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Culture, Climate Science & Education
About the Principles
Nine Principles and an Introduction
Nine essential principles, each of which includes multiple sub-principles or concepts, make up the foundation of this learning unit. Each principle builds upon the previous one, so that upon working through all of them, a student will have a robust knowledge of our climate system and the changes it is undergoing.
All of the principles integrate Traditional or Tribal Ecological Knowledge (TEK) with western scientific knowledge about climate (learn more about TEK and western science). The TEK content includes videos from elders introducing each of the principles and a narrative series (in video form) that follows a tribal girl as she learns about climate and how the changes that are occurring are affecting her tribe's culture. We also include interviews with tribal fish and wildlife managers, hydrologists, and fire managers. The western science part of the learning unit is based on essential principles developed by the US Global Change Research Program* under the leadership of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Please review the Primer on the Organization of this Learning Unit before teaching the unit.
* USGCRP includes the following federal agencies: National Science Foundation; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Environmental Protection Agency; Department of Energy; Department of State; Department of Defense; Department of the Interior; Department of Agriculture; Department of Transportation; Office of Management and Budget; Office of Science and Technology Policy; Council on Environmental Quality; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health.
Traditional Ecological Knoweldge
Traditional or Tribal Ecological Knowledge (TEK) refers to the way native people understand and pass on knowledge about the relationships between plant and animal species, ecosystems, and ecological processes. Because it encompasses knowledge that spans thousands of years and many, many generations, it has the potential to play a vital role in climate change adaptation. Not only does it hold relevance for tribes, it is also recognized as providing valuable contributions to larger climate change discussions at regional, national, and international levels. The table below identifies some of the most important differences between Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western Scientific Knowledge.
Traditional Ecological Knowledge
Encompasses oral history, place names, and a spiritual relationship with the creator and creation
Encompasses ethical considerations, for example, relations between humans and the natural world that are based on the principle of reciprocity and obligations toward community and other beings
Holistic approach concerned with complete ecological systems rather than with the analysis of, treatment of, or dissection of it into parts
Acquisition of knowledge over multiple generations and over periods as long as thousands of years
Long-term wisdom (not just information but information paired with wisdom)
Prediction in local areas
Weak in predictive principles in distant areas (cannot necessarily predict how other landscapes will respond)
Models based on cycles, accepting variability
Explanations based on examples, anecdotes, parables, spiritual beliefs, and experience spanning generations
Western Scientific Knowledge
May encompass elements from written history but generally considers only data collected through experiments
Strives for objectivity so generally does not consider moral or ethical obligations
Compartmentalized approach (tends to dissect and look at individual parts of an ecological system)
Rapid acquisition (often data is collected in timespans of years or a few decades)
Short-term prediction
Predictability in natural principles (depending on the type of data collected)
Weak in integrated, local areas of knowledge (because of tendency to specialize or compartmentalize)
Linear modeling as first approximation
Explanations based on hypothesis, theories, laws, and scientific process and judgment
Traditional ecological knowledge involves the accumulation of highly localized, experiential, placed-based wisdom over a long period, most often passed down orally from generation to generation.
The two knowledge systems — TEK and western science — share some similarities. Both are founded on observations and critical evaluation of the landscape, processes, or plant or animal of interest. Both rely on observation in natural settings and on pattern recognition. Both allow for revisions in the way they understand the environment or a given phenomena when initial facts and assumptions are disproven or improved upon through additional experience or testing. Both relying on repetition to validate an assumed fact.
Traditional ecological knowledge can contribute qualitative, historical field data that Western science may lack, while Western science typically provides more quantitative data.
As it pertains to climate change, contributions from both knowledge systems are critical. Traditional ecological knowledge can identify on-the-ground climate-related changes occurring at a local level and contribute traditional management practices that have been time-tested.
Qualitative data deals with descriptions. The data can be observed but not measured, and includes descriptions of behavior, processes, timing, cycles, colors, textures, smells, tastes, appearance — information that characterizes but does not measure.
Quantitative data deals with numbers. The data are measurements — length, height, area, volume, weight, speed, time, temperature, humidity, sound levels, cost, members, ages, etc. Information that is a measure of something is quantitative.
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