Introduction to Indigenous Science

What is Indigenous Science?

• Indigenous science is part of the indigenous knowledge system used by various groups and early civilizations.
• It encompasses complex knowledge, expertise, practices, and representations related to agriculture, medicine, natural phenomena explanation, and environmental adaptation.
• Indigenous science covers everything from metaphysics to philosophy and practical technologies practiced by indigenous people in the past and present.
• It provides the foundations for astronomy, pharmacology, food technology, and metallurgy derived from traditional knowledge and practices.
• Indigenous science is collectively lived in and experienced by people of a given culture and is interconnected with how science depends on cultural practices.

Indigenous Science Knowledge

• Indigenous science knowledge has developed through the interplay between society and the environment.
• Indigenous beliefs foster desirable values relevant to scientific attitudes, attitudes in science, including:
  • Motivating attitudes
  • Cooperating attitudes
  • Practical attitudes
  • Reflective attitudes
• These cultural beliefs can lay a strong foundation for developing positive values toward learning and doing science.

Indigenous Science and Technology in the Philippines

• A framework explains that indigenous science comprises traditional knowledge, science process skills and tools, and community values and culture.
• Indigenous science uses science process skills like observing, comparing, classifying, measuring, problem-solving, inferring, communicating, and predicting.
• Indigenous science is guided by peoples' culture and community values, such as:
  • The land as a source of life and a precious gift.
  • The interconnectedness of all living and nonliving things.
  • Reverence for the earth as the origin of people's identity.
  • Humans as stewards of the land and natural resources.
  • Nature being a friend needing respect and care.
• The practice of indigenous science in the Philippines includes traditional knowledge in ethnobiology, ethnomedicine, indigenous farming methods and agriculture, and folk astronomy.
• Indigenous science is important in developing science and technology in the Philippines and helped people understand the natural environment and cope with daily life.
• UNESCO recognizes indigenous science's historical and valuable contributions to science and technology.