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Participatory mapping to negotiate indigenous knowledge used to assess environmental risk

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  • Weaving Indigenous and Sustainability Sciences to Diversify Our Methods (WIS2DOM)
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Abstract

The concept of “usable knowledge” is central to sustainability science, but most of the research that explores this concept focuses on the science–policy interface. This paper expands this scholarship by describing a participatory research methodology that aimed to facilitate knowledge sharing between indigenous peoples, and support indigenous community efforts to consider different knowledge claims and negotiate indigenous knowledge that could be used for environmental risk assessments and management responses. We draw on two case studies to show how a participatory mapping approach enabled Aboriginal people connected to the Girringun Indigenous Corporation (Girringun) in northern Australia to negotiate the knowledge needed to assess the environmental risks that affect their territories. Individuals painted and drew maps of their values, knowledge, and management aspirations for water and native vegetation. These maps were shared with the wider group to enable the consideration of different perspectives and the negotiation of agreed risks affecting local watersheds and native vegetation. These maps were also used to facilitate the design of knowledge partnerships among the Girringun tribal groups, staff, and other collaborators that are critical to re-framing and co-managing the environmental risks affecting this region of northern Australia.

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Notes

  1. It is important to note that in this context, the term ‘boundary work’ does not refer to the identification of tribal boundaries within a regional collective of indigenous groups undertaking participatory planning.

  2. This term became common in Australia following introduction of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth) which defines ‘traditional Aboriginal owners’ as ‘…a local descent group of Aboriginals who: (a) have common spiritual affiliations to a site on the land, being affiliations that place the group under a primary spiritual responsibility for that site and for the land; and (b) are entitled by Aboriginal tradition to forage as of right over that land. indigenous people in Australia often define traditional owners as the people who can demonstrate that they are ‘the right people for the right country’ (Edelman 2009).

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the support of the CRC for Plant Biosecurity, CSIRO Land and Water, the Payne Scott Award, and the Centre for the Institute of the Environment and the Centre for Climate Adaptation Science and Solutions (CCASS). We also thank Dr Beau Austin and Colleen Corrigan for reviewing an earlier version of this paper and for the helpful advice from the anonymous reviewers.

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Correspondence to Catherine J. Robinson.

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Handled by Renee Pualani Louis, The University of Kansas, USA.

Special edition of Sustainability Science—WIS2DOM: Weaving indigenous and Sustainability Sciences to Diversify Our Methods. Guest editors: Jay T. Johnson, University of Kansas; Renee Pualani Louis, University of Kansas; Andrew Kliskey, University of Idaho. Participatory mapping to negotiate indigenous knowledge used to assess environmental risk.

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Robinson, C.J., Maclean, K., Hill, R. et al. Participatory mapping to negotiate indigenous knowledge used to assess environmental risk. Sustain Sci 11, 115–126 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-015-0292-x

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