by Charlie Marshall and Mitch Downton, APC Staff

Indigenous Knowledge (IK) has been a topic of interest recently. IK is transmitted orally from generation to generation and developed from experience gained over the centuries and adapted to the local culture and environment. It tends to be place-based, collectively owned and takes the form of stories, songs, folklore, proverbs, cultural values, beliefs, rituals, community laws, local language, and agricultural practices. Furthermore, IK implies that the knowledge of Indigenous peoples is that of the past and therefore tends to be considered irrelevant when compared to western science. However, IK not only encompasses current and ongoing knowledge, it incorporates a whole values system.

The federal government has produced new legislation incorporating IK. This has led to significant challenges for government and their understanding and implementation of IK. The Atlantic Policy Congress (APC), in partnership with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Environment department, hosted an Indigenous Knowledge Workshop in Moncton, NB on February 26 and 27, 2020, to assist AFN in promoting the understanding and complexities of IK. The workshop hosted over 40 participants from indigenous organizations and communities from around the Atlantic region. The purpose was to explore ideas surrounding governance, protection, and how IK can be potentially incorporated in the decision-making processes for all levels of government.

Presentations from the workshop discussed topics ...