Traditional knowledge and wisdom: A guide for understanding and shaping alaskan social-ecological change

Abstract

Alaska is warming twice as fast as the global average. These environmental changes interact with social and economic changes and have particularly strong impacts on rural indigenous communities that depend on their biophysical environment for food, access to the land and sea, and their sense of identity. Many of the observations of indigenous hunters, gatherers, and elders are consistent with those of western science, providing a strong foundation for understanding and adapting to ongoing changes. However, a commonly expressed worldview of many Alaska Natives differs from perspectives that are common in western science. This indigenous worldview recognizes people as integral components of the ecosystems they inhabit, connected by both biophysical and spiritual ties and motivated by respect for the natural environment and its human, non-human, and spiritual residents. This ethic of respect and reciprocity dictates a responsibility to foster the long-term well-being of all of Earth’s residents. This is consistent with a paradigm of stewardship that seeks to shape trajectories of change in ways that foster ecological resilience and human well being. We suggest that indigenous worldviews offer perspectives that can contribute substantially to efforts that foster global sustainability.