Skip to main content
Log in

The role of Indigenous science and local knowledge in integrated observing systems: moving toward adaptive capacity indices and early warning systems

  • Special Feature: Original Article
  • Weaving Indigenous and Sustainability Sciences to Diversify Our Methods (WIS2DOM)
  • Published:
Sustainability Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Community-based observing networks (CBONs) use a set of human observers connected via a network to provide comprehensive data, through observations of a range of environmental variables. Invariably, these observers are Indigenous peoples whose intimacy with the land- and waterscape is high. Certain observers can recall events precisely, describe changes accurately, and place them in an appropriate social context. Each observer is akin to a sensor and, linked together, they form a robust and adaptive sensor array that constitutes the CBON. CBONs are able to monitor environmental changes as a consequence of changing ecological conditions (e.g., weather, sea state, sea ice, flora, and fauna) as well as anthropogenic activities (e.g., ship traffic, human behaviors, and infrastructure). Just like an instrumented array, CBONs can be tested and calibrated. However, unlike fixed instruments, they consist of intelligent actors who are much more capable of parsing information to better detect patterns (i.e., local knowledge for global understanding). CBONs rely on the inclusion of Indigenous science and local and traditional knowledge, and we advocate for their inclusion in observing networks globally. In this paper, we discuss the role of CBONs in monitoring environmental change in general, and their utility in developing a better understanding of coupled social-ecological systems and developing decision support both for local communities as well as regional management entities through adaptive capacity indices and risk assessment such as a community-based early warning system. The paper concludes that CBONs, through the practice of Indigenous science in partnership with academic/government scientists for the purpose of knowledge co-production, have the potential to greatly improve the way we monitor environmental change for the purpose of successful response and adaptation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ABA (2013) Arctic biodiversity assessment: status and trends in arctic biodiversity. Conservation of arctic flora and fauna (CAFF). Akureyri

  • Alessa L (2009) What is truth? Where western science and traditional knowledge converge. In: Williams M (ed) The alaska native reader: history, culture, politics. Duke University Press, Durham, pp 246–251

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Alessa L, Kliskey A, Williams P (2007) The distancing effect of modernization on the perception of water resources in Arctic communities. Polar Geogr 30:175–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alessa L, Kliskey A, Lammers R, Arp C, White D, Busey R, Hinzman L (2008a) The Arctic water resources vulnerability index: an integrated assessment tool for community resilience and vulnerability with respect to freshwater. Environ Manage 42:523–541

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alessa L, Kliskey A, Williams P, Barton M (2008b) Memory, water and resilience: perception of change in freshwater resources in remote Arctic resource-dependent communities. Glob Environ Change 18:153–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alessa L, Kliskey A, Altaweel M (2009) Toward a typology of social-ecological systems. Sustain Sci Pract Policy 5:31–41. http://ejournal.nbii.org/archives/vol5iss1/0811-034.alessa.html

  • Altaweel M, Alessa L, Kliskey A (2010) Visualizing situational data: applying information fusion for detecting social-ecological events. Soc Sci Comput Rev 28:4. doi:10.1177/0894439309360837

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • AMAP (2007) Arctic monitoring and assessment programme arctic oil and gas 2007. Arctic monitoring and assessment programme, Oslo

  • AMAP (2013) Arctic monitoring and assessment programme adaptation actions for a changing arctic part C. Arctic monitoring and assessment programme, Oslo

  • Amundsen H (2012) Illusions of resilience? An analysis of community responses to change in Northern Norway. Ecol Soc 17(4):46. doi:10.5751/ES-05142-170446

    Google Scholar 

  • Arctic Council SDWG (Sustainable Development Working Group) (2013) Arctic adaptation exchange: facilitating adaptation to climate change. URL:http://www.arctic-council.org/476-6-7-sdwg/arctic-adaptation-exchange-portal

  • Armitage D, Plummer R, Berkes F, Arthur R, Charles A, Davidson-Hunt I, Diduck A, Doubleday N, Johnson D, Marschke M, McConney M, Pinkerton E, Wollenberg E (2009) Adaptive co-management for social–ecological complexity. Front Ecol Environ 7:95–102. doi:10.1890/070089

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armitage D, Berkes F, Dale A, Kocho-Schellenberg E, Patton E (2011) Co-management and co-production of knowledge: learning to adapt in Canada’s Arctic. Glob Environ Change 21(3):996–1004. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.04.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balasubramaniyan J, Garcia-Fernandez, J, Isacoff, D, Stafford E, Zamboni D (1997) Software agents for intrusion detection, Department of computer sciences, Purdue University, URL:http://www.cs.purdue.edu/coast/coast-library.html

  • Berkes F (1993) Traditional ecological knowledge in perspective. In: Inglis J (ed) Traditional ecological knowledge: concepts and cases. International program on traditional ecological knowledge and the international development research centre, Ottawa. pp 1–10

  • Berkes F (1999) Sacred ecology: traditional ecological knowledge and resource management. Taylor and Francis, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkes F (2009) Evolution of co-management: role of knowledge generation, bridging organizations and social learning. J Environ Manage 90:1692–1702. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2008.12.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berkes F, Colding J, Folke C (2003) Navigating social-ecological systems: building resilience for complexity and change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Bone C, Alessa L, Altaweel M, Kliskey A, Lammers R (2011) Assessing the impacts of local knowledge and technology on climate change vulnerability in remote communities. Int J Environ Res Public Health 8:733–761. doi:10.3390/ijerph8030733

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borgstrom A, Duker D, Sparrow J (2005) The technology opportunities program (TOP): networking our nation—a decade of lessons learned. Community Dev 36:103–119. doi:10.1080/15575330509489875

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bring A, Destouni G (2013) Hydro-climatic changes and their monitoring in the Arctic: observation-model comparisons and prioritization options for monitoring development. J Hydrol 492:273–280. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.04.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks N, Adger N, Kelly M (2005) The determinants of vulnerability and adaptive capacity at the national level and in the implications for adaptation. Glob Environ Change 15(2):151–163. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2004.12.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cajete G (2000) Native science: natural laws of interdependence. Clear Light, Santa Fe

    Google Scholar 

  • Danielsen F, Burgess N, Balmford A (2005) Monitoring matters: examining the potential of locally-based approaches. Biodivers Conserv 14:2507–2542. doi:10.1007/s10531-005-8375-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dasgupta D, Attoch-Okine N (1997) Immunity-based systems: a survey. In: Proceeding of the IEEE international conference on systems, man and cybernetics, Orlando

  • El-Hani C, Badeira F (2008) Valuing indigenous knowledge: to call it “science” will not help. Cult Sci Edu 3:751–779. doi:10.1007/is11422-008-9129-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fidel M, Gofman V, Kliskey A, Alessa L, Woelber B (2012) Subsistence density mapping brings practical value to decision making. In: Carothers C, Criddle KR, Chambers CP, Cullenberg PJ, Fall JA, Himes-Cornell AH, Johnsen JP, Kimball NS, Menzies CR, Springer ES (eds) Fishing people of the north: cultures, economies, and management responding to change. University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Sea Grant. doi:10.4027/fpncemrc.2012.15

  • Fidel M, Kliskey A, Alessa L, Sutton O (2014) Walrus harvest locations reflect adaptation: a contribution from a community-based observing network in the Bering Sea. Polar Geogr 27(1):48–68. doi:10.1080/1088937X.2013.879613

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fienup-Riordan A, Brown C, Braem N (2013) The value of ethnography in times of change: the story of Emmonak. Deep-Sea Res II 94:301–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Folke C, Hahn T, Olsson P, Norberg J (2005) Adaptive governance of social-ecological systems. Annu Rev Environ Resour 30:441–473

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ford J, Pearce T (2012) Climate change vulnerability and adaptation research focusing on the Inuit subsistence sector in Canada: directions for future research. Can Geogr 56(2):275–287. doi:10.1111/j.1541-0064.2012.00418.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galloway McLean K (2010) Advance guard: climate change impacts, adaptation, mitigation and indigenous peoples—a compendium of case studies. United Nations University, Darwin

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerlach S, Loring P (2013) Rebuilding northern foodsheds, sustainable food systems, community well-being, and food security. Int J Circumpoloar Health 72:87–90. doi:10.3402/ijch.v72i0.21560

    Google Scholar 

  • Gofman V (2010) Community based monitoring handbook: lessons from the Arctic. CAFF CBMP Report No. 21. CAFF international secretariat, Akureyi, Iceland

  • Gray S, Chan A, Clark D, Jordan R (2012) Integrating stakeholder knowledge in socialecological system decision-making: Benefits and limitations to knowledge diversity. Ecol Model 229:88–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray et al., Glenn Gray and Associates (2014) Shaktoolik, Alaska: climate change for an at-risk community: sources for climate change adaptation funding and technical assistance. Alaska Sea Grant Program. On-line at: https://accap.uaf.edu/sites/default/files/Funding%20Sources_Final.docx

  • Grebmeier et al (2006) A major ecosystem shift in the Northern Bering Sea. Science 311:1461

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grimwood BSR, Doubleday NC, Ljubicic GJ, Donaldson SG, Blangy S (2012) Engaged acclimatization: towards responsible community-based participatory research in Nunavut. Can Geogr 56(2):211–230. doi:10.1111/j.1541-0064.2012.00416.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison G (2008) When languages die: the extinction of the world’s languages and the erosion of human knowledge. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hovelsrud G, Krupnik I, White J (2007) Human-based observing systems. Int Polar Year 2007–2008. 435–456

  • Huettmann F (2012) Protection of the three poles. Springer, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Huggel C, Rohrer M, Calanca P, Salzmann N, Vergara W, Quispe N, Ceballos N (2012) Early warning systems: the “Last Mile” of adaptation. EOS 93:209–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys P (2000) Extending ourselves. In: Carrier M, Massey G, Ruetsche L (eds) Science at century’s end. University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt G, Stabeno P, Walters G, Sinclair E, Brodeur R, Napp JM, Bond N (2002) Climate change and control of the southeastern Bering Sea pelagic ecosystem. Deep Sea Res Part II 49:5821–5853. doi:10.1016/S0967-0645(02)00321-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huntington H, Nicole N, Brown C, Hunn E, Krieg T, Lestenkof P, Noongwook G, Sepez J, Sigler M, Wiese F, Zavadil P (2013a) Local and traditional knowledge regarding the Bering Sea ecosystem: selected results from five indigenous communities. Deep-Sea Res 94:323–332

    Google Scholar 

  • Huntington H, Noongwook G, Bond N, Benter B, Snyder J, Zhang J (2013b) The influence of wind and ice on spring walrus hunting success on St Lawrence Island, Alaska. Deep-Sea Res II 94:312–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IHS (Inuvialuit Harvest Study) (2003) Data and methods report 1988–1997. The Joint Secretariat, Inuvik NWT

    Google Scholar 

  • IOM (Institute of Medicine) (2013) Environmental decisions in the face of uncertainty. The National Academies Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) (2001) Climate change 2001: Working Group II impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) (2007) Climate change 2007: Working Group II Report impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) (2013) Climate change 2013: Working Group II Report impacts, adaptation and vulnerability: summary for policy makers. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson T, Murton B (2007) Re/placing native science: indigenous voices in contemporary constructions of nature. Geogr Res 45(2):121–129. doi:10.1111/j.1745-5871.2007.00442.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson N, Alessa L, Behe C, Danielsen F, Gearhead S, Gofman V, Kliskey A, Krummel E, Lynch A, Mustonen T, Pulsifer P, Svoboda M (2015) The contributions of community-based monitoring and traditional knowledge to Arctic observing networks: reflections on the state of the field. Arctic 68(5). doi:10.14430/arctic4447

  • Juhola S, Pelronen L, Niemi P (2012) The ability of Nordic countries to adapt to climate change: assessing adaptive capacity at the regional level. Local Environ 17(6–7):717–734. doi:10.1080/13549839.2012.665861

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karl M (2002) Participatory policy reform from a sustainable livelihoods perspective: review of concepts and practical experiences. Food and agriculture organization of the United Nations, livelihood support programme, LSP Working Paper 3. URL:ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/006/ad688e/ad688e00.pdf

  • Kelly K, Ljubicic G (2012) Policies and practicalities of shipping in arctic waters: inuit perspectives from Cape Dorset, Nunavut. Polar Geogr 35(1):19–49. doi:10.1080/1088937x.2012.666768

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kliskey A, Alessa L, Barr B (2009) Integrating local and traditional ecological knowledge for marine resilience. In: McLeod K, Leslie H (eds) Managing for resilience: new directions for marine ecosystem-based management. Island Press Publishers, Washington DC, pp 145–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovalev S, Gainutdinova L (2012) Opening up the arctic: economic and geopolitical aspects. Russ Polit Law 50(2):78–87. doi:10.2753/RUP1061-1940500204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krupnik I, Jolly D (eds) (2002) The Earth is faster now: indigenous observations of arctic environmental change. Arctic Research Consortium of the United States, Fairbanks

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumpula T, Pajunen A, Kaalejarvi E, Forbes B, Stammler F (2011) Land use and land cover change in Arctic Russia: ecological and social implications of industrial development. Glob Environ Change 21:550–562. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2010.12.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald J (1998) The arctic sky. Nunavut Research Institute, Iqaluit

    Google Scholar 

  • Magga O, Mathiesen S, Corell R, Oskal A (eds) (2011) EALAT/reindeer herding, traditional knowledge and adaptation to climate change and loss of grazing land. Arctic Council SDWG EALAT Report. Alta, Norway. Accessed online: www.arctic-council.org

  • Mahoney A, Gearheard S, Oshima T, Qillaq T (2009) Sea ice thickness measurements from community-based observing network. Bull Am Meteorol Soc 90(3):370–377. doi:10.117/2008BAMS2696.I

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mustonen T (2002) Indigenous views on climate change: a circumpolar perspective. In: Krupnik I, Jolly D (eds) The earth is faster now. Indigenous observations of arctic environmental change. Arctic Research Consortium of the United States, Fairbanks. pp 351–356

  • Mustonen T (2012) Rebirth of indigenous arctic nations and polar resource management: critical perspectives from Siberia and Sami areas on Finland. Biodiversity: 1-9. DOI: 10.1080/14888386.2012.725652

  • Mustonen T (2014) Endemic time-spaces of Finland: aquatic regimes. Fennia 192(2):120–139. doi:10.1143/40845

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mustonen T, Lehtinen A (2013) Arctic earthviews: cyclic passing of knowledge among the Indigenous communities of the Eurasian north. Sibirica 12(1):39–55. doi:10.3167/sib.2013.120102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakashima DJ, Galloway McLean K, Thulstrup HD, Ramos Castillo A, Rubis JT (2012) weathering uncertainty: traditional knowledge for climate assessment and adaptation. UNESCO, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Rourke R (2010) Changes in the arctic: background and issues for congress. Congressional Research Service Report for Congress R41153. URL:www.crs.gov

  • Oozeva C, Noongwook C, Noongwook G, Alowa C, Krupnik I (2004) Watching ice and weather our way: Sikumengllu eslamengllu esghapalleghput. In: Krupnik I, Huntington H, Koonooka C, Noongwook (eds). Arctic Studies Center, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC

  • Pearce TD, Ford JD, Laidler GJ, Smit B, Duerden F, Allarut M, Andrachuk M, Baryluk S, Dialla A, Elee P, Goose A, Ikummaq T, Joamie E, Kataoyak F, Loring E, Meakin S, Nickels S, Shappa K, Shirley J, Wandel J (2009) Community collaboration and climate change research in the Canadian Arctic. Polar Res 28:10–27. doi:10.1111/j.1751-8369.2008.00094.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearce T, Ford J, Duerden F, Smit B, Andrachuk M, Berrang-Ford L, Smith T (2011) Advancing adaptation planning for climate change in the inuvialuit settlement region (ISR): a review and critique. Reg Environ Change 11:1–17. doi:10.1007/s10113-010-0126-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pierotti R, Wildcat D (2000) Traditional ecological knowledge: The third alternative (commentary). Ecol Appl 10(5):1333–1340. doi:137.229.184.15

  • Pineda M (2015) Redefining community based disaster risk management (CBDRM) through enhanced early warning processes. Int J Inf Educ Technol 5(7):543–548. doi:10.7763/IJIET.2015.V5.565

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polar Research Board (2007) Toward an integrated arctic observing network. The National Academies Press, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Poppel B (2008) Interdependency of subsistence and market economies in the Arctic. In: Statistics Norway (ed) The economy of the North, pp 65–80. Statistical Analysis 84

  • Pulsifer P, Gearheard S, Huntington HP, Parsons MA, McNeave C, McCann HS (2012) The role of data management in the engaging communities in arctic research: overview of the exchange for local observations and knowledge of the arctic (ELOKA). Polar Geogr 35(3–4):271–290. doi:10.1080/1088937X.2012.708364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russell D, Svoboda M, Arokium J, Cooley D (2013) Arctic borderlands ecological knowledge cooperative: can local knowledge inform caribou management? Rangifer 33(21):71–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seyfrit C, Hamilton L (1997) Alaska Native youth and their attitudes towards education. Arctic Anthropol 34(1):135–148. doi:137.229.184.15

  • Shaw A, Sheppard S, Burch S, Flanders D, Wiek A, Carmichael J, Robinson J, Cohen S (2008) Making local futures tangible—synthesizing, downscaling, and visualizing climate change scenarios for participatory capacity building. Glob Environ Change 19:447–463. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2009.04.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shiffman S, Hufford M, Hickcox P, Paty J, Gnys M, Kassel J (1997) Remember that? A comparison of real-time versus retrospective recall of smoking lapses. J Consult Clin Psychol 65:292–300

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith LT (2012) Decolonzing methodologies. Zed Books Ltd., London

    Google Scholar 

  • Snivley G, Corsiglia J (2000) Discovering indigenous science: implications for science education. Sci Educ 85(1):6–34. doi:10.1002/1098-237X(200101)85:1<6:AID-SCE3>3.0.CO;2-R

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tilmes C, Fox, P, Waple A, Zednik S. (2012) Persistent identification of agents and objects of global change. American geophysical union fall meeting: Abstract #N22A-07

  • Tremblay M, Furgal C, Larrivee C, Annanack T, Tookalook P, Qiisik M, Angiyou E, Swappie N, Savard J, Barret M (2008) Climate change in Northern Quebec: adaptation strategies from community-based research. Artic. 61: 27-34. URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40513354

  • Turnbull D (2000) Masons, tricksters and cartographers: comparative studies in the sociology of scientific and indigenous knowledge. Hardwood Academic Publishers, Newark

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • UNISDR (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction) (2005) Hyogo framework for action 2005–2015: Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters, Geneva: ISDR. URL:http://www.unisdr.org/we/inform/publications/1037

  • United Nations (2009) The United Nations millenium development goals report. United Nations, New York. http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/MDG_Report_2009_ENG.pdf

  • US Department of State (2014) United States climate action report. US Department of State, Washington, DC. URL:http://www.state.gov/e/oes/rls/rpts/car6/index.htm

  • Usher P (2000) Traditional ecological knowledge in environmental assessment and management. Arctic 53:183–193. URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/40512207

  • Valdivia C, Seth A, Giles J, Garcia M, Jiminez E, Cusicanqui J, Navia F, Yucra E (2010) Adapting to climate change in Andean ecosystems: landscapes, capitals, and perceptions shaping rural livelihood strategies and linking knowledge systems. Ann Assoc Am Geogr 100:818–834. doi:10.1080/00045608.2010.500198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vincent K (2007) Uncertainty in adaptive capacity and the importance of scale. Glob Environ Change 17(1):12–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • West J, Hovelsrud G (2010) Cross-scale adaptation challenges in the coastal fisheries: findings from lebesy, North Norway. Arctic 63(3):338–354. URL:jstor.org/stable/20799601

  • Yohe G, Tol R (2002) Indicators of social and economic coping capacity—moving toward a working definition of adaptive capacity. Glob Environ Change 12(1):25–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the National Science Foundation for awards ARC 856305 and 856774 in support of the Bering Sea Sub-Network, award ARC 1355238 in support of the Community-based Observing Network for Adaptation and Security, and award OIA 1208927 in support of the Alaska Adapting to Changing Environments program.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lilian Alessa.

Additional information

Handled by Jay T. Johnson, The University of Kansas, USA.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Alessa, L., Kliskey, A., Gamble, J. et al. The role of Indigenous science and local knowledge in integrated observing systems: moving toward adaptive capacity indices and early warning systems. Sustain Sci 11, 91–102 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-015-0295-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-015-0295-7

Keywords

Navigation