¿(Des)centralización de los sistemas de conocimiento indígena?

De la teoría a la práctica

Abstract

Indigenous Peoples possess significant knowledge that aids in maintaining the diversity of the world's cultural and biological landscapes, thereby contributing to the transformation towards sustainability. However, their knowledge, ideas, practices, needs, and values continue to be decontextualized and instrumentalized within global conservation agendas. Despite advancements in international policy regarding the promotion of Indigenous rights, which positively impact the access and dissemination of Indigenous voices in local and global environmental discourses, the challenges remain characterized by colonial continuities. This article explores the dilemma that Indigenous knowledge systems should be central to environmental discourses, yet remain marginalized due to historical, sociopolitical, and economic factors, resulting in an Epistemicide, or systematic marginalization. We identify the need to deconstruct the Colonialities of Knowledge and Nature within the scientific and political spheres of conservation and conclude with the urgent and imperative necessity to fully preserve Indigenous knowledge systems. We propose pillars of action to ethically and appropriately integrate the role of Indigenous Peoples in these debates, facilitate mutual learning, and prevent further erosion of this knowledge.