Module 1: What is Traditional Ecological Knowledge?

This knowledge is crucial for sustainability. However, the process of colonization has profoundly disrupted TEK in numerous ways.

1. Land Dispossession and Relocation: Colonization often involved the forceful displacement of indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands. This separation from their traditional territories disrupted their intimate relationships with the environment, which are essential for the transmission and application of TEK. For example, the relocation of Native American tribes to reservations in the United States severed their ties to lands that were integral to their cultural and ecological practices.

2. Cultural Suppression: Colonial policies frequently aimed to suppress indigenous cultures and languages, which are the primary vehicles for transmitting TEK. Missionary schools, for example, prohibited Indigenous languages and cultural practices, undermining the oral traditions through which TEK is shared and taught. The residential school system in Canada exemplifies this, where Indigenous children were forbidden from speaking their native languages or practicing their traditions, leading to a loss of Ecological Knowledge passed down through generations.

3. Environmental Degradation: Colonial exploitation of natural resources led to significant environmental changes that disrupted Traditional Ecological systems. Deforestation, mining, agriculture, and urbanization altered the landscapes and ecosystems that Indigenous peoples relied upon, making it difficult to maintain traditional practices and knowledge systems. For instance, the extensive logging and mining activities in many parts of Africa and South America have destroyed habitats and biodiversity critical to Indigenous ways of life. There are multiple examples around the world.

4. Legal and Political Marginalization: Colonial and post-colonial legal systems often marginalized Indigenous peoples and denied them rights to manage their lands and resources. This exclusion from decision-making processes about land use and resource management meant that TEK was disregarded in favor of Western scientific approaches. The imposition of Western property laws and the failure to recognize Indigenous rights continue to pose significant challenges for the practice and preservation of TEK.

5. Economic Pressures: The introduction of a market economy and the subsequent economic pressures forced many Indigenous peoples to abandon traditional practices in favor of more commercially viable activities. This shift often led to the neglect of TEK, as younger generations were encouraged to pursue formal education and employment opportunities rather than traditional livelihoods.

1. Wolfe, P. (2006). Settler Colonialism and the Elimination of the Native. *Journal of Genocide Research*, 8(4), 387-409.

2. Alfred, T. (2009). *Peace, Power, Righteousness: An Indigenous Manifesto*. Oxford University Press.

3. Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. (2015). *Honoring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future*.

4. Battiste, M. (2000). *Reclaiming Indigenous Voice and Vision*. UBC Press.

5. Global Witness. (2018). *Defending Tomorrow: The climate crisis and threats against land and environmental defenders*.

6. Macdonald, F. (2002). Colonizing Our Bodies. *International Journal of Indigenous Health*, 1(1), 23-32.

7. Anaya, J. (2004). *Indigenous Peoples in International Law*. Oxford University Press.

8. Simpson, L. B. (2004). Anticolonial Strategies for the Recovery and Maintenance of Indigenous Knowledge. *The American Indian Quarterly*, 28(3/4), 373-384.

9. Coulthard, G. S. (2014). *Red Skin, White Masks: Rejecting the Colonial Politics of Recognition*. University of Minnesota Press.

There is an increasing recognition of the importance of TEK and a recognition of the value and relevance of Indigenous and local knowledge systems in contemporary environmental management and sustainability practices. This course seeks to provide educators with a deeper knowledge of TEK both historically and in current practices, as well as expand skills in using TEK practices as a way to connect students to place and develop the skills and mindset to use TEK practices as a way of knowing and sustaining the world around us. 

To better understand TEK, first explore more on what TEK is.

TASK 2:  Read this brief overview of Traditional Ecological Knowledge from the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Guidelines for Excellence

TASK 3:  Read this overview of Traditional Ecological Knowledge from the Oregon State College of Forestry.

Next explore TEK as compared to Western Science, which is most often taught in schools and centers around scientific processes, theories and laws as represented in science standards and most textbooks.  

TASK 4: Exploring Traditional/Indigenous/Native Science and Western Science.  To begin, explore this brief overview of TEK and Western Science from Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer from the Grand Canyon Trust.  Next, take a deeper dive into exploring TEK and Western Science with Dr. Kimmerer in this video (optional).