Shifting seasons: using Indigenous knowledge and western science to help address climate change impacts

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 20:01:28 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/shifting-seasons-using-indigenous-knowledge-and-western-science-to-help-address-climate-change-impacts-183229>

"Traditional Owners in Australia are the creators of millennia worth of
traditional ecological knowledge – an understanding of how to live amid
changing environmental conditions. Seasonal calendars are one of the forms of
this knowledge best known by non-Indigenous Australians. But as the climate
changes, these calendars are being disrupted.

How? Take the example of wattle trees that flower at a specific time of year.
That previously indicated the start of the fishing season for particular
species. Climate change is causing these plants to flower later. In response,
Traditional Owners on Yuku Baja Muliku (YBM) Country near Cooktown are having
to adapt their calendars and make new links.

That’s not all. The seasonal timing of cultural burning practices is changing
in some areas. Changes to rainfall and temperature alter when high intensity
(hot) burns and low intensity (cool) burns are undertaken.

Seasonal connections vital to Traditional Owners’ culture are decoupling.

To systematically document changes, co-author Larissa Hale and her community
worked with western scientists to pioneer a Traditional Owner-centred approach
to climate impacts on cultural values. This process, published last week, could
also help Traditional Owners elsewhere to develop adaptive management for their
Indigenous heritage."

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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