United Knowledge
The United Nations University is working with Charles Darwin University and support from the Christensen Fund to establish the Traditional Knowledge Institute. The effort to “promote and strengthen research on traditional knowledge” started in 2007 with explorations of indigenous people’s views on climate change, water management, biological resources, marine management, forestry and international policy-making. The in-depth summits and symposiums are complemented by practical applications such as the mapping project on Indigenous water management practices and the development of templates to recognize and validate traditional knowledge in higher education. The program is still in its pilot stage but may become a permanent institution enable Indigenous cultures to “conserve and apply their knowledge in an increasingly globalized economy.”
Image: "General Assembly Hall, United Nations HG (New York City)" by Luke Redmond courtesy of Creative Commons licensing.
- 11-4-09
- Erin Shaw's blog
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Great Intentions
Lets just hope that this "Traditional Knowledge Institute" ends up benefiting the Indigenous people and groups contributing to it just as much as the non-indigenous people who will be utilizing it...
After my experience working with Charles Darwin University (CDU) in Australia this summer, I have come to realize that CDU really stands for Completely Disorganized University. Although they have a large and wonderful department devoted to Yolngu Aboriginal studies, it seems to be utterly disconnected from the rest of the institution.
I pray to god that if and when this Institute does get created, it keeps the best interest of the indigenous peoples at heart.
Seems a bit strange
Are indigenous, traditional knowledge and economics able to coexist? It seems to me that there are some fundamental differences in the two approaches to information and "resources" that would make such a "marriage" very incompatible.
And I hardly think indigenous, traditional knowledge needs validation from the knowledge keepers of the "civilized" world. These institutions would be doing everyone a service by tackling a project to resolve the conflicts within the field of information that they peddle.
These things look good at first glance, with their good intentions, but to me, often seem hollow and demeaning in the underlying process, watering down what was once strong and vigorous. In particular, it seems especially ineffective to keep reinforcing the generic, shared ego-type boundaries between people.
Teachng.