Indigenous futures thinking: four approaches to imagine a better world

Indigenous people to complete Only 6% The world’s population but Manage more than a quarter Of the land surface of the world. This group, Descended from the original people Identification as a geographical location and culturally special, To acquire knowledge Regarding being adapted to social and environmental changes. Nevertheless, their approach is rarely included when it comes to plans for the future affected by climate change or biodiversity loss. Researcher Julia Van Weldon was part of one Scholars team Who saw how indigenous knowledge can create a shared understanding of a better future for our planet. The conversation Africa talked to him and his co-writers about the thinking of indigenous future.

What is indigenous futures thinking and who does it?

Futures thinking Imagine and describe various possible futures. It asks us to consider what we want to society, environment and the world, even after 50 or 500 years from now. The future we think can be used as the basis of strategies to achieve those visions.

Futures thinking has helped people of diverse background reach a general understanding of important issues and their underlying causes. It helps people find ways to work towards the future they like.

There is an important emerging area within this region Indigenous futures thinkingThis unique indigenous attitude brings how people see the future. Indigenous approaches emphasize the need to take care of land for the good of future generations.

Indigenous people continuously express their responsibilities for their societies and their traditional land, present and future, which have been created for centuries, sometimes Millennia, for knowledge.

How does indigenous futures work?

Our New research Reviewed educational articles and technical reports to identify four main approaches for indigenous futures thinking.

Adaptation oriented: This approach uses scenarios in plan and modeling to help communities understand and manage future environmental and social changes. We find that these landscapes are the best when designed in partnership with indigenous people, and not implemented.

Participation: This is the place where diverse stakeholders collaborate to develop future philosophy. This approach helps to ensure decisions about the future that are democratic. Creative and interactive methods such as roll-playing and storytelling are often combined with environment and socio-economic modeling to achieve it.

Culturally grounded: This approach is the basis of thinking in indigenous traditions, knowledge systems and cultural practices. Its purpose is to prioritize the right to self -determination and sovereignty of indigenous people.

Culturally grounded futures thinking encourages solutions that are contained in traditional values ​​and practices. Indigenous connections, arts, learning, rights, knowledge systems, world interviews, cultural renewal, spirituality and various understanding of time are all included in this view.

For example, researchers used such methods Eco-cultural mapping and calendar With communities in Benin, Kenya and Ethiopia. By doing this, these communities helped revive the customary methods of rule using agricultural science, sacred natural sites and community rituals.

Swadeshi: The purpose of this approach is to reduce the thinking about the future. To do this, indigenization throws light on the need to challenge and overturn colonial outlines. Sámi márkomeannu festival There is an example in Norway. On this festival, Indigenous people Present their hopes and fear for the next 100 years through seminars, drama and art establishments. These show a future where they have been successful in adapting to an humiliated environment and climate change.

How can indigenous futures think people can help in finding alternative futures?

With the focus on long -term thinking, durable and rich futures for indigenous futures thinking generations. Creative functioning such as storytelling is important in creating these future scenes. Storytelling confirms that they fulfill experiences and transmit knowledge in generations.

The indigenous understanding of the time also helps the society to think about thinking about the past and the coming generations. For example, at the same time “everywen”, in the past, present and future Australian indigenous belief. This forces us to consider our actions throughout the cycle of time.

In Ubuntu’s African DarshanHumans are considered to be located within a complex inter -state web of relationships. Human existence is seen as being in three dimensions. These are living, late or ancestors (who live before), and they are still born, all of which exist today.

Our research suggests that indigenous communities are often not fully involved in research processes. As the field of indigenous futures thinking increases, moral and inclusive research practices are very important. Indigenous people should be involved as similar partners in designing and doing research.

How will indigenous futures thinking help to address climate change?

Indigenous ecosystems such as forests, grasslands and wetlands are important Carbon sequence (The process where carbon is removed from the atmosphere and occupied in plants and soil). Protecting the biodiversity of the world also depends on the land managed by indigenous people.

Indigenous understanding is also related – where environment, social and cultural systems belong to each other and depend. This is an important way to think of our world.

Finally, the experiences of indigenous people of colonies impart knowledge of how to avoid destruction and navigate environmental changes. This knowledge should be included in the world strategies to adapt to climate change and protect biodiversity. To ensure that local climate adaptation plans should also be brought to align with traditions and values.

For example, Arctic council Encourages countries to cooperate in protecting the Arctic. It keeps indigenous knowledge and governance at the center of its work. This organization uses indigenous ecological knowledge in developing schemes to develop climate change -friendly plans, and involves indigenous people equally when policy and monitoring the environment.

Through the story, art and participation design, indigenous futures have happiness and creativity. But imagining a better world is just the first step. To ensure that indigenous communities have the power and agency to lead their own paths that will bring a better world to life.

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