Sri Lanka Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge

What is Indigenous Knowledge?

Indigenous knowledge is local knowledge that is unique to a given culture or society. It is the basis for agriculture, health care, food preparation, education, environmental conservation, and a host of other activities. Much of such knowledge is passed down from generation to generation, usually by word of mouth.

Why is indigenous knowledge important for sustainable development?

Indigenous people have a wide knowledge of the ecosystem they live in and ways to ensure that natural resources are used sustainably. Therefore, indigenous knowledge which has been accumulated over centuries has potential value for sustainable development. It can help other people learn how to live in harmony with nature and the environment in a sustainable fashion. The potential value and suggested applications of indigenous knowledge systems for sustainable development can be summarized as follows:

• Historical evidence proves that some indigenous people have utilized natural resources over centuries without impairing their capability to support them and their successive generations. There fore , indigenous knowledge of resource management could provide a valuable information base which could be used (with adaptations) in the management of natural resources for sustainable development.
• If development is to be sustainable, the development projects should always involve project beneficiaries as partners so that they could participate fully in designing, planning, implementation and evaluation. Use of indigenous knowledge in the planning of development projects generally facilitates beneficiary participation.
• The knowledge developed by indigenous people over centuries can be integrated with the modern scientific knowledge in order to create appropriate technologies leading to sustainable development. A blend of indigenous knowledge and modern approaches may be most appropriate. Agroforestry and rice-fish cultivation in SE Asia are some examples.
• Communication gaps that exist between project personnel and indigenous people in the Third World Countries often impede sustainable development. Indigenous knowledge can facilitate communication by providing a better understanding of how people perceive their environment and develop their perceptions.

Constraints to the utilization of indigenous knowledge for sustainable development

Indigenous knowledge is, very often, not known by development professionals because today it remains only in the memory of local groups in remote areas. It is also highly fragmented, dispersed and not always documented. Such knowledge is increasingly being lost with each succeeding generation because the younger generation may not be prepared to adopt indigenous knowledge systems which have been practiced by their ancestors. It is being forgotten as its place is taken by modern technology and education. It is also often ignored and condemned by many, claiming that it is not scientific. Indigenous technologies are, in some cases, less effective and incapable of dealing with modern problems. Above all people who are already accustomed to modern technologies which are easy and comfortable, are unlikely to return to indigenous technologies. Therefore if indigenous knowledge is to be promoted and utilized for sustainable development , there should be a systematic programme designed to collect, document, scientize, further develop and disseminate indigenous knowledge.

Sri Lanka resource centre for indigenous knowledge (SLARCIK)

Sri Jayewardenepura University has established the Sri Lanka Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (SLARCIK) in order to collect, document, scientize, further develop and disseminate Indigenous knowledge.

• Collection and Documentation : Indigenous knowledge which has generally been passed down form generation to generation by word of mouth will cease to exist unless it is formally documented and preserved. Documentation also facilitates easy access to indigenous knowledge so that those interested could familiarize themselves with it. By recording indigenous knowledge systems, they can be compared and contrasted with similar international knowledge systems in other parts of the World. It is an essential prerequisite for the scientization of indigenous knowledge.
• Scientization and Further Development: Though indigenous knowledge is time-tested, it is condemned by many claiming that it is not scientific, and it is not consistent with modern science. Very little is known about the economic viability and the applicability of indigenous knowledge in the modern production system. The validity and cost-effectiveness of indigenous technologies can be tested scientifically. It is also possible to identify beneficial aspects of indigenous knowledge as well as those that could be improved and promoted through science-based technologies.
• Dissemination: Dissemination and utilization of indigenous knowledge should take place together with documentation and scientization. Through mass media, books, journals, newsletters and leaflets as well as conferences, seminars and workshops the documented/scientized indigenous knowledge should reach the public, scientists, planners, development workers and policy makers. It should also be integrated into the formal education systems in schools as well as in universities. Dissemination of indigenous knowledge from one area to another is also necessary because indigenous technology used effectively by one society can be used to solve problems faced by another society in a similar environment elsewhere.
• SLARCIK is housed in the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and it is administered by an interdisciplinary executive committee (to be formally appointed) Director, SLARCIK co-ordinates its activities and works closely with the executive committee. SLARCIK will identify individuals and institutions who are currently identify individuals and institutions who are currently involved in or wish to become involved in applied development studies of indigenous knowledge in sectoral areas such as agriculture, fisheries, enviornment and natural resources management, human health, animal health, non-agricultural technologies, including household activities, education and local organizations in order to establish a viable network. SLARCIK’s executive committee will be formed by identified individuals and representatives of selected institutions who will serve as sectoral coordinators. The sectoral coordinators will coordinate the activities in their respective sectors and interact with other sector coordinators.

Mission and Objectives

The mission of SLARCIK involves the co-ordinate exploration and utilization of indigenous knowledge for sustainable development in Sri Lanka. SLARCIK’s activities are based on the following objectives:

• To act as a clearing house for collection, documentation, scientization, dissemination and utilization of indigenous knowledge.
• Facilitate and undertake the documentation of indigenous knowledge in the areas of agriculture, fisheries, environment and natural resource management, human health, animal health, non-agricultural technologies, including household activities, education and local organizations.
• To undertake research in order to establish scientific validity and economic viability of indigenous technologies, and to evaluate the cost effectiveness of incorporating indigenous knowledge components into development projects.
• To conduct research on transfer of indigenous knowledge and innovations from one ecological zone to another within the country.
• To develop and offer training courses on indigenous knowledge and sustainable development and prepare training and curriculum materials based on national case studies appropriate for inclusion in formal education.
• To conduct national conferences and workshops to provide opportunities for decision-makers to understand the existing and potential value of working with and through existing knowledge systems for participatory approaches to development.

SLARCIK in the global network of indigenous knowledge

A global network of national resource centre for indigenous knowledge is growing with the establishment of resource centres for indigenous knowledge at regional as well as national level in various part of the world. Regional resources centres in Africa (AFCIK) and Asia (REPPIKA), and national resources centres in the Philippines (PHIRCIKSD), Indonesia (INRIK), Mexico (RIDSCA), Kenya (KENRIK), and Ghana (GHARCIK) have already been established. Regional resources centres for Europe and national resource centres in Benin, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Tanzania, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Nepal, and Australia are being established.
Centre for Indigenous knowledge for Agricultural and Rural Development (CIKARD) of Lowa state University in USA, Centre for International Research and Advisory Networks (CIRAN), and Leiden Ethnosystems and Developments Programme (LEAD) in the Netherlands act as indigenous knowledge resource centres with global mandates and they carry out their activities in partnership with regional and national resource centres, SLARCIK will act in collaboration with these global, regional and national resources centres. SLARCIK’s director is serving as a member of the International Advisory Board of CIKARD and as an editor for the Indigenous Knowledge And Development Monitor, the global newsletter published by CIRAN.

To contact SLARCIK please write:

Prof. Hemanthi Ranasinghe
Director
SLARCIK
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Nugegoda 10250
Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 11 2804685
Fax: +94 11 2801604
E-mail: slarcik@sjp.ac.lk

W. B. Herath
Secretary
SLARCIK
University of Sri Jayewardenepura

Tel: +94 11 2801481
Fax: +94 11 2802753