FieldNotes

Kerim at SavageMinds has a thoughtful post about the risks associated with equating aboriginal knowledge and science. Kerim writes:

… the solution to the relative status of traditional knowledge compared to science is not to simply label knowledge as “science.” It is to find ways create space within which it can find legitimate expression in our society and be accorded a status other than “superstition” … Seeking to give traditional forms of knowledge the same status of science [does not accomplish this]. Even worse, it makes it harder for us to understand why we should care about traditional knowledge. After all, if it is simply science with another name, why bother?

His comments follow directly my recent post citing research at the University of Victoria (Victoria, Canada) which considers whether or not aboriginal knowledge is science and how to include aboriginal knowledge in science classes in British Columbia’s schools.