The case to recognise Indigenous knowledge as science | Albert Wiggan | TEDxSydney
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- čas přidán 14. 07. 2019
- In this passionate talk, Albert Wiggan calls for better recognition from the scientific community arguing that Indigenous knowledge is science and that's what we should call it. Albert Wiggan is a Bardi-Kija-Nyul Nyul man from the beautiful waters of Boddergron (Cygnet Bay) on the Dampier Peninsula, who is passionate about culture, country and Indigenous science. When the government tried to build the world’s largest LNG plant at James Price Point, Albert lobbied the Supreme Court and fronted a blockade until the developer withdrew from the project.
He now works as an environmental consultant with the Nyul Nyul Rangers, is Deputy Chair of the Kimberley Indigenous Saltwater Science Project, Indigenous Chair for Bilbies Australia’s National Recovery Team, and is the Nyul Nyul representative on the board of the Kimberley Land Council.
Albert has toured international stages as a speaker and musician with John Butler, and has worked in film and television for the last ten years. He lives with his wife and three children on Nyul Nyul Country in Beagle Bay community. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
This is my experience. A traditional experience upbringing my mother had, but brought up in a house that the govt actually gave my grandmother who is a white lady except grew up on the rez with a half native mother and german father. She was resourceful as possible with 10 kids. With her husband on a spiritual journey away from home and bringing the children on the pow wow trail. My father was confusing. Grew up as a 3rd generation fisherman and just as many generations Catholic. When the white man forced us into living their way capitalism and taking care of only their family. He spoke to us about Jesus but it was too late. We went to all non native schools. I felt like an alien but we knew Jesus was not our story. It hurt and confused my father.who was lost in his role as a result. We couldnt fish anymore, we overfished our lake. Due to it being the only way to capitalize on our land. Therefore he wasnt on the rez and was raising traditional spiritual well educated little brats. I feel hurt for whats been taken from our people. That lost feeling my dad had, i felt it since Kindergarten. I now experienced.relationships with men who are even more lost. The product of a lost people. If we dont have our spirit and culture, then we dont have anything. That goes.back to the land. I am so intrigued by Australians indigenous. Like we are all the same. How could we have so much in common in our ways of spiritual belief and also the way culture loss causes suffering. On a other side of the world?
A wonderfully informative TED talk which should be watched and discussed by all Australians. Albert is a great young Indigenous leader and a role model for young Indigenous Australians.👏🖤❤️💛
Totally Agree Albert is a Shining beacon of Hope for our current Generation.
Everyone in the world should watch, indigenous knowledge is probably the only viable path left if we actually want to sustain life on this planet.…
Thank you Albert Wiggan for sharing the knowledge of your people with us. 🙏
When you do not appreciate the value of science and knowledge, nor comprehend them, everything may go as knowledge and science for you.
Amazing Ted talk. Inspiring and hopeful
Oh wow, beautiful talk! I can so relate to his Indigenous values and perspectives through my own Nation's values and perspectives. And I think that is just awesome.
Such a well spoken man. Thank you.
Love the way you think. I’m fascinated by indigenous Australian Culture and knowledge of the land. I believe it’s the way forward for the protection and future of our country.
They have far less knowledge of the land than any modern scientist.
@@NoTaboosI hope you heal your bigoted and closed spirit. Quit spewing hate towards our NATIVE peoples. I swear we get it from you European Christians and these awful WHITE sterile science people. You think you’re wise because you can call a plant by a supposed biological name? You western science types are just as clueless and devoid of spirit knowing as these Christian fools! What’s funny is they look down on you! And you look down on them. But you’re both the same!
@@makeamericanativeamericana7436 It's not hate, it's fact. Grow up. You obviously know nothing about the scientific method. Native peoples had zero documentation for a start. And I am not christian.
Science is a methodology not an ideology.
Science is defined literally as knowledge of any kind. It includes qualitative and quantitative methods, which are evolve with time and are not fixed. You’re absolutely correct in stating that it is explicitly not an ideology.
You're right... unfortunately, Scientism is a growing phenomenon, where people lift scientists up as priests, arbiters of "True" knowledge.
The Knowledge Keeper in Indigenous communities that represents the most people in their voice. Their tone. 'Oral Cultures' are literate in the nuances of the spoken word. The Knowledge Keeper who, when they speak, many people feel represented. In Indigenous communities, the Knowledge Keeper who considers the interests of the most people. So, working on your 'Tone of Intent' is a lifelong exercise. Peace
I wonder how many of these negative commenters actually have a strong background in science...
Indigenous people have a deep understanding of the interplay of astronomy, the seasons, animal behaviors and breeding patterns, and plant growth. This is based on observations, predictions and experimentation.
A googled definition of science: "Science is the study of the nature and behaviour of natural things and the knowledge that we obtain about them".
Sounds about right to me!
"Indigenous people have a deep understanding of the interplay of astronom"
They don't. What they have is astrology. Stop spouting rubbish.
@Jayden Tan Aboriginals figured out the same basics people had all over the world. It's not unique to them. It's simple observation.
Galileo is part of the tradition which we call 'science'. It proved Galileo's theory wrong. And also where he was correct. Aboriginal knowledge like all such knowledge doesn't go anywhere.
"The foundation of traditional knowledge is an epistemology that is very old. Traditional knowledge. has rules, forms, and structure. It can be measured and work collaboratively with eurocentric science to produce accurate results."
Steve Wilson - if we work collaboratively, then I feel this will work. if it's only science-based, look at where we are today. science doesn't evolve unless they can make money out of it... Capitalism
I hope you watch this back again and see where the "negative comments" are. I feel it's explaining the truth.
@@nelsonkerley6090 well said Nelson
@@AminTheMysticCalling you out- the indigenous people of Oceana were using the movement of celestial objects to chart their movement and the seasons for thousands of years before the Mediterranean cultures took to the open ocean.
True WORDS of WISDOM totally enjoyed..
Thank you
respect
more attention to this please
Amazingly expressed as this leads us all towards thinking that Indigenous knowledge is a root for Social Transformation.
It isn't. It's primitive tribal knowledge, out of date by centuries.
@@AminTheMystic That remark sounds a bit biased
@@alanburner8958 Yet it's 100% true. You'll notice people talikng *about* this knowledge. No one actually knows that this amazing knowledge is.
@@AminTheMystic This knowledge is from a whole different group of people before us, who had a completely different approach to knowledge. The only way that we can learn about their approach to thinking is if they tell us how they think. And since most people aren't going to contact these people directly, it's fair that not a lot of people know what it is.
But that's why people watch these videos! That's why the Indigenous people behind the videos like making them! The different culture and worldviews are what makes learning about Indigenous knowledge good!
@@alanburner8958 just what I said. People will talk “about” the knowledge. But no one knows what this magical knowledge is. Because it’s just primitive tribal thing. And that is it.
The people saying knowledge isn’t science... lol... do they know anything about quantum physics!?... people who can’t understand always dismiss.
Science, by definition, is knowledge of any kind.
Remember my name my legacy has just begun
Any formal education? both sides of the tracks?
Wow! he looks so much Like Randy Orton (WWE)
💀💀💀
This is my brother. We went to school together and every word he speaks is absolutely true 💓
he is a game-changer and my friend
Science, by definition, is knowledge of any kind. It’s not limited to a particular methodology. Science includes not only constantly evolving qualitative methods but also quantitative methods.
Quantum understanding has already clearly defined the limits of measurement and classical statistical modeling. It’s best to keep all that in mind before we puff ourselves up too much and lose our humility and the ability to advance and progress.
So having said that were maori the first to discover Antartica like they claim or not?
@@user-oh4yd5uh4eI don’t have any information about that particular topic. 🤷🏻♂️
Indigenous Knowledge of Australia is 60,000 Years old. Why isn't it included in the conversation. To build and protect this continent for future generations.
Yeah, why has no one talked about the nuclear reactors that aboriginals designed thousands of years ago?
Because the Western world has too much power over indigenous communities across the globe
@@martinemachin864 maybe because it's not as useful🤷🏽♂️
No written language or the wheel.
They never even invented writing.
Yes yes yes!!! GOVERNMENT LISTEN!!!! You are an amazing man Albert Wiggan.
Cherry Ripe..... red on the inside.
I guess you're one too then.
Land is spiritual
Gibberish.
'Indigenous ways of knowing' are 1,000,000 light-years ahead of science. Science is limited and out-dated and rightfully so, it was designed to be that way.
Lol! Are you for real? Go away and join the advanced internet... go on shoo!
It's pretty advanced here already, maybe you're in the wrong place...shoo. lol
@@lijkhbljkbh sure. then give a few example... ?? let everyone know.
This internet thing, was it a creation of an 'indigenous way of knowing'? No, and it would never have been created that way
You clearly have no idea what science is. It's merely a method.
Indigenous knowledge is SCIENCE ... but to call it science it needs to be measured by white mans measuring stick ... indigenous knowledge goes way way back and is measurable to that particular culture
In other words it is primitive tribal knolwedge. It isn't science at all. If the "white mans measuring stick" offends you then don't call it science - a white man word!
A body of knowledge is not 'science' sorry.
It's science but it can't be measured by science. Got it
Are you joking? They never even invented writing. No documentation as a basis for hypotheses. You clearly don't understand what science is.
@@NoTaboos ah you missed the point … providing documentation is “your” way of proving something valid to “you” … oral traditions have survived thousands of years longer then writing ….. a hypothesis writing proof is what you need for your own satisfaction that’s ok too. .. navigation ? Biology geology all survived without writing 🤦🏽♂️
Harry Butler had way more knowledge of the Australian ecology in the 1970s than aborigines ever had.
You don't need support beams to hold a bridge up. All you have to do is consult the spirit of the grizzly bear.
Okay give this video a second cuz I thought oh great it's in another language but it changes to English
What is english? Sounds archaic.
Science is separate to any notion of race. Putting some information in a different category to mainstream science sounds arrogant and backward.
No one is asking to put information in a different category, simply asking that indigenous knowledge recognised as on par with 'western science". Observation, experimentation, trial and error analysis, they're all scientific methods. "Indigenous Science" (i.e. still science) has been developed over thousands of years through the employment of scientific practice.
@@whaiatitirangi1957 why should it be recognised as on par? it ISNT on par. The scientific method used by "western science" is far more 'scientific' than the Indigenous practice. Aboriginals didnt even have a written language how can you possibly compare the two. Of course Aboriginals would have had a very superior knowledge of their landscape / land / climate / weather and so forth. Thats quite different to science in the "west" as you put it.
@@krisbaum1974 You're missing the point kris. Get past everything western you have been taught and open your mind just a little.
@@andrewandrew5245 get past everything western ive been taught. what like philosophy, science, critical thinking, democracy and so forth? yeah nah. im more interested in progression rather than regression.
@@krisbaum1974 Bahahahaha
Whilst mythologisation of events that actually occurred is almost certainly true, the problem is that when that mythology is passed down through oral history rather than being written down it becomes increasingly difficult to find utility and functional application.
Also the anti-capitalist nonsense adds little to this dialogue.
I wouldn't say it's strictly anti-capitalist, though it does seem to lean a bit too far in that direction for my taste.
This man has some points; I do believe we shouldn't disregard indigenous knowledge as wholly unscientific; there are certainly many things that the Ancients from around the world came up with that were true. However, as all things, it should be taken with a grain of salt, as there seems to be some degree of romanticization.
I do think that this was worth a watch, though.
Knowledge isn't science. Science has a whole set of protocols that are specific to it. Just saying "I know" won't do the trick.
@@hutcheon01 the "church" has nothing to do with science.
Western science is based on observation religion requires blind faith...opposite philosophy.
That is one of the big advances made by western science.
The realization that the spiritual world has no bearing on natural phenomena.
Lol their tribe had accumulated a massive library of knowledge by experiencing different things in the world far beyond what western science have accomplished. By observing it, experimenting on decisions, and all scientific processes were they able to adapt, survive, and live to pass on this knowledge to the next generation through song forms. You wouldn't know.. cuz all you do is sit on that high chair of arrogance- that is, western science, that thinks it can hold the truth to everything to this world, and devalues everything that doesnt not seems science- just because it's not the same as theirsssss..... lol they all had the same fundamental aspect- what's different? Only that the indigenous science is mostly for survival and ecological maintenance while western science devastates nature with its science!!!
@@warwicklewis8735 It is not a realization but a premise of science. A scientifically unsupported that is.
@@hutcheon01 so did the Islamic World.... These Institutions were the ones who fueled scientific progress but that does not discredit that it is Science and it is true! gravity is the same as anywhere and so is DNA. Science isn't relative its absolute and it becomes objective due to the scientific experiments and constant testing that proves it to be true.
@@capitalistsocietybots9976 You're talking complete utter nonsense. Aboriginals were like the Native Indians primitive tribes who were cut off from the mass of humans. What do you think Asians and Europeans and even Africans were doing? Sitting on their arses resting? There's no "indigenous science". They couldn't even develop farming. Or decent ships.
i assumed this would be bs but i made myself listen for open mindedness' sake
i'm still not aware of any case for indigenous knowledge to be recognised as science.
all i got was that he speaks as an indigenous man about stuff
He is saying that the knowledge accumulated through these societies that did not and have not fallen for over 60,000 years should be taken seriously by Australians and not disregarded as "traditional", "spiritual" or "primitive". He is saying that their practices regarding land as well as politics could be useful to modern Australia as well as Indigenous Australia. Given the format he doesn't have a great deal of time to delve into specifics and likely assumes Australian's are aware of Indigenous practices but simply disregards them rather than take them seriously. Allowing indigenous communities to return to their own original culture is a difficult hurdle on its own; incorporating that culture into broader Australia seems radical. I think that is what he is advocating for, from the position of a man who has experienced both.
@@tommyev96 yeah that's all well and good, but it's not science
@@ironsideeve2955 hahaha ethnoscience can help here. But im too tired explaining... im sleepy.
@ironside eve are you a natural scientist? As a Ph.D. environmental scientist, I can attest that there are thousands of papers, talks, panels, and science projects that are founded in this understanding that Indigenous knowledge IS science, and complements western science. Co-production of knowledge is a huge field.... have you no knowledge of this? I have several National Science Foundation and federal agency grants (over $2million dollars) with Indigenous partners that were funded around models of co-production that bring together Indigenous knowledge and western science....all under the umbrella of science. So my question is...... are you a scientist in this field?? Because if you are I highly encourage you to do some homework to learn more about it - there is a lot of good stuff out there. And if you aren't a scientist...well, I can better understand why maybe you haven't yet encountered this, and encourage you to find a bit of humility in commenting on something that isn't in your field of expertise. Because this type of thinking comes off as condescending and harmful (even if that wasn't your intent).
@@capitalistsocietybots9976 I hear ya!
Aboriginals also completely irradicated all large mammals on Australia, and terrformed the place thru burning practices..
Interesting where'd you read this
BubblePi at my ancient human anthropology lectures
Yes, most probably they did (the science is actually not completely clear on that, but indeed that seems to be the case). What is clear, however, is that they managed to coexist on this land for tens of thousands generations, maintaining amazingly high diversity of life and landscapes. They modified the land, yes - every species does that to its habitat to some extent, and humans tend to do that to considerable extents wherever they happen to settle. It clearly is part of our nature.
What is also clear, that what we're facing now is not eradication of some fraction of species coupled with some local changes in landscapes - it is a mass extinction coupled with mass degradation (and in many cases - annihilation) of ecosystems around the entire globe. And the driving force of that is not Aboriginal culture. Rather, it is the terrible socio-economic ideas that originated in Europe and are taking over the world as a virus. That's one of reasons why, in my opinion, it is our primary responsibility as Europeand (or European descendants to do what we can to stop this spread before it actually drives us to the end of the world.
@@zofiaprokop5933 yes, nobody wants an extinct planet - europeans or aboriginals im sure would all agree on that so i agree with you on most of that.. but i will say the following..... firstly - Aboriginals completely terraformed Australia. Large mammals, plus also their bush burning practices altered the whole flora/fauna of Australia permanently. So its much worse than just extinct large mammals.. secondly. .im not sure what you're trying to do here, comparing European and Aboriginal settlement and somehow saying Aboriginal was more superior.. You have completely ignored the fact that we now have 25+ million people living on the same chunk of land, where there were more like 1/100 of that population when Europeans arrived. How is that a comparison? how is it even fair on the world that a race of people decide they'll occupy the whole damn continent with a hundred or two thousand people and not evolve or contribute to the advancement of humanity???? i would also hedge my bets on a lone european colonial settler farmer family making way less environmental impact than a hunter-gatherer family simply because farming is almost self-sufficient and confined. You grow and breed your own animals from the animals and plants you have in your land. You dont spread over thousands of KM killing anything you can eat. so square KM for square KM, i contest your idea Aboriginals somehow lived a more superior life. good luck living hunter-gatherer with 25million people. yes they made way less damage to Australian land etc because there were so few of them! and finally.. i agree that extinction isnt a good idea although the planet definitely is not going through an exctinction, this requires 80%+ of animal species dying, its nothing of the sort.. not to downplay the terrible destruction of the environment but..its just not that bad. whats more, aboriginals lived a harsh, terrible life in comparison to our modern life with abysmal life expectancy and living standard. and obviously that comes at a cost. you want to go live like a caveman? go for it, but dont expect everyone else to do the same...
@@krisbaum1974 it's in our nature to preserve life,we understood the circle of life and to keep the balance ,you know like lion king,so we did not drive anything into extinction who ever is teaching that should be sacked, tell me who is responsible for the extinction of the Tasmanian tiger, is it a)us Aboriginals or b)colonization the answer should explain what happened to the other ancient animals that lived peacefully with us Aboriginals for thousands of years.
You are living in 1552
Am I really to believe indigenous culture was not competitive & exploitative wrt nature? That indigenous culture had no harmful impacts on nature? No economics or politics? Whence the tribal & national social organisation & violence in indigenous culture? The instruments, techniques & culture of warfare? Am I to accept the romantic, utopian imagery of man living in 'symbiotic relationship' with nature as objective historical fact? To accept his criticisms & misrepresentations of European culture, institutions? No.
What a waste of time. Native hordes can tell us how to live. Wow. He doesn’t want to live a traditional life. No woman would. What an absurd talk
How did the myth that indienous people are intelligent get started?
Probably the same way that anyone imagines their gibberish to be an intelligent statement. 🤷🏻♂️
You know how the myth of white people being intelligent got started? Through violence, force, colonization, lying, cheating, greed, corruption. But now ya’ll mad people are seeing the other side of things cause you know it means you lose your pathetic power. Also you spelled Indigenous wrong.
He didn't actually say anything of substance.
That's subjective to what your ears are inclined to hear as substance. He said plenty.
What is substance?
It’s people like you in this world who are the problem. Wake up!
Thats because you weren't listening
A true white invader
It's complete guff. All such knowledge is completely outdated. Indigenous tribes were primitive. They were cut off from main thrust of humanity until European appeared. They don't possess any special knowledge.
Lol... you have mystic in your name... you do realise new age knowledge is ancient indigenous wisdom right? So you kinda sound like you’re contradicting yourself. The didgeridoo was the first binaural beat... the Dreamtime place is the vortex the secret speaks on. Don’t be foolish with that there ego child.
Everything went down hill when europeans appeared, sad truth.
What is special knowledge? Sorry I'm confused with that part
You don't come across as intelligent.
@@2partiesnotpreferred226 How ironic! Given all you can do was insult rather than counter-argue.