Culture based knowledge systems in development: Securing the foundations for a sustainable future

Although this report focuses on the knowledge held by the approximately 5,000 indigenous, i.e. culturally distinct ethnic minority and/or tribal people groups world-wide, it as well addresses what is termed "local" or "peasant" knowledge systems. The principal objective of the study has been to document the utility and practicability of building upon and integrating the distinctive knowledge and skill resources held by indigenous peoples world-wide into Canadian ODA and NGO development activities. These knowledge systems cover such practical disciplines as: agronomy; natural resource and forestry management; aquaculture; human and veterinary medicine; nutrition; meteorology; social and management systems; familial based childhood education; consensus management; and environmental sciences. (author)