WHEN SHOULD INDIGENOUS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE BE INCLUDED?

Indigenous traditional knowledge and indigenous people who hold and can use it effectively should be included whenever a project directly or indirectly affects indigenous peoples. The project might be initiated by or be about indigenous peoples. More likely the project will affect the land and environment, or the cultural and socio-economic conditions of the indigenous peoples.

Often indigenous peoples are nearly invisible. Sometimes they are difficult to locate or recognize because they live in remote areas to be affected by the project, or because they actively avoid contact with outside intruders. Sometimes they are simply not an influential group in the local system and so are deemed to be unimportant locally. It will usually be obvious if indigenous peoples are going to be affected. If it is not clear, however, two aspects need to be investigated.

First, are there indigenous peoples in the area? Clues include working with large areas of untouched land, handcrafts or art objects that are not obviously a part of the dominant culture, and ethnically different people with a different language within the local community. Sources of information include non-governmental organizations that work with indigenous peoples and church groups.

Secondly, if there are indigenous peoples in the area, are they going to be affected by the project? A simple check list includes the following:
1) Are there going to be environmental changes, even subtle ones?
2) Will there be a shift in the economy?
3) Will there be any cultural or social interaction?
4) Does the project involve communication techniques that could require language translations or that might influence policies on language?

If there are any indicators that indigenous peoples may be present, and the answers to any of the questions about the nature of the project is yes, then the project should seriously consider using traditional knowledge.

Weave indigenous peoples and their traditional knowledge systems as full partners into the design of a project when indigenous peoples are directly or indirectly affected by the project.