I came across a great e-newsletter called Sacred Earth Newsletter.
Here is the link: http://www.sacredearth.com/
One of the most important aspects of TEK is how it is an accumulation of knowledge. In order for it to accumulate, it needs to be passed on. Prof. Pena was talking about this is class today about how the transfer of knowledge is the foundation for a resilient community. If homes or the community environment is destroyed the people can adapt and find ways to continue being dependent through the skills and knowledge they have practiced instead of relying on aid or temporary housing. Oftentimes, temporary housing ends up being permanent because programs are not available to help people get back on their feet to support themselves; they become dependent on the aid they receive.
Sacred Earth Newsletter is a great example of the passing of knowledge to everyone and anyone who will listen. There are tips for foraging wild plants, information on medicinal plants and natural remedies. It is quite an interesting and impressive catalog of tips, definitions, and information and I hope you have time to check it out.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Continuing TEK
I found a website http://shr.aaas.org/tek/ which speaks of a project by AAAS that is trying to maintain TEK and extrapolate TEK ideas with science and human rights in order to fix problems in regards to the loss of TEK. I feel this relates very well to our class.
I also wanted to share something I remembered during Professor Peña's lecture. He spoke of indigenous people giving birth outside of hospitals. As I have mentioned, I lived in Costa Rica and visited various indigenous communities. One of the communities I spent a lot of time with were the Ngobe people in southern Costa Rica. The women give birth outside of hospitals because the doctors will make them lie down for giving birth; the Ngobe women give birth standing up holding on to some sort of rope or pole. This is actually better than giving birth lying down because gravity helps, and also there is far less chance of hemorrhage from the baby pushing inside the mother. My professor in Costa Rica is a doctor, and he admitted that the only reason women lie down to give birth is because it is more convenient for the doctor. It is interesting that the TEK is at times better than our medical system (although, of course, in the case of a serious complication it is helpful to be able to go to a hospital).
I also did a lot of research on medicinal plants, and there are quite a number that the indigenous people know of that in fact have ended up being used in medicines. This ties back to bioprospecting that I mentioned a few blogs back.
I also wanted to share something I remembered during Professor Peña's lecture. He spoke of indigenous people giving birth outside of hospitals. As I have mentioned, I lived in Costa Rica and visited various indigenous communities. One of the communities I spent a lot of time with were the Ngobe people in southern Costa Rica. The women give birth outside of hospitals because the doctors will make them lie down for giving birth; the Ngobe women give birth standing up holding on to some sort of rope or pole. This is actually better than giving birth lying down because gravity helps, and also there is far less chance of hemorrhage from the baby pushing inside the mother. My professor in Costa Rica is a doctor, and he admitted that the only reason women lie down to give birth is because it is more convenient for the doctor. It is interesting that the TEK is at times better than our medical system (although, of course, in the case of a serious complication it is helpful to be able to go to a hospital).
I also did a lot of research on medicinal plants, and there are quite a number that the indigenous people know of that in fact have ended up being used in medicines. This ties back to bioprospecting that I mentioned a few blogs back.
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