The term “Indigenous knowledge”, in this volume, is used interchangeably with the term Traditional Knowledge (TK) or Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) – the cumulative body of knowledge, practices and beliefs that have developed over many generations by local communities about ecosystems and their relationship to it (Berkes, 2008). Although the term “Indigenous Knowledge” is being used in this report, “Traditional Knowledge” is the term embedded in legislation and various policies in Canada including land claim settlement agreements and processes (Brenda Parlee, 2012).
Although the term suggests homogeneity, Indigenous knowledge is complex and diverse. It is often more appropriate and useful to refer to the local cultural context or refer to the mode or frame in which peoples articulate their own Indigenous knowledge (e.g., Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is the knowledge of Inuit peoples of northern Canada). Moreover, referring to the specific resource or management context of the Indigenous Knowledge may be ideal best practice in monitoring (e.g., Denesọłiné knowledge of caribou).
Indigenous knowledge has many different dimensions. In addition to local knowledge (observations) it also refers to the practices, beliefs and institutions (rules) for relating to and respecting resources and ecosystems.
Not all multi-generational and land-based knowledge is attributable to Indigenous peoples of framed as Traditional Knowledge. Fishers’ knowledge can refer to the knowledge of Indigenous fishers (e.g., the Haida) but can also refer to non-Indigenous fishers and their multi-generational knowledge (e.g. inshore fishers’ knowledge in Newfoundland) (B. Neis, 1992).
Traditional knowledge is unique from local knowledge in that it is more longitudinal or tends to be based on many more years, if not generations, of observing, experiencing and interpreting ecosystems (Battiste, 2011; Berkes, 2009; Danielson et al., 2009; McGregor, 2000; D. Riedlinger & Berkes, 2000). It is because of this longitudinal scope, that Traditional Knowledge is increasingly recognized as useful in monitoring by many scientists, resource managers and governments (Boyce, Baxter, & Possingham, 2012; Henri, Jean-Gagnon, & G., 2018; P. Lyver, 2002; H. Moller, F. Berkes, P. O. B. Lyver, & M. Kislalioglu, 2004; Whitelaw, Vaughan, Craig, & Atkinson, 2003). In this context Traditional Knowledge may be able to help answer the following kinds of questions:
- What are useful indicators for understanding ecosystem dynamics?
- What kinds of patterns of ecological variability are characteristic of particular ecosystems and how do those differ from changes that might be associated with climate change?
- What are the ways in which different kinds of ecosystem components interact over time?
- How should we respectfully and meaningfully track these changes over time?