Knowledge coevolution: generating new understanding through bridging and strengthening distinct knowledge systems and empowering local knowledge holders

J M Chapman,S Schott

doi:10.1007/s11625-020-00781-2

Abstract

The effective and appropriate bridging of Western science with traditional or Indigenous knowledge is an ongoing discussion in the literature and in practice. The discourse transitioned from separate knowledge system to knowledge integration and most recently to knowledge co-production. We argue it is the moral and ethical responsibility of Western scientists working in and with Indigenous communities to make a concerted effort to collectively create mutually advantageous new knowledge while strengthening traditional knowledge and considering the normative impacts of Western science methods. Our knowledge coevolution framework provides guidance for achieving this in a flexible manner that can be applied to an array of research programs. Project governance structure, steps for implementation, checks and balances, and challenges are presented within the context of research project execution. We then illustrate application of the model throughout a harvest study conducted in Gjoa Haven, Nunavut, Canada.

Highlights

The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Indigenous communities holding official land title have a right to benefit from the land economically and determine how that land will be used by future generations
The objective of this paper is to provide a long-term, dynamic team-based research framework that considers the different forms of Traditional Knowledge (TK), how these may be impacted by knowledge integration processes, and how Western science (WS) and TK can co-evolve while generating new knowledge that is directed to a collective goal
Indigenous knowledge is being lost at an accelerating rate, as is the cultural knowledge systems through which Indigenous knowledge holders interpret the ecological world around them

Summary

Introduction

The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Indigenous communities holding official land title have a right to benefit from the land economically and determine how that land will be used by future generations Legacy resource management structures that assert federal and provincial jurisdiction over Indigenous people’s access and control over natural resources within officially recognized settlement areas are slowly being amended to account for their right to self-determination. University, Ottawa, Canada towards self-governance and determination. Through this process, resource management is supposed to be transferred back to Indigenous communities across Canada, but implementation strategies remain a challenge, and may be further slowed by uncertainty.

Objectives

Conclusion