Overview
Within the natural resource management disciplines, there has been a growing recognition of the need to incorporate traditional knowledge into management, as well as adopting co-management approaches. This is especially true when Indigenous cultures are involved. While use of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and co-management has definite philosophical benefits, there are, in practice, significant difficulties. Many of these arise from the epistemological lenses that trained natural resource managers wear intersecting with distinctly different ways of ‘knowing’. Some of the well-known efforts have been characterized as particularly insidious forms of cultural appropriation. This combination of knowledge from different knowledge systems is a difficult aspect of wildlife management that is trying to incorporate TEK.
Literature Cited
Houde, N. 2007. The six faces of traditional ecological knowledge: challenges and opportunities for Canadian co-management arrangements. Ecology and Society 12(2): 34. http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol12/iss2/art34/Links to an external site.
Rathwell, K.J., D. Armitage, and F. Berkes. 2015. Bridging knowledge systems to enhance governance of the environmental commons: a typology of settings. International Journal of the Commons 9(2):851-880.
View rubric
Initial Post
Due Date: 3 AM ET, Thursday
For this discussion, based on your viewing of the Vimeo, the week’s readings, and outside material, provide your thoughts on the use of TEK and co-management by natural resource managers. In particular, Houde (2007) describes TEK as having six aspects (‘faces’), three of which deal with knowledge generation and three of which are based on underlying values and belief systems. In your post, make sure to specifically deal with the three faces based on underlying value systems. In addition, Rathwell et al (2015) provide a framework consisting of four large categories to guide managers wishing to inform management with knowledge from both scientific and traditional sources. Please address the following prompts and utilize additional literature resources to support your statements.
Which of the three ‘faces’ of TEK that deal with the underlying value system, as described by Houde (2007), do you find most challenging to address and acknowledge as a wildlife manager? For each, address why they present a challenge.
What process might a wildlife manager use to incorporate TEK into management actions and decision-making? Utilize the ideas of Rathwell et al (2015) to inform your proposed approach.
Mark as done.
Responses
Due Date: 3 AM ET, Monday
Please respond to at least three of your classmates by expanding on their initial posts. Provide examples to support or challenge their statements.
Rubric
Title:
Week 6 Discussion: Western Science & Traditional Knowledge
Week 6 Discussion: Western Science & Traditional Knowledge
Criteria Ratings Pts
Edit criterion descriptionDelete criterion row
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeInitial Post
Identifies one underlying value ‘face’ as the most challenging and provides rationale for perspective. Synthesizes framework from Rothwell to recommend ways to integrate TEK into management approaches. Uses proper grammar, appropriate terminology, and correct spelling. Integrates outside sources relevant to the discussion and cites using a standardized citation style (eg, APA, CSE, Chicago, etc.).
Range
threshold: pts
This area will be used by the assessor to leave comments related to this criterion.
pts
4 pts
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Edit criterion descriptionDelete criterion row
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeResponses
Compares and contrasts three peers’ ‘face’ challenges with their own and assesses their integration of TEK. Uses proper grammar, appropriate terminology, and correct spelling. Integrates outside sources relevant to the discussion and cites using a standardized citation style (eg, APA, CSE, Chicago, etc.).
Range
threshold: pts
This area will be used by the assessor to leave comments related to this criterion.
pts
6 pts
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Total Points: 10 out of 10
