Traditional Ecological Knowlege

People who live in an area for a long time develop a great deal of knowledge about that place. If they depend on local plants and animals for food, clothing and shelter, they learn a great deal about the species they use and see. If the environment is variable and potentially dangerous, they learn to identify and avoid hazardous places and conditions.

In the Arctic, such knowledge has been known by various terms, including traditional knowledge, indigenous knowledge, local knowledge and Inuit qaujimajatuqangiit. Such terms often incorporate the wisdom that has been gained alongside knowledge. We use the term “traditional knowledge” simply because it is widely recognized.

In recent years, a great deal of research has focused on traditional knowledge in the Arctic. Major projects such as the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment have incorporated traditional knowledge in efforts to understand what is taking place in the region. Nonetheless, there is a great deal more to be done to make the knowledge of Arctic peoples more widely available.

Documenting knowledge in a report, however, is just one step towards fully incorporating what Arctic peoples have learned over generations. A report about traditional knowledge may put certain facts and observations before a larger audience. But using that knowledge appropriately entails the wisdom than many people associate with traditional perspectives.

Co-management organizations and institutes of public governance  are one means of incorporating not just knowledge but also the holders of that knowledge in the decision-making process. Greater involvement by Arctic peoples in the governance of their regions and communities allows their knowledge to benefit modern institutions. These approaches can help in the development of long-term solutions to economic and environmental challenges in the Arctic.