Discovering Indigenous Science: Implications for Science Education

This paper explores different aspects of multicultural science and pedagogy and describes a rich and well-documented branch of indigenous science known to biologists and ecologists as traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). Indigenous science relates to both the science knowledge of long-resident, usually oral culture peoples, as well as the science knowledge of all peoples who, as participants in culture, are affected by the worldview and relativist interests of their home communities. Given the urgency of the current environmental crisis, as well as growing worldwide recognition of TEK among scientists, government, and international aid agencies, the paper argues for the inclusion of TEK in school-based science education programs. A lengthy discussion of TEK literature that focuses on documenting numerous examples of time proven, productive, and cost effective indigenous science is also included. Contains 115 references. (DDR) * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document.