Traditional Knowledge Research; Uses, Effects, Applications and Choices

Lea Bill
Community Health Representative
Box 315, Carseland, Alberta., T0S 0M0

Preamble: The Northern River Basins Study Traditional Knowledge Documentation Project was a first time experiment in applying the medicine wheel framework in Traditional Knowledge research. The process was community based, community paced and community driven. The presentation provided insight into the Traditional Knowledge research process based on the medicine wheel framework. The writer will compares this approach to research approaches utilized by other traditional knowledge researchers. Traditional knowledge encompasses acquired knowledge through life experience and its application to land use and leadership decision making by First Nations. Much of which is used in self determination. Newcomers have used traditional knowledge and natural resources for self determination for years and through this process have also left in their wake a landscape of changes on the environment and on communities. Traditional Knowledge Research has become an important and valued component of aboriginal peoples seeking self determination. The documentation of land use, occupancy and historical traditional natural resource management has provided insight into ways of managing natural resources with stewardship in mind and heart. Illustrations of significant changes were identified through the research completed by the traditional knowledge component and compared with key findings of the other research components of the Northern River Basins Study.

Eight traditional knowledge research projects were reviewed for the report and presentation. The Traditional Dene Environmental Knowledge Project, Dene Nation -The Colony Within Mapping Project land use and occupancy, Gwichya Gwich=in Oral History project, Herschel Island and Yukon North Slope Inuvialuit Traditional Knowledge project and Heritage resource Training Program, There is Still Survival out There and Mapping How We Use The Land.

Papers and reports were reviewed for approach utilized by the principle investigators, intent and purpose of the research, information collected and utilization of the information. A comparison of the eight research projects is made with the Traditional Knowledge research approach applied by the traditional knowledge component of the Northern Rive Basins Study. Significant differences in approach to Traditional knowledge research are discussed. The medicine wheel framework as a research design is presented as the model utilized by the Northern River Basins Study Traditional Knowledge Component. Key findings of the Northern River Basins Study Traditional Knowledge Component and the supporting findings of other components of the study were presented in the report.

Progressively traditional knowledge research has become more and more popular over the last 25 years. The first formal data base to be developed occurred Aunder the auspices of the North Slope Borough (Brooke, Loraine F 1993). Since then several projects have created massive data bases of traditional knowledge for various purposes. Many of the projects have primarily focused on collecting data in order to preserve knowledge. First Nations and Inuit people have gathered data to aid in land claims and natural resource planning work.

The Northern River Basins Traditional Knowledge project primary purpose was to answer the study question posed by the Northern River Basins Study ( NRBS) Board, AWhat native traditional knowledge exists to enhance the physical science studies in all areas of inquiry?

The traditional knowledge component of the Northern River basins Study did not come into being at the beginning of the overall study. The First Nations Board members of the study board negotiated for a traditional science component to be added because they felt this was the best way to answer the question that had been posed by the study board. A component leader was appointed at the recommendation of the First Nations leadership and First Nation Board members. A project manager was appointed through a secondment agreement with Health Canada with the recommendation of the First Nation science advisory members and the component leader of the Traditional Knowledge component. Once administrative aspects of the program were established a community meeting was organized with elders of the Northern River basins area to receive advice on the project approach, design and to also identify main concerns associated with the environment and community well being. The research design was developed from the concerns and advise received at this community gathering. The elders indicated that there had to be an approach developed that would respect the way information was shared and include a way of life philosophy. A protocol was developed by the Treaty 8 Grand Council to support a more interactive accountable approach to all research being conducted on aboriginal land.

In essence the traditional knowledge research design was based on the medicine wheel framework as it met the expectation of the communities and elders involved in the research process. It supported the way of life that was being researched and the relationship that is often described as a stewardship relationship that exists between the earth and the aboriginal people. In this section of the report a description of how the wheel is used in applying a traditional approach is described.

Medicine Wheel Research Design

The medicine wheel is a concept that encompasses the idealogy spirit, understanding and application of all life process.

It is a tool that is used to teach, apply knowledge and communicate knowledge with. It is a healing tool as well as a tool utilized for explaining abstract thought and reality as is presented in the moment.

The medicine wheel is all knowing since time immemorial, it is the library contained in the earth, moon, sun, planets, each human being, animal, plant, insect, rock......

Four aspects of the wheel that are universal in nature are the Spiritual, emotional, physical and the intellectual, often referred to as the four directions these four aspects are depicted by elements, animals concepts and processes. The medicine wheel framework was applied to all processes involved in the research work of the Traditional Knowledge component. During the initial planning of the project the four main components( four directions) of the wheel were used as the map. Concepts that best depicted each of the four directions were applied and naturally began to flow as a process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation on a continual basis. Each step was taken by a process of considering the spiritual, emotional, physical and intellectual implications on community, knowledge acquirement, environment and overall intention. The research process is illustrated in this report on the wheel utilizing scientific terminology to show how it was applied in the research framework developed and implemented by the Traditional Knowledge Component of the Northern River Basins Study.

The layers within the diagram illustrate layers involved in the application of this framework.

	Phenomenological "process of learning and constructing the meaning of human experience through intensive dialogue with persons who are living the experience"
Methodological "controlled investigation of the means of gathering and analyzing data"Méthodologique - «Recherche contrôlée des moyens de rssembler et d'analyser les données».		Scientific "logical, orderly and objective means of generating and testing ideas"
	Philosophical "investigates truths and principles of existence, knowledge and conduct"

This diagram illustrates interrelations and classifications of process within the medicine wheel framework; a conceptual definition of the research design.

	Experimental Evaluation expost - facto "examination of the relationships among variables takes place after variations have occurred"
Phenomenological Implementation Methodological Developmental "as the research is concerned with only existing status and interrelationships of phenomena but also with changes that take place over time"		Scientific Assessment "Correlations as it allows for examination of relationships between two or more variables" (ever changing)
	Philosophical Planning Predictive "as attempts are made to forecast or predict effect as a result of particular phenomena"

This diagram illustrates community consultation considerations within the Medicine Wheel Framework.

	Education and training of the community along with the understanding of the community in terms of traditional and non-traditional knowledge
Physical structures and capability of the community, its political inclusion of women and elders, self determination, economic factors and when the political focus is for the community		Spirit of the community in terms of relationships; extended family single parents, vision and aspirations of the community are taken into consideration.
	Emotional state and experience of the community along with perceptions and state of health and well being, development past and present along with the community's values and beliefs

Northern Rivers Basin Traditional Knowledge Research The traditional knowledge component conducted 246 interviews in ten communities. A thirty minute video "A The Knowledge of Our Mother" was developed focusing on the main environmental issues and concerns raised by the communities visited. The changes identified by the respondents were numerous and ran a parallel to the findings of the research components of the Northern River Basins Study. For many it was satisfying to find that their observations could be substantiated by science. The following is a description of significant changes observed by the traditional users of the Northern River Basins.

Water quality poor, high turbidity and sediment loads within the main stems and noted to be a year round occurrence rather than seasonal. (Spring).

Increased amount of algae growth in the Slave River and in the Athabasca Lake.

Pulp mills were believed to be the primary pollutant factors. Traditional users indicated unanimously that the water quality was poor and now carry water supplies whenever they travel on the land. Taste and odor problems were identified and fear of disease was a reality. Water levels and flow changes had been noted over a 15 year period contributing to increased shrub growth and changes in river channels. Changes in flood patterns were experienced directly as decreased natural flooding had effects on subsistence users of the land. Ice was noted to be weaker and its formation affected the manner in which natural ice jams were created by natural forces. This also had effects on winter travel of traditional users.

Wildlife distribution patterns were noted to have changes throughout the basin. Cycles of rabbit, lynx and muskrat were longer compared to earlier years. Much of the changes were attributed to flow alterations, land drying, intensive fires, mining, logging and road development. Increased incidences of fish deformities and smaller fish, along with poor quality of taste and texture were identified. Habitat was observed to be affected by low water levels and fires in particular for muskrat, buffalo and caribou. Moose populations on the other hand had increased. Migratory bird populations had decreased and flyways hand changed significantly. Nesting habits had changed for water fowl, less eggs and fewer nesting sites. Agriculture was identified as the influencer of these changes and loss of habitat in the delta due to low water levels.

It is clear from the literature reviewed that Traditional Knowledge research has been in great demand for at least 20 years. Methods of data collection and research processes have evolved from being imposed by outsiders to a more community owned process. Although there are still instances where research is conducted with the old mind set it is evident that attempts are made for the most part to include communities in the research process and to also collect information that assists their process of self determination. It is safe to state that this process did not begin until aboriginal people themselves began to demand involvement. This was the case with the Northern River Basins Study as well. In spite of resistance at times the Aboriginal people participated and proudly demonstrated without their presence, the Study work may not have been as comprehensive in nature. The Traditional Knowledge Component of the Northern River Basins Study not only fulfilled its mandate to collect native traditional knowledge that reflected the state of the Northern River Basins but played a key role in helping the Study Board fulfill their agreement to follow the protocol established by the Treaty 8 Grand Council. Whether it be recognized or not the protocol assured that all communities be approached with the same consideration and respect and without a doubt the Northern River Basins Study Board experienced positive benefits from its presence.

Traditional Knowledge will continue to be an important element in ecological monitoring and research because of its nature as a bridge for understanding environmental processes over time. Academic knowledge has its role as does traditional knowledge in understanding environmental changes.

References

1. Bill Lea, Crozier Jean, Surrendi Denis; A Report of Wisdom Synthesized From The Traditional Knowledge Component Studies: 1996

2. Brooke Lorraine F.; The Participation of Indigenous Peoples and The Application Of Their Knowledge in The Arctic environmental Protection Strategy Vol # 1, 1993, The Inuit Circumpolar Conference.

3. Johnson Martha & Ruttan A. Robert; Traditional Environmental Knowledge; a Pilot Project Conducted in Ft Good Hope and Coville Lake, 1993.

4. Hodgson Gordon; There is Still Survival Out There, 1994

5. Hart J. Elisa; Heritage Sites Research, Traditional Knowledge and Training; Canadian Archaeological Association Occasional Paper No. 2 1994

6. Ingrid Kritsch, Alestine Andre, Bart Kreps; Gwichya Gwich=in Oral History Project; Canadian Archaeological Paper No. 2, 1994.

7 Nagy Murielle, Interpretation in Archaeology Lessons From Inuvialuit Oral History; Canadian Archaeological Association Occasional Paper No. 2, 1994.

8. Nahanni Phoebe, Dene Nation- the Colony Within; University of Toronto Press, Toronto. 1977

9. Nautilus Publications; Northern River Basins Study Report To The Ministers 1996.