Evolving Wildlife Management Cultures of Governance Through Indigenous Knowledges and Perspectives

Within governance agencies, academia, and communities alike, there are increasing calls to recognize the value and importance of culture within social-ecological systems and to better implement Indigenous sciences in research, policy, and management. Efforts thus far have raised questions about the best ethical practices to do so. Engaging with plural worldviews and perspectives on their own terms reflects driving shifts in 3 fundamental areas of natural resource management: conceptualizations of natural resources and ecosystems, processes of public participation and governance, and relationships with Indigenous Peoples and communities with differing worldviews. 

We broadly describe evolution toward these paradigm shifts in fish and wildlife management. We then use 3 case studies to illustrate the ongoing cultural evolution of relationships between wildlife management and Indigenous practices within specific historical and social-ecological contexts and reflect on common barriers to appropriately engaging with Indigenous paradigms and lifeways. 

Fisk JJ, Leong KM, Berl REW, Long JW, Landon AC, Adams MM, Hankins DL, Williams CK, Lake FK, Salerno J 2024. Evolving wildlife management cultures of governance through Indigenous Knowledges and perspectives Journal of Wildlife Management e22584..
https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22584