Towards an Indigenous Transdisciplinarity

Abstract

T his paper attempts to theoretically position and characterise an indigenous (M¯ aori) transdisci-plinarity in relation to (i) the transdisciplinary methodology of Basarab Nicolescu and (ii) mode-2 transdisciplinarity (i.e. the Zurich Model). This writing outcome is achieved by drawing attention to the existence of a 'cultural continuum' of knowledge development in which contemporary western science (entire) is viewed as one of an estimated 6,900 culturally mediated approaches to knowledge development that exist on planet Earth today. Recognition of the role of 'culture' and 'indigeneity' in knowledge development is shown to be essential, if we are to avoid the extinction of an estimated 50-90% of the world's current linguistic (cf. cultural) diversity over the next 100 years. As a first step towards characterising an indigenous transdisciplinarity, this paper explores the knowledge development traditions of New Zealand M¯ aori, as drawn from the experiences of the author and writings of p¯ ukenga M¯ aori (transl. M¯ aori scholars).