Perceptions of nature by indigenous communities and their relation to the ecological contexts

Type :

Presentation

Pages :

11 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

12/04/2008

Category :

Political science

Sub category :

Ecology & environment

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Summary :

Introduction.
1. The purpose of this article.
2. Evidence of continuing failures in stemming the tide of ecological disintegration.
3. A temptation to idealize indigenous peoples as 'noble savages'.
Definitions.
1. Understanding culture understanding symbols.
2. A key distinction to make in understanding culture.
3. The cultures of so-called indigenous peoples.
4. Ecological anthropologist - Roy Rappaport
Cultural meaningfulness and physical law.
Meaningfulness and traditional ecological knowledge in primary cultures.
1. Distinction and classification.
2. Synthesis and continuity.
3. Identification and 'uniÃ¯Â¬ÂcationÃ¢Â€Â with context.
Conclusion.

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of how indigenous communities perceive and relate to the bio-ecological contexts of which they are part and on which they depend. The main message is that there is much more to learn from them than information about plant resources or methods to enhance Western-style conservation management. The forest is only one such context and it is possible to discern principles that also apply in others. There are two possible approaches to take in this article. The Ã¯Â¬Ârst is to compare and contrast particular beliefs, values, and meanings that different peoples ascribe to their surroundings. This is analogous to drawing up inventories of species or habitat types that can then be used as resources to further existing purposes - be they commercial or for conservation - and management methods. However, this approach does little to challenge underlying assumptions or encourage learning from primary cultural perspectives. Einstein once said that problems cannot be solved through the same type of thinking as caused them in the Ã¯Â¬Ârst place. He was referring not to a need to accumulate greater quantities of information but to the need to see and analyze the situation in a qualitatively different way. This entails bringing different meanings, values, beliefs, and theoretical perspectives to bear on the problem rather than assuming that more data applied in essentially the same ways will resolve it.