Traditional ecological knowledge

Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) describes indigenous and other traditional knowledge of local resources. As a field of study in North American anthropology, TEK refers to "a cumulative body of knowledge, belief, and practice, evolving by accumulation of TEK and handed down through generations through traditional songs, stories and beliefs. It is concerned with the relationship of living beings (including human) with their traditional groups and with their environment."^[1] Indigenous knowledge is not a universal concept among various societies, but is referred to a system of knowledge traditions or practices that are heavily dependent on "place".^[2]

TEK encompasses a diverse range of knowledge across ecologies and communities around the world. It is rooted in generations of practice and care in tending to the land and the environment.^[3] TEK has the power to both complement and correct present-day climate solutions, providing a critical ancestral perspective that can help restore balance. However, simultaneously, the implementation of TEK must be enacted with consideration and immediate involvement of indigenous communities, as otherwise, the burden to find a solution will fall upon them.^[4] TEK, like many other forms of indigenous knowledge and sciences, can often be sacred, so it is critical to engage closely with the community to not disrespect their ancestral wisdom. Inherently, TEK exists in the liminal space between science and spirituality, intricately merging these two realms which seem at odds in the current Western world.^[5]

The application of TEK in the field of ecological management and science is still controversial, as methods of acquiring and collecting knowledge—although often including forms of empirical research and experimentation—differ from those used to create and validate scientific ecological knowledge from a Western perspective.^[6][7] Non-tribal government agencies, such as the U.S. EPA, have established integration programs with some tribal governments in order to incorporate TEK in environmental plans and climate change tracking.

There is a debate whether Indigenous populations retain an intellectual property right over traditional knowledge and whether use of this knowledge requires prior permission and license.^[8] This is especially complicated because TEK is most frequently preserved as oral tradition and as such may lack objectively confirmed documentation. As such, the same methods that could resolve the issue of documentation to meet Western requirements may compromise the very nature of traditional knowledge.

Traditional knowledge is used to maintain resources necessary for survival.^[9] While TEK itself, and the communities tied to the oral tradition, may become threatened in the context of rapid climate change or environmental degradation,^[10] TEK is proving critical for understanding the impacts of those changes within the ecosystem.

TEK can also refer to traditional environmental knowledge which emphasizes the different components and interactions of the environment.^[11]