from the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development |
|
|
JAFSCD is the world’s only community-supported journal. JAFSCD content is open access (free) thanks to the generous support of our shareholders: the JAFSCD Shareholder Consortium, Library Shareholders, a growing number of Individual Shareholders, and our six JAFSCD Partners: |
|
|
Revitalizing Indigenous food systems through research and knowledge-sharing |
| |
|
TRIBAL FOOD SYSTEMS RESEARCH FELLOW PAPER |
|
|
JAFSCD peer-reviewed article by Stafford Rotehrá:kwas Maracle (Queen’s U and First Nations Technical Institute), Jennifer Tewathahá:kwa Maracle (Queen’s U and Loyalist College of Applied Arts & Technology), and Stephen C. Lougheed (Queen’s U)
The limitations of relying solely on Western science and approaches for long term sustainability are apparent. Indigenous knowledge and philosophies offer alternate worldviews that can complement Western conservation and resource management to strengthen efforts to restore environmental integrity and conserve species and ecosystems. Working inward through the embedded relational nature of Indigenous knowledges and its unique strengths and perspectives, we can actualize the effective and ethical co-production of knowledge for conservation and stewardship.
In this article, the authors aim to describe the foundations of Indigenous knowledge and its deep roots in environmental sustainability to support the use of frameworks such the Kaswentha (Two Row Wampum—Haudenosaunee) and the Etuaptmumk (Two Eyed Seeing— Mi’kmaw), treating Indigenous knowledge as a distinct framework alongside Western science that will help to promote a shift toward a holistic and relational worldview for more impactful conservation action.
In Understanding Indigenous knowledge of conservation and stewardship before implementing co-production with Western methodologies in resource management: A focus on fisheries and aquatic ecosystems, authors Maracle, Maracle, and Lougheed present a thesis and guide for Western scientists to co-produce effective and ethical conservation efforts with Indigenous Peoples. Corresponding author Stafford Maracle can be contacted at stafford.maracle@queensu.ca.
KEY FINDINGS
Indigenous knowledge is deeply embedded in place and relationship to the ecosystem and species co-inhabiting there.
Oral traditions and cultural value have maintained sustainable practices for millennia, indicating the importance of personal resonance with nature for effective conservation.
Spirituality and ceremony provide the means to enact reciprocity and ecological governance.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY, PRACTICE, AND RESEARCH
We must aim to embrace the relational approaches of Indigenous knowledge systems and be considerate to the spiritual and emotional ramification of an environmental issue. Shifting from incorporating Indigenous knowledge where convenient to viewing Indigenous knowledge and practice as a framework and worldview for an alternative way of solving environmental challenges will provide more long-term and impactful efforts. SHARE ON YOUR SOCIALS
We must value the relationality, methodology, and cultural reverence embedded within Indigenous knowledges to co-produce conservation efforts capable of sustaining healthy ecosystems for future generations. #IndigenousKnowledge #Conservation @FNTI #QueensU Read the entire @JAFSCD article for free: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2025.141.024
Photo above: Man-made step pools assist migrating fish in Rock Creek, Washington, D.C., USA. Photo by Sam Sheline, courtesy of NatureServe. In the public domain; accessed via Flickr. |
|
|
Building Strong Retail Systems for Local Farmers and Local Food
With about one dozen farm stops now successfully up and running and several more approaching launch, now is the perfect time to gather, learn from one another, share best practices, and envision the role we’d like to see farm stops play in our local food ecosystems.
Whether you operate a farm stop already, or think that you may one day want to open one in your community, our goal is to provide content useful to you as you move forward. With that in mind, we are putting together an ambitious slate of local food thought leaders, and planning a full lineup of panels on everything from fundraising and marketing, to farm relations and merchandising, while also leaving plenty of time for networking.
Speakers and panelists include Philip Ackerman-Leist, John Ikerd (JAFSCD columnist), Kate Krauss, Debra Tropp, Michelle Miller, Kathryn Barr, and many others. |
|
|
SEEKING NEW JAFSCD PARTNERS
|
|
|
JAFSCD would appreciate your assistance in finding one or more new JAFSCD Partners to support its transformative work — emphasizing accessibility, equity, and engagement, and progressive editorial policies such as triple-rigor* and positionality or reflexivity statements. Other JAFSCD efforts include our Food Policy and Practice Briefs program, Voices of the Grassroots essays, author mentorship programs, and the Indigenous Food Sovereignty Editorial Circle and its new quarterly column. The additional income from additional partners (@ US$10,000 annually) would support these efforts and allow us to bring a new editor-in-chief on board. This is an advantageous time, as we are preparing to migrate JAFSCD to a new peer-review and publishing platform (Scholastica).
We would like additional JAFSCD Partners to join our current prominent partners:
- Food Systems Research Center at The University of Vermont
- Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future
- Kwantlen Polytechnic University's Institute for Sustainable Food Systems
-
The Inter-institutional Network for Food, Agriculture and Sustainability (INFAS)
- Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) & the University of North Carolina Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (in a joint partnership)
We’d like to recruit a partner in the Midwest or West Coast of the U.S., as well as one outside of North America. Moreover, we would like to add a national or international nonprofit organization, especially one that represents the interests of less privileged voices.
Please contact Duncan Hilchey if you are engaged with an organization that might be interested in becoming an ongoing JAFSCD Partner. He can provide additional information to share with colleagues or you can share this info sheet.
JAFSCD has great potential to contribute to a better world, and having a talented editor-in-chief is a key to unleashing it. Please help us find one or two new JAFSCD Partners to make this happen.
* Credit for the triple-rigor concept goes to the late Christine Porter of the University of Wyoming; see her 10-minute presentation here.
|
|
|
SHAREHOLDER ANNOUNCEMENTS |
|
|
The successful candidate will develop and lead externally funded research and extension programs that support and strengthen the viability of the New Jersey agricultural sector and individual farms. Through active engagement with the agricultural community, the Specialist will identify existing and emerging opportunities and needs, conduct applied research to assess what technical assistance and policies would help farmers take advantage of these opportunities, and provide educational outreach in the agricultural community across different scales of operation, commodities, and production systems.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS OR TO APPLY |
|
|
The Department of Agricultural Economics, Rural Sociology, and Education (AESE) at The Pennsylvania State University is seeking candidates for an Extension Program Specialist who will conduct Extension programs, develop enterprise budgets, and create and update publications for the Penn State “Ag Alternative” series. The role includes supporting research projects and offering expert advice on risk management. The candidate will effectively build solid connections with stakeholders and their organizations. This position requires a master’s degree plus three years of relevant experience or equivalent work experience.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS OR TO APPLY |
|
|
This email is sent to you as a notification of the newest JAFSCD articles and other occasional JAFSCD news. |
|
JAFSCD is an open access, community-supported journal! Your library, program, or organization can become a shareholder to help keep JAFSCD's content available to all, regardless of their resources. We welcome anyone to become an individual shareholder; donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
|
|
|
|
