Western Knowledge Essay

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1. How are oral Indigenous knowledge systems different from written Western science traditions? Indigenous knowledge is local experience, the knowledge that is unique to a particular culture or society. It is the information base for a society that enables communication and decision making in aboriginal communities. In today’s global knowledge economy a country’s ability to progress is not only dependant on financial capital but equally involves skills, insights and experiences of indigenous populations. There are some distinct differences between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and Western knowledge also known as ‘Western science’. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge is based on oral practice and is passed around …show more content…

This detailed understanding of how people in the community are related and the roles and responsibilities they have within the community is an important way of linking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Western knowledge for collaborative projects. Another difference between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and Western knowledge is that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge is a system in which everything is connected, and is not made into separate ‘boxes’ or ‘compartments’. This means that there is not separate knowledge about the environment, separate knowledge about health, family and so on. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge is often spoken of as ‘holistic’, in that all aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life relate to and influence each other. 2. Compare and contrast how Indigenous communities classify, identify and name natural resources with that of how Western scientists undertake these …show more content…

This refers to the recognition of plants, animals and natural phenomena as belonging to particular social groups or moieties. Aboriginal communities are divided in complex ways, with all individuals belonging to one or more social groups as determined by descent from either their mother or father. These moieties also include animals and plants, and they guide people in all aspects of their social life, especially their roles, responsibilities and obligations. Maintaining knowledge about the plants and animals, and the ceremonies associated with them, is the responsibility of the people of the social group to which the plants or animals

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