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LOCAL OR INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE:Changing Definitions of Local Knowledge

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Introduction to Cultural Anthropology ­ SOC401
VU
Lesson 37
LOCAL OR INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE
What is Local Knowledge?
Local knowledge consists of factual knowledge, skills and capabilities possessed by people belonging to a
specific area. Given that local knowledge is usually geared to real-life practices, it can usually only be
understood with reference to the situation in which it is to be applied.
Local knowledge is local to the extent that it is acquired and applied by people with respect to local
objectives, situations and problems.
Local knowledge may on the one hand comprise fixed and structured "knowledge" which can be defined, or
on the other hand may by virtue of its combination with the performance of actions involve a more fluid
process of "knowing".
Human beings exist in a continuous flux of experiences and practices, so local knowledge must include
information concerning social management, have forms of learning and teaching, and decision-making
routines.
Local knowledge and its respective knowledge systems are rooted in local or regional cultures, the respective
social contexts and their economies. Therefore, it is important to consider these surrounding circumstances
when one is considering the content of local knowledge itself.
Changing Definitions of Local Knowledge
Originally, "indigenous" was equivalent to "local" or "folk" or, when applied to knowledge, "informal
knowledge".
In the 1960s and `70s, the word then took on a populist flavor of grass-roots politics, in the sense of
"indigenous" as opposed to state or "high" culture.
In view of the marginalization and destruction of the eco-zones inhabited by ethnic groups, the term
"indigenous knowledge" is being used in a context of "non-western" or "anti-western" knowledge.
Local knowledge also refers to knowledge of the minorities, contrasted with knowledge at the level of the
nation state. There are therefore various types of local knowledge.
Element of Exclusivity in Local Knowledge
There are normally various types of public knowledge. Some information is shared by all locals, other
information remains concealed from the majority. Some items of knowledge are known only to women or
only to men.
Within a society, only a few specialists possess more in-depth knowledge extending beyond laypersons'
knowledge in a particular field, for instance specific medical or cropping expertise.
Using Local Knowledge
Use of local knowledge for development should not be restricted to extracting information. The availability
of local knowledge to multinationals carries the danger of delegating power to authorities, which are
external to the local communities, and therefore restricts establishment of competent leadership and
sustainable social structures in local communities.
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Introduction to Cultural Anthropology ­ SOC401
VU
There is an ongoing debate on intellectual property rights, equal benefit sharing and the role of local
knowledge for development. Anthropologists investigate not only the behavior and the material products of
people, but also their thoughts and feelings.
In all branches of anthropology, focus on the emic view and local knowledge has increased in the last thirty
years. Many countries have taken political decisions to empower local institutions (union councils, districts
etc.) based on the idea of giving more power to local authorities which have a closer contact with those at
the grassroots level..
Decentralization should correspond with building local capacities. Therefore local knowledge on local
natural and social environments (of local forest-dwellers, farmers) is often more detailed than that of formal
institutions and can be used to assure sustainable development.
Useful Terms
Anti-western- against western values and or economic or political systems, mostly instigated by experiences
of exploitation
Indigenous ­ rooted in a specific locality, native
Decentralization ­ delegation of authority to lower levels of administration
Suggested Readings based on Internet Resources
Students are advised to read the following paper (available in PDF format from the following web-site for
this lecture), which provides useful and interesting information:
Local Knowledge and Local Knowing
http://www.uni-trier.de/uni/fb4/ethno/know.pdf
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Table of Contents:
  1. WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY?:Cultural Anthropology, Internet Resources
  2. THE CONCEPT OF CULTURE AND THE APPLICATION OF CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
  3. MAJOR THEORIES IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY:Diffusionism
  4. GROWTH OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL THEORY (continued):Post Modernism
  5. METHODS IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY:Comments on Fieldwork
  6. METHODS IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (continued):Census Taking
  7. COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION AND CONSUMPTION IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD
  8. ECONOMIC ANTHROPOLOGY (continued):THE DISTRIBUTION OF GOODS AND SERVICES
  9. FOCUSING ON LANGUAGE:Languages of the World, Structure of Language
  10. FOCUS ON LANGUAGE (continued):Levels of Complexity, Cultural Emphasis
  11. OBTAINING FOOD IN DIFFERENT CULTURES:Optimal Foraging, Suggested Readings
  12. FOOD AND CULTURE (continued):Food Collectors, Food Production
  13. OBTAINING FOOD IN DIFFERENT CULTURE (continued):Pastoralism, Agriculture
  14. RELEVANCE OF KINSHIP AND DESCENT:Kinship Criteria, Rules of Descent
  15. KINSHIP AND DESCENT (continued):Tracing Descent, Primary Kinship Systems
  16. THE ROLE OF FAMILY AND MARRIAGE IN CULTURE:Economic Aspect of Marriage
  17. ROLE OF FAMILY AND MARRIAGE IN CULTURE (continued):Family Structures
  18. GENDER AND CULTURE:Gender Stratification, Suggested Readings
  19. GENDER ROLES IN CULTURE (continued):Women Employment, Feminization of Poverty
  20. STRATIFICATION AND CULTURE:Social Ranking, Dimensions of Inequality
  21. THEORIES OF STRATIFICATION (continued):The Functionalists, Conflict Theorists
  22. CULTURE AND CHANGE:Inventions, Diffusion, Donor, Conventional
  23. CULTURE AND CHANGE (continued):Cultural Interrelations, Reaction to Change
  24. CULTURE AND CHANGE (continued):Planned Change, Globalization
  25. POLITICAL ORGANIZATION:Bands, Tribal Organizations, Chiefdoms
  26. POLITICAL ORGANIZATION (continued):State Systems, Nation-States
  27. POLITICAL ORGANIZATION (continued):Social Norms, Informal Mechanisms
  28. PSYCHOLOGY AND CULTURE:Emotional Development, Psychological Universals
  29. PSYCHOLOGY AND CULTURE (continued):Origin of Customs, Personality Types
  30. IDEOLOGY AND CULTURE:Ideology in Everyday Life, Hegemony
  31. IDEOLOGY AND CULTURE (Continued):Political ideologies, Economic Ideology
  32. ASSOCIATIONS, CULTURES AND SOCIETIES:Variation in Associations, Age Sets
  33. ASSOCIATIONS, CULTURES AND SOCIETIES (continued):Formation of Associations
  34. RACE, ETHNICITY AND CULTURE:Similarity in Human Adaptations
  35. RACE, ETHNICITY AND CULTURE (continued):Inter-group Relations
  36. CULTURE AND BELIEFS:Social Function of Religion, Politics and Beliefs
  37. LOCAL OR INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE:Changing Definitions of Local Knowledge
  38. LOCAL OR INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE (continued):The Need for Caution
  39. ANTHROPOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT:Influence of Development Notions
  40. ANTHROPOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (Continued):Contentions in Development
  41. ANTHROPOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (Continued):Operational
  42. CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY AND ART:Relevance of Art, Art and Politics
  43. CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY AND ART (continued):Art as a Status Symbol
  44. ETHICS IN ANTHROPOLOGY:Ethical Condemnation, Orientalism
  45. RELEVANCE OF CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY:Ensuring Cultural Survival