Aboriginal women and aboriginal traditional knowlege (ATK)

Aboriginals’ close relationships and dependence on the land comes from their understanding that their life and livelihood is dependent upon the nurturing and caring of the land and the environment. [...] In recognition of the valuable role Aboriginal women play in the preservation of the environment and environmental knowledge, EC has sought to ensure the inclusion of Aboriginal women’s perspectives in the development of its guidance document for respectful engagement with ATK holders. [...] In short, the approach that many Aboriginal peoples share with the environment also guides the way they live their lives, and thus the value of ATK is not just to understand the environment, and not just to preserve the environment, but also to help negotiate relationships and approaches to broader aspects of living and interacting with the environment. [...] While the IUCN does not frame 9 the discussion using the term ATK, it is clear that one very important aspect of their involvement of women has to do with the unique insights and knowledge that women have, that is often regionally-based, and transformative for the well-being of their communities and community resources. [...] In conducting a case study in the province of B. C. on the impacts of the loss of traditional knowledge, Turner and Turner (2008) identified a thorough list of factors eroding ATK: Reasons for this loss include compounding influences of changing knowledge systems owing to religious conversion and residential schools, loss of indigenous languages, loss of time and opportunity for traditional practi