大象传媒

Five 大象传媒 scholars are among international scientists sounding an alarm over the 鈥減ervasive social and ecological consequences鈥� of the destruction and suppression of the knowledge systems of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. 

Their paper, draws on the knowledge of 30 international Indigenous and non-Indigenous co-authors, and highlights 15 strategic actions to support the efforts of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in sustaining their knowledge systems and ties to lands.

Study co-lead, 大象传媒 archaeology professor Dana Lepofsky, says, 鈥淲e worked hard to find a balance between discussing the threats to Indigenous and local knowledge and highlighting how Indigenous Peoples and local communities are taking action to turn around these threats. Around the world, Indigenous Peoples and local communities are celebrating, protecting, and revitalizing their knowledge systems and practices. 

鈥淎s scientists, policymakers, and global citizens, we need to support these efforts in our professional activities, in the policies of our governmental agencies, and in our personal choices.鈥�

The authors summarize how the knowledge systems and practices of Indigenous Peoples and local communities play fundamental roles in safeguarding the biological and cultural diversity of our planet. They also document how this knowledge is being lost at alarming rates, with dramatic social and ecological consequences.

鈥淎lthough Indigenous and local knowledge systems are inherently adaptive and remarkably resilient, their foundations have been and continue to be compromised by colonial settlement, land dispossession, and resource extraction,鈥� says study co-lead 脕lvaro Fern谩ndez-Llamazares, a post-doctoral researcher from the University of Helsinki, Finland. 鈥淭he ecological and social impacts of these pressures are profound and widespread.鈥�

The paper is part of the 鈥淪cientists鈥� Warning to Humanity鈥� series, which highlights threats to humanity caused by climate change, biodiversity loss and other global changes.

AVAILABLE 大象传媒 EXPERTS

DANA LEPOFSKY, professor, Department of Archaeology | dlepofsky@sfu.ca

KEN LERTZMAN, professor emeritus, School of Resource and Environmental Management | kenneth_lertzman@sfu.ca

脕LVARO FERN脕NDEZ-LLAMAZARES, University of Helsinki, Finland, alvaro.fernandez-llamazares@helsinki.fi

CONTACT

MELISSA SHAW,  大象传媒 Communications & Marketing 
236.880.3297 | melissa_shaw@sfu.ca 大象传媒

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778.782.3210

ABOUT SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

As Canada鈥檚 engaged university, 大象传媒 works with communities, organizations and partners to create, share and embrace knowledge that improves life and generates real change. We deliver a world-class education with lifelong value that shapes change-makers, visionaries and problem-solvers. We connect research and innovation to entrepreneurship and industry to deliver sustainable, relevant solutions to today鈥檚 problems. With campuses in British Columbia鈥檚 three largest cities鈥擵ancouver, Burnaby and Surrey鈥敶笙蟠� has eight faculties that deliver 193 undergraduate degree programs and 144 graduate degree programs to more than 37,000 students. The university now boasts more than 170,000 alumni residing in 145+ countries.