Glossary of Terms

This is our working glossary of concepts and terms that we use.

Indigenous Knowledge

Indigenous Knowledge encompasses millennia of systematic observations, experimentation, and understanding about environmental relationships developed by Indigenous communities worldwide. Far from being simply "traditional" or historical, this knowledge represents ongoing, dynamic science that continues to evolve through direct engagement with changing landscapes and ecosystems.

Phenology

Phenology describes the timing of annual events

Scientific collections (museum collections)

Scientific collections are preserved, managed and curated physical specimens that are used for long-term scientific research and education. They serve many purposes including as a reference for, and are used to describe, species and are increasingly useful to study long term responses to change through time.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) forms a critical component of Indigenous Knowledge, consisting of deep, multigenerational observations and understandings about environmental processes, species relationships, and ecosystem dynamics. TEK includes sophisticated frameworks for monitoring environmental health, predicting seasonal changes, and managing landscapes for long-term sustainability. TEK systems have provided the foundation for thousands of years of environmental stewardship, creating and maintaining some of the world's most biodiverse and resilient ecosystems.

Traditional Phenological Knowledge (TPK)

Traditional Phenological Knowledge (TPK) represents a specialized subset that is interwoven into the larger framework of TEK focused on the timing of recurring natural phenomena—when plants flower, fruit, and should be harvested; when animals migrate or reproduce; and how these cycles interconnect with weather patterns, seasonal rounds, and cultural practices. TPK encompasses not only precise documentation of biological timing but also complex understanding of ecological relationships where species serve as indicators for broader environmental conditions and ecosystem health.

Western Science

Systematic, evidence-based approach to investigating and understanding the natural world, defined by empirical observation, hypothesis formulation, experimentation and data analysis. Sometimes referred to as institutional, academic, mainstream, or dominant science, it has developed through relatively recent formalized institutional and academic practices, with an intellectual lineage tracing back to classical and early modern thought. This framework emphasizes objectivity, universality, and reductionism—often breaking complex systems into smaller parts for analysis. It is frequently contrasted with the holistic and relational nature of Native science and Indigenous knowledge systems.

The Power of Braided Knowledge Systems

Pairing Traditional Phenological Knowledge with contemporary scientific data creates unprecedented opportunities for comprehensive environmental understanding and effective climate adaptation.

This integration offers critical advantages:

Enhanced Temporal and Ecological Depth: TPK provides centuries to millennia of systematic observations that predate industrial climate change, while tracking interconnected relationships between species, weather patterns, and human management that single-species scientific studies often miss.

Cultural-Ecological Integration: TPK recognizes human activities as integral to ecosystem function, documenting how traditional practices like controlled burning and selective harvesting influence plant phenology and ecological health—perspectives crucial for climate adaptation.

Ground-Truthing and Innovation: Indigenous practitioners provide real-time validation of scientific models while their detailed local knowledge reveals when projections may be incomplete. Combining precise measurements with traditional management knowledge creates more robust, culturally appropriate adaptation strategies that identify vulnerable species while revealing time-tested resilience approaches.