International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

This year’s theme for International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is The Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) definition is “…Indigenous knowledge refers to the understanding, skills & philosophies developed by societies with long histories of interaction with their natural surroundings. For rural & indigenous peoples, local knowledge informs decision-making about fundamental aspects of day-to-day life.”

There is recognition around the world that Indigenous Peoples have unique knowledge about the local environment, how it functions, and its characteristic ecological relationships. This Indigenous Knowledge (IK) is sometimes referred to as Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK), Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). Indigenous Elders and Women are recognized widely as Indigenous Knowledge holders and western science is increasingly recognizing the value of IK.

At SLR, we strive to incorporate multiple types of knowledge into our work, like IK, local knowledge, and science-based knowledge. Corporately, our staff strives to identify opportunities to collect and incorporate IK into our work.

Let’s acknowledge and honor the role of Indigenous Women and the importance of Indigenous Knowledge in addressing the challenges and opportunities we face. Join the virtual commemoration.