Indigenous Perspectives

Last updated: 07/02/2009

Overview

Indigenous Peoples throughout the world have diverse cultures, world views, organizational structures, histories, and practices relating to their natural environments. Within the United States alone there are over 560 distinct Indigenous Peoples or American Indian Tribes. Indigenous Peoples often have profound cultural and spiritual values for their lands as well as economic, ecological, and other social values. These multiple values influence Indigenous land use practices, decision making, and the conceptualization of the relationships among people, animals, plants, water, land, sky, and others depending upon the Indigenous culture.

Indigenous peoples are "place-based people"; their people have lived on and managed specific lands for many generations over perhaps thousands of years. They have distinct languages, cultures, beliefs, and histories that are inseparable from the land. For many Indigenous Peoples, this profound tie to the land connects the past, present, and future. Thus, Indigenous Peoples can be profoundly affected by natural resource management. Natural resource management decisions can affect not only local economies and ecosystems but Indigenous cultures. For example, in fire adapted ecosystems managers could decide to use prescribed fire, thinning, and other tools to maintain open forest stands. These open stands promote culturally important species for food, baskets, wildlife, and more. Local communities also benefit economically through ongoing forest management jobs. If managers decide to suppress fire and the open forest closes in, culturally important species many not be available to Indigenous People and despite the occasional large fire event, there may not be opportunities for ongoing forest management jobs. This is only one example of how natural resource management decisions can have complex positive and negative affects on Indigenous Peoples. Therefore, it is critical for natural resource managers to understand the history, culture, and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples when managing natural resources. This understanding can lead to improved relationships and trust among management organizations, Indigenous groups, and community members. It can also lead to improved natural resource management; a resource management where cultural and community goals are viewed by managers in the same light as economic and ecological goals.

Management Questions

These are questions that every natural resource manager should be able to answer about Indigenous Peoples traditionally or currently associated with a particular place:
1. What Indigenous People live or have lived in the natural resource management area? In the broader region?
2. What are the Indigenous Peoples' traditional territories? How are/were the territories used? What are/were some of the seasonal and yearly variations in use?
3. What is the history of the natural resource management area (e.g. a national forest or wildlife refuge)? How and when was it established? Does the Indigenous Peoples? account of this history differ from the resource management organization's account?
4. How have past and current relationships between Indigenous Peoples and the natural resource management organization changed through time? Is there trust among groups? What has fostered or eroded trust?
5. What are the legal obligations for the natural resource management organization when working with Indigenous Peoples? What are the ethical and moral obligations?
6. How do Indigenous People perceive their environment and their own role in management?
7. What criteria or important considerations do Indigenous People use to make natural resource and other decisions? (e.g. decisions to improve the local economy and jobs, decisions that protect and improve water resources, or decisions to maintain culturally important plants)
8. What are the goals of Indigenous People with respect to natural resource management? Are these goals different than the resource management agency goals? Are these goals different from non-Indigenous publics? goals?

Examples of Studies

Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, 150+ years of sustainable forest management:

United Nations University e-case Study: Ayuquila River, Mexico: This e-case study presents a detailed account of the struggle faced by different stakeholders in relation to the sustainable development of the Ayuquila River watershed in Mexico over a period of more than thirty years. Explore the geography and history of this important watershed and discover the complex issues that challenge local efforts to balance economic development and environmental protection.

Tipu Ake : A Maori model of leadership, sustainability, and organizational assessment tool

Whitefeather Forest Initiative - A Land-Based Community Economic Renewal Initiative of Pikangikum First Nation:

Sharing Indigenous Wisdom : An International Dialogue on Sustainable Development:

Native Peoples and Fire in the Northern Rockies - Fire On the Land

Planning for Seven Generations - Indigenous & Scientific Approaches to Climate Change

Organizations, Programs, and Conferences

Sharing Indigenous Wisdom - An International Dialogue on Sustainable Development is a tri-yearly conference organized by the College of Menominee Nation.

International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management

College of Menominee Nation?s Sustainable Development Institute

US Department of Interior: Indian Affairs

Fish and Wildlife Department Native American Liaison

HD.gov

Issues and Topics