Considerations for culturally sensitive traditional ecological knowledge research in wildlife conservation

ABSTRACT Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is increasingly being applied in the field of wildlife conservation, yet conceptualizations of what TEK is and views regarding whether TEK is science remain diverse and, at times, conflicting in the TEK discourse. Many practical and philosophical chall...

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Main Author: Seafha C. Ramos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-06-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.881
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author Seafha C. Ramos
author_facet Seafha C. Ramos
author_sort Seafha C. Ramos
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is increasingly being applied in the field of wildlife conservation, yet conceptualizations of what TEK is and views regarding whether TEK is science remain diverse and, at times, conflicting in the TEK discourse. Many practical and philosophical challenges come with the pursuit of TEK initiatives, potentially leaving wildlife researchers and managers wondering how to conduct projects effectively and also in a culturally sensitive manner. The consideration of historical and philosophical contexts that affect tribal communities may be beneficial in such cases. I provide a historical context by presenting chronological events of Indian Country in the United States as related to Federal Indian Law in parallel with the development of wildlife management as a profession. Additionally, I explore the philosophical context of TEK as science by discussing Western and Indigenous scientific paradigms and their linkages to TEK. Finally, given these contexts, I provide several suggestions for developing culturally sensitive approaches to TEK research in the wildlife field. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
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spelling doaj-art-861046092aa44f1893f980e6a33a3df82025-08-20T01:56:52ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402018-06-0142235836510.1002/wsb.881Considerations for culturally sensitive traditional ecological knowledge research in wildlife conservationSeafha C. Ramos0School of Natural Resources and the EnvironmentUniversity of ArizonaTucsonAZ 85721USAABSTRACT Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is increasingly being applied in the field of wildlife conservation, yet conceptualizations of what TEK is and views regarding whether TEK is science remain diverse and, at times, conflicting in the TEK discourse. Many practical and philosophical challenges come with the pursuit of TEK initiatives, potentially leaving wildlife researchers and managers wondering how to conduct projects effectively and also in a culturally sensitive manner. The consideration of historical and philosophical contexts that affect tribal communities may be beneficial in such cases. I provide a historical context by presenting chronological events of Indian Country in the United States as related to Federal Indian Law in parallel with the development of wildlife management as a profession. Additionally, I explore the philosophical context of TEK as science by discussing Western and Indigenous scientific paradigms and their linkages to TEK. Finally, given these contexts, I provide several suggestions for developing culturally sensitive approaches to TEK research in the wildlife field. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.881culturally sensitiveIndigenous ScienceTraditional Ecological KnowledgeWestern Sciencewildlife conservationwildlife management
spellingShingle Seafha C. Ramos
Considerations for culturally sensitive traditional ecological knowledge research in wildlife conservation
Wildlife Society Bulletin
culturally sensitive
Indigenous Science
Traditional Ecological Knowledge
Western Science
wildlife conservation
wildlife management
title Considerations for culturally sensitive traditional ecological knowledge research in wildlife conservation
title_full Considerations for culturally sensitive traditional ecological knowledge research in wildlife conservation
title_fullStr Considerations for culturally sensitive traditional ecological knowledge research in wildlife conservation
title_full_unstemmed Considerations for culturally sensitive traditional ecological knowledge research in wildlife conservation
title_short Considerations for culturally sensitive traditional ecological knowledge research in wildlife conservation
title_sort considerations for culturally sensitive traditional ecological knowledge research in wildlife conservation
topic culturally sensitive
Indigenous Science
Traditional Ecological Knowledge
Western Science
wildlife conservation
wildlife management
url https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.881
work_keys_str_mv AT seafhacramos considerationsforculturallysensitivetraditionalecologicalknowledgeresearchinwildlifeconservation