IKSP (Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices)

The complex, dynamic, and holistic knowledge systems developed by Indigenous Peoples through generations of lived experience, observation, interaction with nature, and cultural transmission (Battiste, 2002; Nakashima et al., 2012). IKSP encompasses ways of knowing, doing, being, and relating (Martin & Mirraboopa, 2003), and is deeply rooted in specific landscapes, ecosystems, and spiritual beliefs (UNESCO, 2017). These knowledge systems include, but are not limited to, environmental stewardship, agriculture, medicine, navigation, governance, and oral traditions (Berkes, 2012). IKSP is continuously evolving, and its integrity is maintained through respectful intergenerational transmission and collective practice (Whyte, 2013; McGregor, 2004).