge of conservation and stewardship before implementing co-production with Western methodologies in resource management |
| title_full | Understanding Indigenous knowledge of conservation and stewardship before implementing co-production with Western methodologies in resource management |
| title_fullStr | Understanding Indigenous knowledge of conservation and stewardship before implementing co-production with Western methodologies in resource management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding Indigenous knowledge of conservation and stewardship before implementing co-production with Western methodologies in resource management |
| title_short | Understanding Indigenous knowledge of conservation and stewardship before implementing co-production with Western methodologies in resource management |
| title_sort | understanding indigenous knowledge of conservation and stewardship before implementing co production with western methodologies in resource management |
| topic | Indigenous knowledge resource management fisheries knowledge co-production conservation sustainability |
| url | https://foodsystemsjournal.org/index.php/fsj/article/view/1326 |
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