One Health, Many Perspectives: Exploring Indigenous and Western Epistemologies
Author(s): Michelle Pollowitz, Cole Allick (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa), Keala B. Campbell (Native Hawaiian), Nicole lee Kamakahiolani Ellison (Native Hawaiian), Giselle Perez-Aguilar (Zapotec), Melissa Vera (Tsm’syan and Yaqui First Nations), Vickie Ramirez, Deborah Nadal, and Julianne Meisner
Publication Date: 2024
DOWNLOAD FILEThe objective of this project is to identify values in Indigenous science that are unsupported or underrepresented in Western science and then collaboratively ideate recommendations that Western allies can take to center and support Indigenous scientists and elevate Indigenous knowledge.
To effectively center Indigenous knowledge next to and within the One Health approach, which is historically based in Western science, the similarities and differences between Indigenous science, specifically Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and One Health must be explored.
From January to March 2023, the study team conducted semi-structured interviews with Indigenous knowledge keepers via Zoom video calls. American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian (Kānaka Maoli), and other Indigenous participants from the global diaspora residing in the continental United States and Hawaiian Islands were recruited through social media and referrals from Indigenous leaders who had participated in formative (phase 1) interviews completed in 2022. In those formative interviews, four themes emerged and called for further exploration of Indigenous perspectives on (1) the natural world, (2) cultural heritage, (3) value expression, and (4) reflection. These ideas were reframed into questions asked in subsequent (phase 2) interviews in 2023.
