Issues related to sharing traditional knowledge vs knowledge protection
It comes down to credibility – protecting cultural sites.
Grandmother said – don’t put pen to paper, you can’t trust people
Native people have developed a spatial analysis with land and culture. We need to establish a way to protect that.
We don’t want to write our knowledge into a database because it can be stolen
Potential solution: What if you identify people who hold the knowledge and share that?
At USGS, when we are out working with someone from a tribe, if the tribe doesn’t want it known we don’t write it down, because if we write it down we are obligated to publish it.
I am a biologist working for a tribe. Working with the tribe is fantastic. We have shared values. Through federal agencies there is a lot of money available if tribes are a partner.
Scientists and tribal people can accomplish a lot if they work together
The use of traditional Cultural Property is under federal protection. There are specific ways of documenting it to conserve the landscape
I wouldn’t worry about them acquiring our knowledge so much. If you want to learn something, it takes a mentor and it takes a long time. It has value.
I don’t think Western Science sees it that way.
Western Science doesn’t see a worldview, connections, continuity. They are missing so much in not opening their minds.
