Generating Knowledge

Academia has often been critiqued as an Ivory Tower, where scholars cut themselves off from the realities of the world and exist in a privileged bubble, while Western science often demeans other forms of knowing the world. The way we create and share environmental knowledge can thus contribute to environmental injustice - or, through public participation in research processes, be a powerful platform for environmental justice.

In class this week, we had a conversation with Christopher Morgan, recent graduate of the University of Northern British Columbia with a master’s degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, and his research partners in the Tsay Keh Dene Nation. We talked about how Chris’ thesis project used public participation to blend Western approaches to science with Traditional Ecological Knowledge, co-creating information that is both more equitable and more accurate.

Please note that the views and opinions expressed in these materials and the class discussion are those of the individual author/speaker and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of the Tsay Keh Dene Nation.