Indigenous Knowledge and Tribal Worldview on Forest

Abstract

This durable ethnographic study explores the Indigenous knowledge of the local landscape of the Juang one of the Particular Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of Odisha. Following an ethno-ecology method supported by the case study method, an attempt has been made to highlight the emic view of the tribal people based on their knowledge and worldview. All parts of their natural environment, like hills, streams, forests, vegetation soil type etc. are integral parts of their cultural ambience. Classifying the resources found within their lives and livelihood activities incorporates the bio-physical tenets that include the use, composition, position, and size of the objects and belief system as an inseparable part of their culture. Explanations attributed to naming the natural objects and material goods reveal that with the change in contents due to internal demands and/or external interventions, the context of livelihood changes however, even with the decline of biodiversity, the traditional knowledge remains unchanged.