Co-Managing Water Using Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge

Indigenous peoples are considered guardians of nature due to their profound connection to and extensive knowledge of their environment. This understanding is deeply rooted in their customs and traditions, passed down through generations.

Their traditions and belief systems are deeply connected to their natural environment, which fosters a strong respect for nature. This connection provides them with a profound sense of place and belonging. Their knowledge and way of life align with the principles of nature conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources.

Unrestrained and unsustainable use of natural resources, development, commercial fishing and farming, government policies, laws, and regulations that deny and disregard Indigenous communities and their knowledge and traditions harm ecosystems and the environment.

The World Resource Institute article provides an example. In the US Pacific Northwest, indigenous communities like the Makahs, Yakamas, and Puyallup lived in harmony with nature and enjoyed bountiful salmon in their waterways.

This changed at the beginning of the mid-1800s when salmon populations diminished due to government actions like restricting communities’ fishing rights, damming rivers, and expanding commercial fishing.  However, the local communities fought back in the 1960s and won back their fishing rights.

Today, waterways are co-managed by local communities, which has resulted in the growth of salmon populations.

The example illustrates how co-government or co-managing with indigenous and local communities, drawing on knowledge of the natural environment passed on for millennia, can improve the environment’s health and restore natural resources and biodiversity.

The article notes that disregard for Indigenous knowledge and traditions has stemmed from marginalisation and is reinforced by legal and governance frameworks. Thankfully, the trend is changing as societies, communities, and governments realise the value of Indigenous knowledge in preserving nature and achieving sustainable resource use. It cites initiatives to integrate Indigenous knowledge into policy planning and governance that have emerged in many countries.

Canada adopts the concept of “Two-Eyed Seeing” as “the gift of multiple perspectives treasured by many aboriginal peoples . . . It refers to learning to see with one eye the strengths of Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing and with the other eye the strengths of Western knowledge and ways of knowing, and to use both these eyes together for the benefit of all.”

In New Zealand, the Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board partnered with the Moana Project, an extensive multidisciplinary ocean modelling research program, to develop the Whakatōhea Moana Plan, an Indigenous-led approach to managing the coastal and marine area. The Plan aims to enhance fisheries and ecosystems while expanding the benefits the Whakatōhea people earn from the marine economy, among other goals.

An amendment to the Indonesian constitution in 2000 recognised “customary communities and their traditional rights.”  In Australia, First Nations people have sustainably cared for their “sea country” for over 65,000 years. 

Co-producing sustainable ocean plans

An ocean paper, “Co-Producing Sustainable Ocean Plans with Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge Holders,” was launched in Cali, Colombia, 2024. This paper advocates for governments collaborating with Indigenous communities to develop ocean management policies. This partnership aims to rectify historical injustices and ensure that marine ecosystems are managed sustainably and equitably.

According to their website, “Meaningful co-production of Sustainable Ocean Plans requires recognising the rights of Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities, respecting diverse knowledge systems, and establishing equitable partnerships from the outset. It must also be customised to local contexts, as Indigenous and traditional knowledge is deeply rooted in specific ecosystems, landscapes, and cultural understandings of nature.”

To download the paper, visit their website at oceanpanel.org.

Hear from various stakeholders about Co-producing Sustainable Ocean Plans with Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge Holders.