Decolonizing Indigenous science: Bees and Indigenous sovereignty

In this conceptual paper, we argue that the assumptions behind laboratory and field studies are that chemical and compositional analysis may reveal structures unseen by means of human observation. However, replacing human observation to make it obsolete is not the purpose of science; if something ca...

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Main Authors: Phoenix Nakagawa, Hanika Nakagawa, Kyle Bobiwash
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:FACETS
Subjects:
Online Access:https://facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2024-0078
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author Phoenix Nakagawa
Hanika Nakagawa
Kyle Bobiwash
author_facet Phoenix Nakagawa
Hanika Nakagawa
Kyle Bobiwash
author_sort Phoenix Nakagawa
collection DOAJ
description In this conceptual paper, we argue that the assumptions behind laboratory and field studies are that chemical and compositional analysis may reveal structures unseen by means of human observation. However, replacing human observation to make it obsolete is not the purpose of science; if something can be seen, but is not measurable, that does not make it irrelevant. Although science is frequently primarily regarded as a quantitative field, we argue that qualitative data inclusion is necessary determine the consequences of research on Indigenous communities. We discuss key points, including historical and anthropocentric views of science, suggesting that Indigenous Science requires greater wisdom-based knowledge in association with traditional ecological knowledge. We introduce a new conceptual model called “Pollen Sovereignty”, a sister to Indigenous food sovereignty, to begin critical discussions around the ethics of field research and the impacts of research on the environment, land management, and Indigenous communities. That is, through simple scientific concepts, critical thought, and logic new conceptual frameworks and avenues of research, Indigenous knowledges cannot merely be coopted and reused, but respected and valued.
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spelling doaj-art-53f0d4f1a7634aed9697dc13b795b1bc2025-08-20T02:58:04ZengCanadian Science PublishingFACETS2371-16712025-01-011011110.1139/facets-2024-0078Decolonizing Indigenous science: Bees and Indigenous sovereigntyPhoenix Nakagawa0Hanika Nakagawa1Kyle Bobiwash2Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, CanadaDepartment of Sociology and Social Anthropology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, CanadaDepartment of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, CanadaIn this conceptual paper, we argue that the assumptions behind laboratory and field studies are that chemical and compositional analysis may reveal structures unseen by means of human observation. However, replacing human observation to make it obsolete is not the purpose of science; if something can be seen, but is not measurable, that does not make it irrelevant. Although science is frequently primarily regarded as a quantitative field, we argue that qualitative data inclusion is necessary determine the consequences of research on Indigenous communities. We discuss key points, including historical and anthropocentric views of science, suggesting that Indigenous Science requires greater wisdom-based knowledge in association with traditional ecological knowledge. We introduce a new conceptual model called “Pollen Sovereignty”, a sister to Indigenous food sovereignty, to begin critical discussions around the ethics of field research and the impacts of research on the environment, land management, and Indigenous communities. That is, through simple scientific concepts, critical thought, and logic new conceptual frameworks and avenues of research, Indigenous knowledges cannot merely be coopted and reused, but respected and valued.https://facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2024-0078food sovereigntybeesethicsbiodiversityIndigenous ScienceLand management
spellingShingle Phoenix Nakagawa
Hanika Nakagawa
Kyle Bobiwash
Decolonizing Indigenous science: Bees and Indigenous sovereignty
FACETS
food sovereignty
bees
ethics
biodiversity
Indigenous Science
Land management
title Decolonizing Indigenous science: Bees and Indigenous sovereignty
title_full Decolonizing Indigenous science: Bees and Indigenous sovereignty
title_fullStr Decolonizing Indigenous science: Bees and Indigenous sovereignty
title_full_unstemmed Decolonizing Indigenous science: Bees and Indigenous sovereignty
title_short Decolonizing Indigenous science: Bees and Indigenous sovereignty
title_sort decolonizing indigenous science bees and indigenous sovereignty
topic food sovereignty
bees
ethics
biodiversity
Indigenous Science
Land management
url https://facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2024-0078
work_keys_str_mv AT phoenixnakagawa decolonizingindigenoussciencebeesandindigenoussovereignty
AT hanikanakagawa decolonizingindigenoussciencebeesandindigenoussovereignty
AT kylebobiwash decolonizingindigenoussciencebeesandindigenoussovereignty