Indigenous science
Indigenous science applies careful observation and oral tradition to understand nature.
Indigenous science brings together Indigenous knowledge and scientific methods. It relies on close observation of the natural world and hands-on experimentation. This field is holistic, drawing from physical, social, mental, and cultural understanding. When focused on ecology and the environment, it is often called traditional ecological knowledge. The knowledge systems and practices of Indigenous peoples are central to this field, rooted in their cultural traditions and their relationships with their specific lands.
Some methods in Indigenous science overlap with Western science, including observation, prediction, interpretation, and questioning. But there are key differences. Indigenous knowledge is tied to a particular place and case; it does not aim to label or generalize natural processes. Western science, by contrast, seeks broad commonalities and universal theories, like Newton’s laws of physics. Most Indigenous knowledge comes from human relationships with the environment, passed down through stories or discovered through observation. Western science often isolates specific targets for study, separating them from their surroundings and building on assumptions and theories. Community plays a larger role in Indigenous science, with conclusions shared through oral tradition and family knowledge. Western research is typically published in specialized journals, sometimes with restricted access.
There is a long history of oppression against Native Americans, starting with settlers in America, and this has affected Indigenous science. American scientists and academics have often overlooked Indigenous findings and knowledge. Multiple studies show that Indigenous perspectives rarely appear in empirical research, leading to underrepresentation of Native people in research fields. Western researchers have also profited from studying Indigenous nations, while tribes receive no compensation for their work or information.
In Canada, Indigenous peoples have faced unethical and exploitative research practices. During the 1930s and 1940s, Canadian researchers used around 600 Indigenous infants in “human experimental work,” reportedly treating them as “guinea pigs” to gather data on the tuberculosis vaccine. These actions are part of a broader history of colonial research, where Indigenous communities were treated as objects of study rather than as peoples with aut
- field
- Indigenous science / traditional ecological knowledge
- known_for
- Place-based, holistic knowledge systems; oral traditions; ecological management
- related_concepts
- Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), ethnobiology, Qaujimajatuqangit
Lore & Background
Indigenous science is rooted in cultural traditions and relationships to place. Knowledge is often passed down orally through songs, dances, and stories, which preserve accurate information over centuries. For example, Australian aboriginal oral traditions marked the Henbury Meteorite site, and Inuit place names like Salliq encode ecological and geographical knowledge. Indigenous science does not attempt to generalize natural processes but is case- and place-specific, stemming from human-environment relationships.
Reader's Guide
Indigenous science offers a holistic perspective that differs from Western science, which isolates targets and seeks universal theories. It has been historically overlooked and exploited by Western researchers, with Indigenous communities subjected to unethical practices, such as the 1930s–1940s tuberculosis vaccine experiments on Indigenous infants in Canada. In the 21st century, recognition of Indigenous science has grown, especially in ecology and environmental management. Collaboration is increasing through Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), which provide accessible higher education and platforms for scientific advancement, such as Haskell University's 2024 climate change symposium. Indigenous knowledge has informed studies of salmon restoration, seabird harvests, hantavirus outbreaks, and wildfires, and is used in Arctic climatology through Inuit knowledge of sea ice and ecological dynamics.
Did You Know?
- Indigenous science is based on careful observation and experimentation, and is holistic, informed by physical, social, mental, and cultural knowledge.
- Oral traditions in Indigenous science include songs and dances that preserve accurate information for centuries, such as Australian aboriginal songs marking the Henbury Meteorite site.
- In the 1930s and 1940s, Canadian researchers subjected approximately 600 Indigenous infants to unethical experimental work related to the tuberculosis vaccine.
- Place names in Inuit and Kānaka Maoli cultures encode ecological knowledge, such as the crater Halemaʻumaʻu, which means 'House [surrounded by] ʻamaʻu ferns.'
More in Traditional knowledge 1-24
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