Effective Incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge into Biological Field Stations/Place-based Research Institutes

Abstract

Indigenous Knowledge (IK) has emerged as a valued source of information for many non-indigenous researchers and practitioners. Until recently, the use of IK has been sparse and, in many cases, used with little respect, and the individuals who hold it tended to be excluded from credit. This fact, among others, has created barriers to collaboration between the scientific community and that of Indigenous peoples. In this study I explore thee use of IK and its incorporation into biological field stations and place-based research institutes. Specifically, I examine how integration of IK and western science (e.g. landscape ecology (LE)) is applied to research and management. I carried out a focussed literature review on the subject to develop criteria and themes on the use of IK in research and management. These criteria were used to assess the five case studies (Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve, Queens University Biological Station, Haida Gwaii Institute, Turtle Island Conservation, and River Institute). The cases provide insight into relevant practices that are being used to efficiently and ethically incorporate IK into research and management. An understanding of how IK can be integrated with science through field station and place-based research Institute activities was developed based on these cases. This will allow other benefits to arise such as the further incorporation of IK into research projects as well as other unexplored fields including engineering and computer science.