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AFRICA BUNAG Reading Assignment 2 1

1. Indigenous knowledge refers to the collective body of knowledge developed by indigenous peoples over generations that is based on interactions with their natural environments. It includes traditions, practices, language, and worldviews. 2. Indigenous knowledge has contributed to the development of modern science and technology. For example, indigenous peoples' early understanding of medicinal plants led to advances in pharmacology. 3. In the Philippines, indigenous knowledge includes practices for predicting weather, herbal medicine, food preservation, irrigation, and soil classification that are passed down orally between generations. These practices demonstrate an understanding of nature.

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67 views4 pages

AFRICA BUNAG Reading Assignment 2 1

1. Indigenous knowledge refers to the collective body of knowledge developed by indigenous peoples over generations that is based on interactions with their natural environments. It includes traditions, practices, language, and worldviews. 2. Indigenous knowledge has contributed to the development of modern science and technology. For example, indigenous peoples' early understanding of medicinal plants led to advances in pharmacology. 3. In the Philippines, indigenous knowledge includes practices for predicting weather, herbal medicine, food preservation, irrigation, and soil classification that are passed down orally between generations. These practices demonstrate an understanding of nature.

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Lee Tarroza
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© © All Rights Reserved
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AFRICA, Krystyll Claire F.

Science, Technology, and Society


BUNAG, Sherilyn C. Reading Assignment No. 2

1. Identify Filipino indigenous knowledge.


2. Research on the connection of indigenous knowledge to science and technology
3. What is the role of indigenous knowledge in the development of indigenous science?

Curiosity to Boundless Discoveries

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (2003) defines local
and indigenous knowledge as “the collective forms of knowledge, know-how, traditions, habits,
and representations that are being continuously practiced and preserved by people with
extended histories of interactions with natural environment.” These cognitive systems also
include system of language, being engaged or affiliated with the habitat or place, spirituality,
worldview, and other perspectives.

Due to the wide ranges of social, political, and scientific context, several terms related to
indigenous science coexist. These terms include traditional, ecological knowledge, indigenous
knowledge, local knowledge, rural people’s knowledge, ethnobiology, ethnobotany, folk science,
and indigenous science. Fortunately, these broad contexts have been comprised in one term
which is indigenous knowledge. The term indigenous science, on the other hand, refers to the
part of the knowledge system that is being practiced by different groups of people and even the
early civilizations.

Deriving from the definition of indigenous knowledge, Filipino indigenous knowledge refers to
the practices and systems of knowledge that are being practiced by Filipinos, specifically the ethnic
or indigenous groups. It is quite evident that Philippines is very rich in traditions, habits, and
practices. These are commonly observed in various ethnic groups which can be found in
different areas of the archipelago.

According to Palatino (2018), these systems and practices have been embedded in the
cultural traditions of ethnic, regional, and local communities. This kind of knowledge has been
passed from generations to generations in an oral manner. In fact, it can be easily manifested in
poems, stories, and songs which are created by our ancestors.

Prediction of weather, using and applying herbal medicines diseases, preserving foods,
building local irrigation, classifying kinds of soil for planting, and producing wines from tropical
fruits are some of the practices and examples for indigenous knowledge. In these practices,
there are certain elements of nature which are being considered or used in order to practice the
traditions.

When it comes to the indigenous knowledge in the present time, modern science and
technology are always part of the bigger picture. Indigenous knowledge has been widely used
by ethnic groups and indigenous communities. It has been handed down from generations to
generations.

The modern science we have today is an integration of indigenous science which


incorporates traditional knowledge and indigenous perspectives and western science which
focuses on non-indigenous scientific approaches. As a pursuit of knowledge, science gathers
knowledge that centers on ones’ culture.

Throughout history, indigenous people have long been identified as “scientists” for they
have been responsible for the development of many technological advancements thus,
contributing in the field of science.

The indigenous knowledge our forefathers have discovered and further developed paved
way to the discoveries and innovations science and technology can offer to us today. A good
example of these are the food and medicine we have nowadays.

It was the curiosity of the indigenous people that lead to the discovery and unleashing of
the wonders our environment can provide us. Starting from the food that has rooted from crops
and fruits from trees to the cultivation of animals that can be used as food to the kinds of food
we have today in which we have the Genetically Modified Organisms or the GMOs. Before, they
used to plant and cultivate crops with bare hands and in accordance with its nature however,
with the discovery of GMOs, people cultivate crops and other organisms in a scientific manner
that sometimes go against its nature.

In addition to this, even before we became capable of taking up medicine in its present
form, tablets, syrups or capsules, indigenous people rely only on herbal medicines from the
environment. Oregano leaves or lagundi leaves for cough. The indigenous knowledge about the
medicinal properties of plants brought about major contributions to the pharmacological
developments in our present day.
Another specific example is the acetylsalicylic acid, an active ingredient in Aspirin, a pain
reliever, which was first discovered by indigenous people who utilized the bark of the willow
tree.

Just like how plants won’t bear flowers or fruits without beginning from a seed, science
and technology have its own roots, the indigenous knowledge. From a seed sprouts a root, in
the same context, from the curiosity and the need to survive the environment, indigenous
people learned to thrive in the environment they belong to ─ discovered which plants are edible,
which animals are good food, how to cook, how to predict weather, how to tell time. Their
survival instinct has led to many discoveries that became the foundation of the scientific
knowledge we use today.

Later on, stems begin to grow and see a bigger world outside the soil. The need to
survive ignited bigger possibilities and greater findings, these became a single body of
knowledge which triggered the desire to learn more and find out more about the world.

From the stem branches out leaves. The desire to learn more paved way for the
establishments of different sciences and capturing more about the environment. It is no longer
just a matter of survival but a matter of living.

Once a seed and now a young shoot, soon a huge plant. From a single idea to a body of
knowledge, soon the future. Plants continue to grow even without being taken care of because
that is its nature. Science and technology also has vast possibilities that are boundless, and
these are the discoveries we have to day which sprouted from one curious mind.

References:

Abejuela, R. B. (2019). Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Higher Education in the


Philippines. Retrieved from:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228913214_Indigenous_Knowl
edge_Systems_and_Higher_Education_in_the_Philippines

Palatino, B. (2018). Indigenous Science and Technology in the Philippines. Retrieved from:
https://prezi.com/dejrmc4xbvhd/indigenous-science-and-technology-in-the-ph/

Poops, J. (2018). How Indigenous knowledge advances modern and technology. The
Conversation. Retrieved from: https://theconversation.com/how-indigenous-knowledge-
advances-modern-science-and-technology-89351?fbclid=IwAR3UPj5_lE_QEeN2Xdw
J6aPTbFkT640rOWwfK4TYHn-nloG8Fra23qpsM48.

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