"Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) describes indigenous and other traditional knowledge of local resources."
The knowledge developed by indigenous peoples over generations regarding the interaction of human societies with their environment.
Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK): TEK is the knowledge and practices developed by indigenous communities over generations pertaining to the environment, ecology, and the use of natural resources. It is holistic and intergenerational.
Environmental governance: This refers to the structure and processes of decision-making, planning, policy-making, and implementation related to the environment and natural resources.
Environmental justice: This refers to the fair distribution of environmental burdens and benefits among different communities and social groups, including indigenous communities.
Land use and management: This includes the traditional practices and beliefs of indigenous communities related to the use and management of land and natural resources.
Conservation and preservation: Indigenous communities have played a significant role in the conservation and preservation of biodiversity and natural resources, including the use of sacred sites, traditional knowledge, and customary laws.
Climate change: Indigenous communities have been facing the impacts of climate change for decades, and their traditional knowledge offers valuable insights and adaptations to mitigate and adapt to its effects.
Indigenous languages and oral tradition: Indigenous languages and oral tradition are crucial to the transmission and preservation of indigenous knowledge, including traditional ecological knowledge.
Traditional medicine: Indigenous communities have developed a wealth of knowledge and practices related to healing, medicine, and wellness using natural resources.
Food sovereignty: Indigenous communities have developed diverse and sustainable food systems rooted in their traditional knowledge and practices, which contribute to food security, local economies, and cultural heritage.
Sacred sites and the spiritual relationship with the environment: Many indigenous communities have a spiritual and cultural relationship with the environment, which recognizes the interconnectedness and interdependence of all living beings. This relationship is often expressed through sacred sites, ceremonies, and practices.
Traditional ecological knowledge: A complex system of knowledge, practices, and beliefs that Indigenous people have developed over time to manage their natural resources sustainably. This includes knowledge about plants, animals, weather, and the environment.
Ethnobotany: The study of how Indigenous people use plants for food, medicine, and other purposes. This includes knowledge of plant identification, cultivation, harvesting, and preparation.
Traditional animal husbandry: The art and practice of raising animals in an environmentally sound and culturally appropriate way. This includes knowledge about animal behavior, breeding practices, and animal husbandry practices.
Cosmology: The study of the universe, including the relationships between different parts of the cosmos and between humans and the natural world. This includes knowledge about the spiritual and cultural significance of different natural phenomena.
Linguistic knowledge: Many Indigenous communities have developed unique languages that reflect their worldview and their intimate relationship with the natural world. Linguistic knowledge is an important aspect of Indigenous knowledge and is often necessary for understanding other types of knowledge.
Traditional land management: Indigenous people have developed sophisticated systems for managing their land and natural resources. This includes knowledge about land tenure, land use policies, and land management practices.
Spiritual knowledge: Indigenous people have deep spiritual connections to the natural world and understand the interconnectedness of all beings. Spiritual knowledge is often expressed through ceremonies, religions, and other cultural practices.
Traditional ecological calendars: Many Indigenous communities have developed complex calendars that reflect the cyclical rhythms of the natural world. These calendars are used to track the seasons, predict weather patterns, and guide the timing of various cultural activities.
Traditional knowledge systems: Indigenous knowledge systems are often holistic, integrating social, cultural, spiritual, and ecological components of life. Traditional knowledge systems emphasize the interconnectivity of all beings and the importance of living in harmony with nature.
Traditional hunting and fishing practices: Indigenous people have developed sophisticated hunting and fishing practices that are based on a deep understanding of the natural world. These practices are often highly ritualized and are designed to minimize impacts on plant and animal populations.
"It is handed down through generations through traditional songs, stories, and beliefs."
"It is concerned with the relationship of living beings (including human) with their traditional groups and with their environment."
"TEK is used as a substitute for baseline environmental data in cases where there is little recorded scientific data, or may complement Western scientific methods of ecological management."
"The application of TEK in the field of ecological management and science is still controversial."
"Methods of acquiring and collecting knowledge... differ from those used to create and validate scientific ecological knowledge from a Western perspective."
"Non-tribal government agencies, such as the U.S. EPA, have established integration programs with some tribal governments in order to incorporate TEK in environmental plans and climate change tracking."
"There is a debate whether Indigenous populations retain an intellectual property right over traditional knowledge."
"TEK is most frequently preserved as oral tradition and as such may lack objectively confirmed documentation."
"Traditional knowledge is used to maintain resources necessary for survival."
"TEK itself, and the communities tied to the oral tradition, may become threatened in the context of rapid climate change or environmental degradation."
"TEK is proving critical for understanding the impacts of those changes within the ecosystem."
"TEK can also refer to traditional environmental knowledge which emphasizes the different components and interactions of the environment."
"TEK refers to 'a cumulative body of knowledge, belief, and practice, evolving by accumulation of TEK.'"
"...handed down through generations through traditional songs, stories, and beliefs."
"Methods of acquiring and collecting knowledge...differ from those used to create and validate scientific ecological knowledge from a Western perspective."
"Non-tribal government agencies...established integration programs with some tribal governments in order to incorporate TEK in environmental plans and climate change tracking."
"As such, the same methods that could resolve the issue of documentation to meet Western requirements may compromise the very nature of traditional knowledge."
"TEK is concerned with the relationship of living beings with their traditional groups and with their environment."
"TEK is used in natural resource management as a substitute for baseline environmental data in cases where there is little recorded scientific data, or may complement Western scientific methods of ecological management."