What role does indigenous knowledge play in national efforts to address climate change?
Indigenous legal scholar Aimée Craft discusses the historically troubled relationship between Western scientific traditions and different forms of indigenous knowledge. Generosity of spirit and mutual respect for different ways of knowing are crucial if we are to more effectively address common challenges such as climate change. She suggests that Western scientists can work together with indigenous peoples to move beyond the status quo, where indigenous knowledge systems are typically embraced only for their capacity to confirm mainstream scientific findings. Creating constructive dialogue and mutual respect between knowledge communities may be vital to our ability to come to terms with the socio-environmental challenges of the future.
