Fire Ecology, The Use of Traditional Ecological Knowledge to Enhance/Sustain the Environment and Ways of Life

Abstract

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) has been defined as, “a cumulative body of knowledge, practice and belief, evolving by adaptive processes and handed down through generations by cultural transmission, about the relationship of living beings with one another and with their environment” (Berkes, 2012:7). Bringing Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) into a classroom combined with standard western scientific practices will allow my students to understand the importance of both influences. It is my opinion that my Native American students, even though I work at a public school, which is about 70% Native American, should be able to engage in and apply their TEK to many different problems we face in science today. As an Environmental science high school teacher, it is my responsibility to engage my students in ways that combine their prior knowledge with new concepts, this time being traditional things their ancestors have done to take care of, or manipulate the environment, along with the normalized western science practices.