Mainstreaming Indigenous Ecological Knowledge: Considering Possibilities and Ethical Dilemmas

BIESEL, Shelly Annette (NPS) Mainstreaming Indigenous 
Ecological Knowledge: Considering Possibilities and Ethical 
Dilemmas. Evolving over millennia, indigenous ecological 
knowledge (IEK) is part of a broader “native science” that 
researchers and planners are exploring for combatting climate 
change and meeting the needs of a rapidly changing planet. 
For example, the White House recently released guidance for 
applying IEK in federal programs. However, mainstreaming 
indigenous ecological knowledge poses ethical dilemmas for 
scholars, practitioners, and indigenous communities. This 
panel invites scholars, practitioners, and indigenous peoples 
practicing or working within indigenous knowledge systems 
to consider the moral and ethical dilemmas of incorporating 
cultural knowledge into mainstream applications. shelly.
biesel@gmail.com (F-48)