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Definition
Indigenous knowledge (IK) refers to knowledge generated within
communities that is location and gender specific (definition
paraphrased from the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction's
website, link below). This knowledge, used as the basis for
decision-making and survival strategies, is not systematically
documented, and is dynamic, based on innovation, adaptation
and experimentation. Often IK is passed orally and is community-based
rather than held by individuals. IK usually addresses critical
issues such as primary production, human and animal life,
and natural resources management. The CCRP places high priority
on fostering, learning from and enhancing indigenous or local
knowledge, as it is a program that focuses on neglected
"orphan crops," areas of the world that lack
sufficient research funding and collaborative research and
development projects.
Relevant CCRP projects
None listed as of
.
Relevant events
None listed as of
.
Relevant literature
General references
- Warren, D. M. 1991. Using indigenous knowledge in agricultural
development. World Bank Discussion Paper No. 127. Washington,
D.C.: The World Bank.
- Rajasekaran, B., D. M. Warren, and S. C. Babu. 1991. Indigenous
natural-resource management systems for sustainable agricultural
development: A global perspective. Journal of International
Development 3 (4): 387-402.
Available on the Internet
Indigenous soil and water conservation
Utilizing local knowledge
- Website: Columbia
University CIESIN
- Reference:Warren, D. M., and B. Rajasekaran. 1993. Putting
local knowledge to good use. International Agricultural
Development 13 (4): 8-10.
Indigenous technical practices
- Website: Columbia
University CIESIN
- Reference: Rajasekaran, B. 1993. Indigenous technical
practices in a rice-based farming system. Ames, IA: Center
for Indigenous Knowledge for Agriculture and Rural Development.
Land resource evaluation and indigenous knowledge
- Website: Blackwell-Synergy
- Reference: Sillitoe, P. 1998. Knowing the land: soil and
land resource evaluation and indigenous knowledge. Soil
Use and Management 14 (4): 188-193.
Protecting indigenous knowledge
- Website: Indian
and Northern Affairs-Canada
Scroll down to find this document in PDF format.
- Reference: Community Guide to Protecting Indigenous Knowledge.
2001. S. Brascoupe and H. Mann. Ottawa: Department of Indian
Affairs and Northern Development.
- Description: This guidebook is intended for aboriginal
communities to recognize, preserve, protect and share their
knowledge. It outlines how to organize a community meeting
about the issue of IK, how to initiate the first steps to
a plan of action around IK and how to secure control over
IK.
Working with indigenous knowledge
- Website: IDRC
- Reference: Working with Indigenous Knowledge: A Guide
for Researchers (1998). By Louise Grenier, Ottawa: IDRC.
- Description: "This guidebook zeros in on what indigenous
knowledge can contribute to a sustainable development strategy
that accounts for the potential of the local environment
and the experience and wisdom of the indigenous population.
Through an extensive review of field examples as well as
current theory and practice, it provides a succinct yet
comprehensive review of indigenous knowledge research and
assessment. Working with Indigenous Knowledge will contribute
to the improved design, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation
of any program of research and will appeal to both seasoned
development professional as well as the novice or student
just beginning a research career."
Relevant links
Center for Indigenous Knowledge for Agriculture and Rural
Development (CIKARD)
- Website: CIKARD
- Description: "The Center for Indigenous Knowledge for Agriculture
and Rural Development (CIKARD) at Iowa State University focuses
its activities on preserving and using the local knowledge
of farmers and other rural people around the globe. CIKARD
was established at Iowa State University in October 1987...
Its goal is to collect indigenous knowledge and make it available
to development professionals and scientists. CIKARD concentrates
on indigenous knowledge systems (such as local soil taxonomies),
decision-making systems (such as knowledge of which crops
are best suited to particular types of soils), organizational
structures (such as farmers problem-solving groups), and innovations
(such as local methods for pest control)." The site contains
contact information for global, national and regional indigenous
knowledge resource centers, resources for IK and information
about CIKARD.
Best Practices on Indigenous Knowledge
- Website: UNESCO
- Description: This is a database established by the Netherlands
Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education
/ Indigenous Knowledge (NUFFIC/IK-Unit) in co-operation
with UNESCO's Management of Social Transformations Programme
(MOST) in 1999. It contains 49 best practice case studies,
which illustrate "the use of local and indigenous knowledge
in the development of cost-effective and sustainable survival
strategies, covering Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, North
America and Latin America & Caribbean. It also includes
a geographical and thematic index and an index of institutions
acting as indigenous knowledge resource centres."
Science and Development Network Site on Indigenous Knowledge
- Website: Science and Development Network
- Description: The overall aim of the Science and Development Network
(SciDev.Net) is to enhance the provision of reliable and authoritative
information on science- and technology-related issues that
impact on the economic and social development of developing
countries." This site reports on the latest news related
to science, development and indigenous knowledge. There is
also some information on papers and definitions related to
IK.
World Bank's Indigenous Knowledge Site for Africa
- Website: World
Bank
- Description: This site contains information about IK projects
of the World Bank, toolkits related to IK, other resources
on IK and upcoming events.
Indilinga: African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge Systems
- Website: Indilinga
- Description: "The aim and thrust of IAJIKS is to
bring together scholars and thinkers to promote, analyse,
critique and preserve Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS).
The Journal is devoted to the promotion of the research
and scholarship of IKS." This site gives free access
to abstracts of articles in the journal.
Development Gateway's Topic Page on Indigenous Issues
- Website: Development
Gateway
- Description: The Development Gateway is an independent
foundation (originally founded by the World Bank) aimed
at improving developing countries' effective use of the
internet by "increasing access to critical information,
building local capacity and bringing partners together for
positive change." This website provides news, resources
and links to other sites on indigenous issues. There is
a sidebar link to news and information about indigenous
knowledge.
Indigenous Knowledge Programme
- Website: IKP
- Description: This Canadian NGO provides funding and support
to indigenous knowledge activities, including: "1)
concrete activities at the community level that promote
the sustainable development of indigenous communities; 2)
research by and for indigenous peoples, and capacity building
to establish priority research topics and to direct research
activities, and 3) indigenous peoples' activities at the
policy level to ensure that their concerns are reflected
in regard to the conservation and protection of indigenous
knowledge and that indigenous peoples are included in decision-making
processes at the international and national levels."
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