Traditional Ecological Knowledge 101

Echinacea - one of the most popular indigenous treatments in the Western world

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is the backbone of many modern medicines, agricultural techniques, beauty products and more. In this post, I'll walk you through what TEK is and why indigenous knowledge holders deserve much more respect than they get. 

What is Traditional Ecological Knowledge?

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is the environmental wisdom that indigenous cultures have passed down for hundreds or thousands of years. TEK encompasses a huge array of knowledge because many indigenous cultures interact with nature much (much much) more often than non-indigenous cultures. From herbal medicines to agricultural methods to migration patterns, TEK encompasses it all. 

Characteristics of TEK

Passed down for centuries

TEK has usually been passed down from generation to generation over several centuries. Much TEK is not written down but rather maintained verbally and through traditional cultural practices. 

Unfortunately, a ton of indigenous knowledge is lost every day because no one has recorded it. As many people move away from their culture's traditional indigenous practices (due to chosen or forced to assimilation, environmental changes, or other factors), these knowledge systems are no longer maintained verbally or through practice. 

To keep these knowledge systems alive, politicians, scientists, journalists and everyday citizens in the Western world need to place greater value on indigenous cultures. Listening to indigenous people's concerns and learning about indigenous methods and knowledge systems can help us understand the importance of TEK and respect indigenous people and cultures. 

Place-Specific and Culture-Specific

Since TEK involves super complicated systems of knowledge, it is usually place- and culture-specific. In other words, TEK is not one set of knowledge shared between all indigenous people. Instead, it is unique to the particular environmental shifts and patterns of a given region and the particular cultural needs of the people who live there. 

For example, the Sami people, who are indigenous to present-day Northern Europe and Asia, have very different TEK than the Maori people, who are indigenous to present-day New Zealand. While the Sami people might have in-depth knowledge about reindeer migration and eating patterns, the Maori people might know the ideal habitat of kereru, a pigeon native to New Zealand. Both of these groups of people are ultra-connected to their unique environments, giving them very different sets of knowledge. 

Holistic

Unlike modern science, which often takes a piecemeal approach to problems and phenomena, TEK usually strives to understand phenomena as part of an interconnected system. With TEK, indigenous people are more inclined to search for and address the root of problems rather than simply treat the symptoms of those problems. 

For example, if a farmer in the U.S. noticed that aphids were attacking their crops, they would likely spray a pesticide on their crops to kill the aphids. On the other hand, if an indigenous farmer noticed aphids on their crops, they would probably adjust the entire ecosystem surrounding their field. They might intersperse aphid-deterring plants among their other crops, or kill fewer aphid predators to encourage biological control of aphid populations. 

The indigenous farmer's approach emphasizes working with their environment as a whole rather than trying to control specific aspects of their environment. This difference in approaches stems from the holistic mindset of TEK. Often, TEK systems see every part of the world as interconnected, with each piece playing a vital role in the function of the whole, while Western approaches do not recognize this connection. 

Overlooked or Exploited in Modern Science

All of these characteristics combine to make TEK very different from and difficult to incorporate in modern Western science. Modern Western scientific methods value isolated variables and updated records, while TEK values holistic verbal traditions. Additionally, TEK often has roots in religion or mysticism that modern science cannot accurately replicate or that scientists choose not to respect. Modern studies often discount TEK because of these differences. 

Recently, some scientists have tried to use modern scientific methods to demonstrate what are well-known facts in TEK. This approach has led to widespread use of plant-derrived medicines and supplements, like aspirin, ginseng, or ginger, and given scientists a better understanding of plant-derived ingredients. 

Although these studies often have practical uses in Western cultures, many of these studies do not credit or repay indigenous people. This lack of recognition has left many indigenous people feeling exploited, and rightfully so. Unless more legal measures are put in place to ensure that scientists amply credit indigenous people for their knowledge, legal battles involving intellectual property will likely continue as Western scientists continue to exploit TEK. 

TEK in the Western World

Traditional ecological knowledge is all around us, even if we don’t realize it. Western countries have derived tons of drugs, herbs, beauty products, forestry methods and more from TEK. Here are some common examples of TEK in action in the Western world:

Aspirin

Aspirin is a v popular pain medicine in many Western countries. Many Aspirin-poppers don't realize that the drug is derived from willow bark, which Chinese and Greek doctors had used for an estimated 2,000 years before Western countries put it on the market. Willow bark was historically used to reduce fevers, reduce inflammation and more. Today, many Western countries use aspirin as a pain reliever and fever reducer. 

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is an herb with roots in Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine in India. Archeologists have traced its use as back as far as 6000 BC. In Ayurveda, people use ashwagandha to treat a wide variety of ills, from inflammation to constipation to insomnia and more. Many studies using modern Western science have shown ashwagandha to be effective or potentially effective as an anti-arthritic, a treatment for Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and other degenerative diseases, an anti-stress agent, an anti-anxiety agent and more. 

Echinacea

Echinacea is a purple coneflower that is native to present-day North America. Native Americans widely used echinacea as a painkiller and to treat coughs and colds. Many modern studies have shown that echinacea effectively prevents and reduces the severity of cold symptoms. Personally, my echinacea bottle is my best friend when I feel a cold coming on. 

Chinampas

Some of you might be familiar with chinampas because I wrote about them on the blog a few weeks ago. For those who don't know, chinampas are networks of raised crop beds in swampy areas, rivers or lakes that were commonly used among ancient people in Mesoamerica. They are known for saving water, promoting biodiversity and contributing to social equality. To this day, chinampas are a viable and sustainable farming method in central Mexico. 

The Takeaway

Modern science has led to major societal advancement in medicine, food and agriculture, but we cannot overlook TEK or the people who hold this knowledge. TEK has the potential to advance our societies by helping farmers adopt climate-friendly techniques, introducing new medicines, helping people achieve greater mental health or spirituality, and so much more.

Learning about TEK can also help non-indigenous people gain a greater respect for indigenous practices and encourage us to advocate for indigenous rights. TEK, and the people who carry this knowledge, deserve respect, appreciation and plenty of credit for their genius.