Introducing a new STIP Compass thematic portal on Indigenous knowledge and communities

A screenshot of a video game

By Jessica Ambler and Benjamin Bjerkan-Wade
OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation
24 May, 2024

 

As sustainability transitions become increasingly critical, the invaluable contributions of Indigenous communities and their knowledge systems are gaining widespread recognition, particularly in the realms of biodiversity protection and restoration. But what are Indigenous communities and knowledge systems? 

Data from the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) recognises over 5,000 distinct communities in 90 countries as ‘Indigenous’. This accounts for over 475 million people, or 5% of the global population, protecting 80% of the planet’s biodiversity. However, a single, precise, and universally agreed definition of Indigenous Peoples has been elusive. The United Nations’ working definition includes three parts: 1) pre-colonial presence in a territory, 2) cultural, linguistic, and/or social distinctiveness from neighbouring populations, and 3) self-identification as Indigenous and/or recognition by other Indigenous groups.

Similarly, there is no standard definition of Indigenous and local knowledge systems. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) defines these as dynamic bodies of integrated, holistic, social, and ecological knowledge, practices, and beliefs regarding the relationships between living beings, including people, and their environments.

 

Why Indigenous Knowledge Matters in STI Policy Making?

Improving accessibility and inclusion of Indigenous peoples in STEM education and the research workforce is crucial for inclusive digital and green transitions. Many initiatives in the Indigenous Knowledge and Communities portal focus on cultivating targeted skills, such as Australia's Maker Projects and Mexico’s Indigenous Education Support Programme, which foster STEM skills and support Indigenous youth in education. New Zealand initiatives like Kanapu and Ngā Puanga Pūtaiao Fellowships aim to improve equity and representation in the public research workforce by supporting Māori talent and leadership.

Respecting and promoting Indigenous data sovereignty in Open Science activities is essential. Initiatives like the global ‘CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance’ and Canada’s Tri-Agency research data management policy promote Indigenous self-determination and protect Indigenous knowledge through data sovereignty. The US Policy for Data Management and Sharing also provides guidelines for respectful and responsible data management with Indigenous communities.

Partnering with Indigenous communities to tackle shared challenges enhances sustainability transitions. Indigenous knowledge and Western science together contribute to bio-conservation, natural resource management, and sustainable food production. For example, Brazil’s Indigenous approach to integrated fire management and Colombia's Scaling up climate ambition on land use and agriculture programme demonstrate collaborative efforts in resilience and sustainability.

Weaving Indigenous knowledge systems into STI activities and policymaking requires awareness and acceptance of their unique perspectives. Initiatives like Canada’s strategy to support Indigenous research and the US Memorandum to Recognise Indigenous Knowledge highlight efforts to integrate Western and Indigenous knowledge, promoting collaboration and reconciliation in research and decision-making.

 

Supporting STI Policymakers with the STIP Compass Indigenous Portal

The STIP Compass Indigenous portal supports STI policymakers by providing access to detailed information on approximately 150 initiatives focused on Indigenous communities and knowledge, including interactive dashboards and related publications. This thematic portal, developed through collaborations with the OECD, European Commission, UNESCO, and 14 partner countries (#Argentina, #Australia, #Brazil, #Canada, #Chile, #Colombia, #Costa Rica, #Finland, #Mexico, #New Zealand, #Norway, #Peru, #United States and #South Africa), centralises STI policy data to facilitate international knowledge exchange and learning, highlighting themes that intersect with other STI policy areas.

 

Dominant themes in Indigenous-focused STI Policies

Main policy area themes present and their proportional representation (by circle size) within the Indigenous portal dataset

More data at https://stip.oecd.org/stip/indigenous-portal

 

The portal addresses the growing interest in Indigenous knowledge, recognising the need for diversity and the skills to tackle climate impacts. Policies focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, and support for Indigenous knowledge through various initiatives such as horizontal policy coordination, STI strategies, research funding, STEM skills, and net zero transitions.

 

Finally, it is essential for the STI and STI policy sectors to ensure that Indigenous knowledge is not reduced to a mere extractable resource, divorced from the people, places, and cultures that create it. Truly meaningful progress in STI policymaking hinges on understanding and respecting this deep connection.

 

#stipcompass #BrazilG20Presidency #g20 #SciTechSustainableFuture

 

Sources and further reading:

 

 

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Introducing a new STIP Compass thematic portal on Indigenous knowledge and communities

By Jessica Ambler and Benjamin Bjerkan-Wade
OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation
24 May, 2024

The STIP Compass Indigenous Knowledge and Communities thematic portal provides a tool that streamlines and centralises access to related STI policy data. In effect, it aims to support international policy learning through the exchange of knowledge on ongoing efforts to improve the representation of Indigenous Peoples and knowledge in national STI systems and STI policymaking. The portal responds to growing interest of STI and STI policy communities in Indigenous and local knowledge. In part, this interest stems from recognition of the need to enhance diversity in national STI systems and support those populations likely to be disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis in developing necessary skills and capabilities.

There is growing appreciation of the valuable contributions that Indigenous communities and knowledge systems can make to sustainability transitions, including the protection and restoration of biodiversity. At the same time, STI and STI policy communities recognise the parallel importance that this knowledge is not treated as an extractable resource, where its use is disconnected from the people, places and cultures involved in its generation. 

Many policies captured by the portal are focused on equity, diversity and inclusion. Beyond this, the data signals that STI policymakers are deploying initiatives to support Indigenous knowledge and communities that include horizontal policy coordination, STI strategies, competitive research funding, research careers, STEM skills, and net zero transitions. The bubble diagram below provides further detail on the main policy area themes present and their proportional representation (by circle size) within the Indigenous portal dataset. Policy area themes are a component of the STIP Compass data taxonomy used to organise policies according to their main areas of focus. Clicking on the bubbles will allow the reader to navigate to a corresponding list of policy initiatives.

Dominant themes in Indigenous-focused STI Policies

More data at https://stip.oecd.org/stip/indigenous-portal

What are Indigenous communities and knowledge systems?

Data from the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) recognizes over 5000 distinct communities in 90 countries as ‘Indigenous’.[1] This accounts for over 475 million people, or 5% of the global population[2], protecting 80% of the planet’s biodiversity.[3] However, a single, precise, and universally agreed definition of Indigenous Peoples has so far been elusive. The United Nations’ working definition of Indigenous Peoples includes three parts: 1) pre-colonial presence in a territory, 2) cultural, linguistic, and/or social distinctiveness from neighboring populations, and 3) self-identification as Indigenous and/or recognition by other Indigenous groups.[4]

Similarly, there is no standard definition of Indigenous and local knowledge systems; however, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) defines this as dynamic bodies of integrated, holistic, social and ecological knowledge, practices and beliefs pertaining to the relationship of living beings, including people, with one another and with their environments.[5]

Why Indigenous knowledge matters in STI policy making?

Improving accessibility and inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in STEM education and the research workforce

The advancement of digital and green transitions will require governments to invest in cultivating the right skills and capabilities. For transitions to be inclusive, it is also essential to ensure that everyone, including groups that are currently underrepresented in national STI systems, can acquire these skills. A significant proportion of the initiatives in the Indigenous knowledge and communities’ portal focus on cultivating targeted skills and capabilities. Some of these are intended to foster STEM skills in local communities and younger generations. For example, the portal includes Australia’s Maker Projects initiative, which aims to foster creativity and inquiry-based learning and to support the development of STEM skills in students through hands-on learning. Mexico’s Indigenous Education Support Program also supports Indigenous youth in continuing with and completing education and vocational training.

Other initiatives target the improvement of equity and representation in the public research workforce, including several New Zealand initiatives: Kanapu, Ngā Puanga Pūtaiao Fellowships, and Te Ara Pōtiki, which are focused on supporting the attraction, retention and advancement of Māori talent and leadership in the national STI system. While many of these policies are concentrated on addressing the needs and challenges of specific Indigenous communities, others also have a broader equity, diversity and inclusion focus targeting a wider set of groups. For instance, initiatives like South Africa’s National Strategy for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education and the US Minority University Research and Education Project are directed at other underrepresented groups or civil society in general.

Respecting and promoting Indigenous data sovereignty in Open Science activities

In the area of Open Science, several initiatives have emerged to advance Indigenous self-determination and protect Indigenous identity and knowledge through data sovereignty. For example, Indigenous Data Sovereignty networks, in partnership with Indigenous scholars and leaders have recently stewarded the development of the global CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance, (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, and Ethics).

The CARE Principles align with established work to improve data stewardship, such as the FAIR Principles (targeted at data findability, accessibility, interoperability and reusability). They also build on this work to promote the equitable participation of Indigenous peoples as governors and primary beneficiaries of Indigenous data, and to protect against its misappropriation and misuse.[6] In this area, the portal captures relevant initiatives such as Canada’s Tri-Agency research data management policy, which explicitly recognizes Indigenous data sovereignty and the need to use data management principles developed and approved by Indigenous communities when working with data related to research conducted by and with Indigenous Peoples. Similarly, the US Policy for Data Management and Sharing provides guidance for NIH-supported researchers working with American Indian or Alaskan Native communities to foster respectful partnerships and promote responsible data management practices.

Partnering with Indigenous communities to tackle shared challenges

Together, Indigenous knowledge and Western science can jointly enhance and complement mutual contributions to several aspects of sustainability transitions. Some of these include bio-conservation, natural resource management, sustainable food production and harvesting, and the use of biological resources for improved health and wellbeing. For example, nature-based solutions are increasingly recognized as an important means to strengthen the resilience of natural or modified ecosystems and, in parallel, address climate change and biodiversity loss.[7]

Ensuring that these solutions correspond with and refrain from extracting or misusing related Indigenous and local knowledge requires the adequate participation of these communities in their development. On this front, the Indigenous portal captures ongoing work of national governments. For example, Brazilian efforts include the program, Indigenous approach to integrated fire management, and the law on access and benefits sharing of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge. In Colombia, there is also the program, Scaling up climate ambition on land use and agriculture. This partnership between the Government of Colombia, the United Nations Development Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization is focused, in part, on documenting traditional territorial practices and techniques to improve the resilience of agricultural crops to climate change.

Weaving Indigenous knowledge systems into STI activities and STI policymaking approaches

At the same time, fostering awareness and acceptance of Indigenous science and knowledge systems can be difficult for various reasons. For example, there are essential differences in the foundations of Western, Indigenous and other knowledge systems. Where Western Science stresses objectivity and is largely driven by a desire to understand, predict and control nature, Indigenous Science relates to spirituality and wisdom, and supports adaptation to the natural world through understanding.[8] With the right knowledge and resources, STI policymakers can help to bridge some of these challenges.

The Indigenous portal profiles some examples of what STI policymakers are currently doing on this front. For example, the Canadian government has introduced the strategy, Setting New Directions to Support Indigenous Research and Research Training in Canada, as well as the Indigenous Science Division, while the US has formulated the recent Memorandum to Recognise Indigenous Knowledge, supplemented by Indigenous Knowledge Guidance for Federal Agencies. These efforts promote collaboration between scientists, policymakers and Indigenous partners to co-develop approaches to research, training, and/or decision-making that integrate Western and Indigenous knowledge and contribute to reconciliation.

How can the STIP Compass Indigenous portal support STI policymakers?

The portal allows policymakers to share information on STI policies focused on supporting and engaging with Indigenous communities and knowledge. Users can retrieve details on specific initiatives that match their search parameters and use interactive dashboards to investigate different trends among the portal’s roughly 150 initiatives. The portal also provides quick access to a variety of related publications from academic publishers and intergovernmental organisations.

The thematic portal builds on the STIP Compass, a joint effort of the OECD and European Commission to make national STI policy data freely accessible and available to download. It also marks the inception of a new partnership between OECD and UNESCO to develop and promote content on the national, regional and international uptake of Indigenous knowledge within STI and related science frameworks and policies.

The pilot has been developed in collaboration with 14 partner countries and co-sponsored by the Government of Canada. The flags of participating countries are shown below.

A group of flags of different countries/regions Description automatically generated

The Indigenous portal aims to collect and centralize related STI policy data to support international knowledge exchange and learning. Many of the themes evident in the Indigenous thematic portal cut across other STI policy areas. Some of these are highlighted in several additional satellite portals focused on net zero, space, the ocean economy, research security, and open science.

The portal is also continuously evolving, meaning that participating countries are able to update and add to the featured STI initiatives in real time. Other countries interested in contributing are also invited to reach out to Jessica Ambler for additional information.

 

 

 

[1] IWGIA (2018), Facts about indigenous peoples, https://www.iwgia.org/en/news/3268-facts-indigenous-peoples (accessed on 16 April 2024).

[2] UNESCO (n.d.), Indigenous Peoples: Respect NOT Dehumanization, https://www.un.org/en/fight-racism/vulnerable-groups/indigenous-peoples (accessed on 18 April 2024).

[3] Cresswell, I., T. Janke and E. Johnston (2021), Australia State of the Environment, https://doi.org/10.26194/f1rh-7r05.

[4] Lightfoot, S. (2016), Global Indigenous Politics: A subtle revolution, Routledge.

[5] IPBES (n.d.), Indigenous and local knowledge system, https://www.ipbes.net/glossary-tag/indigenous-and-local-knowledge-system (accessed on 16 April 2024).

[6] Carroll, S. et al. (2021), “Operationalizing the CARE and FAIR Principles for Indigenous data futures”, Scientific Data, Vol. 8/1, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-021-00892-0.

[7] Dunlop, T. et al. (2024), “The evolution and future of research on Nature-based Solutions to address societal challenges”, Communications Earth & Environment, Vol. 5/1, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01308-8.

[8] Mazzocchi, F. (2018), “Why “Integrating” Western Science and Indigenous Knowledge is not an easy task: What lessons could be learned for the future of knowledge?”, Journal of Future Studies, Vol. 22/3, pp. 19-34, https://jfsdigital.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/02WhyIntegrating.pdf.