WHAT WILL WE DO?
Through place-based research (based on Indigenous knowledge and science) our Team will produce the following:
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i) culturally appropriate frameworks for defining and describing interconnections between biodiversity and health-wellbeing;
ii) indicators and methods for tracking and interpreting patterns, trends and tipping points;
iii) modelling innovations and solutions for biodiversity conservation and care of people in hot-spots (e.g., areas/peoples under critical stress)
iv) actionable ‘design principles’ for strengthening holistic governance of biodiversity and health-wellbeing.
OUR PROJECTS
Global Transformation Pathway Team Ten (GTPT 10)– Nurturing Indigenous Medicine and Land-based Healing (NFRF-T; $562,500.; 2022-2026)
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There are 10 GTPTs that will carry out work related to each transformation pathway. Each GTPT is comprised of Indigenous scholars and Knowledge Holders (e.g., elders), senior / mid-career and early career researchers, as well as graduate students. They will liaise with Place-Based Research Projects and carry forward synthesis work toward transformation in one or more transformation pathways. Specific roles include i) supporting PBRT in project design and adaptation/use of “Methodological Toolboxes; ii) synthesizing and scaling outcomes around pathways of transformation; iii) conducting evaluation; iii) leading symposia.
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GTPT 10 is focused on Indigenous Knowledge related to medicines and health care. This Pathway will address questions such as: How can incentives to nurture biodiversity improve health care and health outcomes? What synergies exist in the practices of healing people, healing the spirit and healing the land?
Pilot Project – Intergenerational Transmission of Traditional Indigenous Medicinal Knowledge in Mae Lan Khan, Thailand (NFRF-T; $156,250.; 2023-2025)
The aim of this pilot project is to explore opportunities to develop inter-generational methods for Indigenous communities to use to facilitate the transmission of medicinal knowledge to younger generations. The project has three sub-objectives:
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1. To work with the Karen community of Mae Lan Kham (Thailand) to document traditional medical knowledge in their community, and to develop opportunities for this knowledge to be stored and shared in the community according to community protocols.
2. To recruit and train youth from the community to participate in the project as community research assistants. These CRAs will work with Karen Knowledge Keepers and Healers in the community to document and archive traditional medicine knowledge.
3. To support PASD to re-vitalize the Indigenous research network in Southeast Asia through opportunities to bring Healers and youth from other Indigenous communities in Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos and possibly others to Thailand to learn about the project.
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Anticipated outcomes from the project include:
1. Development of community-based protocols for creating a living library of medical knowledge for Karen and other Indigenous communities in southeast Asia to use in the education of future generations.
2. Development of intergenerational methodologies for documenting and sharing sacred traditional medicinal knowledge with other Indigenous communities working in Pathway 10.
3. Development of training protocols for engaging community youth to document community medicinal knowledge.
4. Hosting at least one regional Workshop for Healers and youth from other Indigenous communities in Southeast Asia to learn from the Thailand experience.