Indigenous peoples all around the world have kept unique perspectives on their cultural experiences that aid in their survival. Tribal knowledge, often known as aboriginal knowledge, refers to these understandings.
Tribal knowledge systems are intergenerational wisdom that has been passed down through the generations via millennia of experience and study.
While mainstream knowledge and culture have evolved with comparable traits, tribal knowledge systems are distinct in that they:
Due to their constant proximity to forests, plants, and species, tribal societies have current knowledge of nature.
Mainstream societies have shifted to an agricultural economy, and their cultural knowledge is based on memories of a tribal past that no longer exists.
Source of Knowledge: While mainstream knowledge systems are built on challenging ideas, science, reason, and the evolution process, tribal knowledge systems are founded on knowledge conservation.
Tribal knowledge is passed down down the generations through stories, songs, dances, carvings, paintings, and performances, whereas mainstream information is kept through books and recordings.
Tribal knowledge systems believe in generating generalists because they foster integrated learning for the community.
However, knowledge and learning have been divided into specialised subjects in mainstream society, and these societies are primarily concerned with developing specialists.
Equality: Tribal knowledge systems are non-discriminatory and characterised by fairness.
Barriers to mainstream knowledge systems include schooling costs, patent protections, social discrimination, and so on.
Tribal and mainstream communities do not have to be mutually exclusive. Both have benefited from constant interaction and mutual dependence. As a result, a bridge of mutual learning should be built to further improve both civilizations.
One thing to remember is that tribal knowledge is at the heart of indigenous identity, culture, languages, legacy, and livelihoods, and it must be conserved, preserved, and fostered from generation to generation.