PAPER: Centring Indigenous knowledge systems

Centring Indigenous knowledge systems to re-imagine conservation translocations

August 2020

Rayne A, Byrnes G, Collier-Robinson L, Hollows J, McIntosh A, Ramsden M, Rupene M, Tamati-Elliffe P, Thoms C, Steeves TE 2020. Centring Indigenous knowledge systems to re-imagine conservation translocations. People and Nature 2(3): 512-526.

ABSTRACT

Now more than ever, creative solutions that bring together diverse ways of Knowing and seeing the world are needed to restore and enhance biocultural diversity (interwoven biological, cultural and linguistic systems). Mi’kmaq Elder Dr Albert Marshall describes the Mi’kmaq principle of Etuaptmumk or Two-Eyed Seeing as ‘learning to see from one eye with the strengths of Indigenous knowledges and ways of knowing, and from the other eye with the strengths of Western knowledges and ways of knowing ... and learning to use both these eyes together, for the benefit of all’.

Moving plants and animals to establish new populations or strengthen existing ones (‘conservation translocations’) can enhance species recovery and build ecosystem resilience. Yet, few studies to date have been led or co-led by Indigenous peoples or consider how centring Indigenous knowledge systems can lead to better conservation translocation outcomes.

In this Perspective, as Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers and practitioners working in partnership under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi, 1840), we demonstrate how Two-Eyed Seeing can better inform conservation translocation decisions — such as whether, or how, different populations should be mixed.

KEYWORDS

biocultural; conservation genomics; ecosystem resilience; freshwater biodiversity; Indigenous knowledge; mātauranga Māori; species recovery; Two-Eyed Seeing