Unpacking Key Terms: Sustainable Development, Indigenous Knowledges, Methodology

Abstract

This chapter aims to unpack through a relevant literature review the three key concepts this book, which is focused on Indigenous methodologies, research and practices for sustainable development, operates with. These key concepts include: sustainable development, Indigenous knowledges and methodology. While the chapter separates the explanation of these notions for analytical purposes, it also aims to bring the discussion of them together, highlighting intrinsic links amongst them, by putting forward the following argument. Although the coordination, or orchestration, of sustainable development by the United Nations to date has pitfalls, this organisation with its worldwide reach, has the power to coordinate the awareness raising and the dissemination of cutting-edge ideas about sustainable development which are interlinked with sustainable entrepreneurship. This can be done by appealing to knowledge as a major tool in this process. Researching and mobilising Indigenous knowledges in this process is a specific case that this chapter explores. Instead of integrating Indigenous knowledges with Western knowledges, which is what a range of prior studies suggest, this chapter demonstrates the need to decolonise Indigenous knowledges so they can occupy an active position in the global knowledge systems. Indigenous knowledges can be decolonised through emancipatory research that steps away from Western limiting approaches. Liberated Indigenous knowledges are presented in this chapter as a tool for a new sustainable development agenda informed by the idea of sustainable entrepreneurship.