Traditional Knowledge Program

Forward

Traditional knowledge represents the body of traditions passed on from generation to generation and which is not otherwise recorded. As such, it is a vast data bank of the communal mind of a people which could easily be lost if cultural changes interrupt the transfer of information. Such is the case for aboriginal people of the Arctic. The rapid, often dramatic, changes in living conditions and environments often resulted in the perception that "traditional ways" and the vast body of information that goes with them were no longer important. Fortunately, the cultural resurgence in Arctic communities led to the realization that something not only important, but essential, was being lost. As the population of elders - the keepers of this repository - dwindles, there is an urgency to record this knowledge in a way that will benefit younger members of the communities as well as future generations.

Polar Continental Shelf Program (PCSP)

PCSP has adopted a program specifically tailored to provide logistics support to projects related to Traditional Knowledge in order to contribute to the preservation of this rich repository of information for future generations. If the elders' wish that "...the preservation and appropriate use of traditional knowledge...become a guiding principle of all laws, policies, programs and services" is ever to be implemented in some form in High Arctic communities, it is essential that traditional knowledge not disappear.

Aboriginal leaders have long expressed concern that Traditional Knowledge could be marginalized by "outside" scientists and decision-makers if communities themselves do not maintain control over the research. Polar Shelf's Traditional Knowledge Program attempts to respond to this need by providing logistics support to projects developed by or with communities to meet community needs.

In the past few years, PCSP has provided logistics support to projects covering a variety of interests: traditional sources of lithic material for carvings and other uses, a reconnaissance survey of spiritual sites, an inventory of the location and nature of heritage sites; all of these and other similar projects have involved community elders. As well, community elders have used PCSP logistics support to visit traditional hunting grounds or campsites and to record the oral history of their recollections of past lifestyles.

How to apply

The PCSP encourages those interested in applying to the PCSP for logistics in support of a research project focused on Traditional Knowledge to complete a PCSP Logistics Request Form (please see the “Applications” page for deadline information).  In addition to the regular requirements of the form, those applying to the PCSP Traditional Knowledge Program are also requested, as part of the application, to provide information regarding community support and involvement, project deliverables that will be used to communicate results to the community or communities involved and, as applicable, a list of deliverables that have been developed during the past five years (for ongoing projects).