Concept note to share. [Kaitlin will add]
Definitions:
- “Indigenous ecological knowledge” “contemporary stewardship” How do identify if something is traditional? It is deeply contextual.
- What is the definition of appropriation vs independent discovery happening in parallel, the context of how something got to the point that it it is now at.
- western concepts of ownership are different and this is an assumption.
- the fact that we are asking this question is rooted in our western ideology. That thinking was imported along with everything else.
- What is data, what is knowledge, what is the difference.
Challenges & Questions:
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Within our (white) culture, how do we recognize a different context and respect it? What should we be doing to best reflect and respect the depth of experience in which we encounter?
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You can be working with an intermediary who is the tribe leader, but they are doing something that isn’t representative of the group? If you are the technology provider, you are either seen as part of the system or oppression.
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Sometimes open isn’t appropriate, especially when it comes to cultural values and context, networks or trust. What protections and questions need to be answered before more outside players are brought in?
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What is the difference between a community knowledge sharing system and these?
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Self determination - is one person enough to spend a lot of time and money to invest? esp to make things more accessible?
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Land that you own and a drone flys over and captures data. That data belongs to the land owner? Google is collecting bee data through their mite sensor in the bee feeder. And now Google can identify where all the pollination is happening across the USA. Got hung up at FDA. BeeHero.
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What case studies can we look at?
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There is a fellowship program with mostly indigenous people, and there is a huge variety of examples. Examples:
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For example, the indigenous people in the Amazon have been working hard to protect the land, we've already had enough knowledge extracted, so we won't give it out anymore. Very guarded. -
Or there is an oral history for 1000 years, but the whole reason for that knowledge transfer is to not have a container, so should tech even be involved. -
Africa example: our tribe/etc isn't being reflected in our government's climate plan, and we need help to maintain our lands, seeds, etc. They have less concern around appropriation because they want to be as loud as possible and get funding to support their efforts. -
CA controlled burning practices and getting items approved. -
TerraStories (South American) example.
Control and decision making need to be clear.