Cafe Scientifique: Protection of Traditional Knowledge

Protection of Traditional Knowledge Knowing Your Roots: Indigenous Medicines, Health Knowledge and Best Practices Café Scientifique October 2010

Our Vision
Our strength is our knowledge, and the foundation of healthy people, healthy communities and healthy nations.

Our Mission
The mission of the FNC is to advance First Nations health knowledge. The FNC respects First Nations aspirations for self-determination, distinctiveness and diversity. Working with First Nations, the FNC creates, promotes and shares health information and research. The FNC develops tools and processes that assist in building capacity and transferring knowledge.

Traditional Knowledge (TK) represents the collective wisdom & knowledge unique to human social cultures & communities that encompasses the ancient and holistic body of information and understanding of living in relations to the local environments.
Traditional Knowledge Defined

Importance of Traditional Knowledge
Traditional Knowledge
of plants, animals, insects, microbial life & agricultural systems ensured the survival and prosperity of First Nations Peoples.

Importance of Traditional Knowledge
Influences individual and community health;
Reinforces sense of identity and group cohesiveness;
Contributes to present day practices;
Fosters First Nation acceptance and participation, and
Represents generations of knowledge and experience

Practical Uses of Traditional Knowledge
Integrating TK with Canada’s public health system may be the most effective care for First Nations people.
Greater focus on preventive strategies and reduced dependence on pharmaceutical solutions;
Culturally sensitive delivery of health services and inclusion of spirituality;
Midwifery, and
Drug and alcohol treatment.
Other areas of well-being can also benefit from the inclusion of TK including:
Language Revitalization, Governance, Criminal Justice

Preservation of Traditional Knowledge
Cultural Awareness
Recording and incorporating
Legal issues
Protection

OCAP
Ownership
Control
Access
Possession

Ownership
Refers to the relationship of a First Nations community to its cultural knowledge in terms of collective.

Control
First Nations peoples have the right to control of all aspects of their lives and institutions.

Access
First Nations must have access to information about themselves and their communities without facing any barriers. They must also be able to manage and make decisions concerning who has access to their information and how this access is given.

Possession
Possession is the physical control over the information.

Sharing Traditional Knowledge
Passing knowledge from generation to generation (old to young).
RCAP identified a “pressing need” for “people who can apply Aboriginal knowledge to current health problems.

Sacred Way of Life
NAHO tool kit
Guidelines for protecting and maintaining Traditional Knowledge
Legal implications
Comparison of First Nations and western ways of knowing

Sharing Traditional Knowledge
Record
Document
Communicate!

“ We need to heal our people, open our bundles, and ensure these healing ways continue for countless generations.” John Martin

http://www.naho.ca	248
http://69.27.97.110	4
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com	1

Cafe Scientifique: Protection of Traditional Knowledge

by National Aboriginal Health Organization on Oct 06, 2010

Accessibility

Tags

Upload Details

Usage Rights

3 Embeds 253

Statistics

Cafe Scientifique: Protection of Traditional Knowledge — Presentation Transcript