INDIGENOUS SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY

DR. JULIUS JAY N. RODRIGUEZ, LPT, MAT

INSTRUCTOR I, NEUST-CAS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. Describe the nature of indigenous science and

indigenous knowledge;
2. Compare indigenous science with indigenous
technologies; and
3. Analyze the importance of some indigenous
knowledge and science in our lives.
INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE
• Indigenous knowledge is the unique knowledge confined to a particular
culture or society.
• It refers to the understandings, skills and philosophies developed by
societies with long histories of interaction with their natural
surroundings. For rural and indigenous people.
• It is also known as:
• Local knowledge
• Folk knowledge
• People’s knowledge
• Traditional wisdom
• Traditional science
INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM
1. Embedded in the daily life experience of young children as they grow up.
2. Practiced by the members of the community
3. Parents and other folks served as the first teachers and their methods of teaching
are very effective in transmitting cultural knowledge in the mind of the children.
4. Lessons they learned are intimately interwoven with their culture and the
environment
5. Lessons are comprised of good values and life stories of people on their daily
struggles
6. Views about nature and their reflections on their experiences in daily life are
evident in their stories, poems and songs.
INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE THAT ARE TAUGHT AND
PRACTICE BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
1. Predicting weather conditions and seasons using knowledge in observing
animals’ behavior and celestial bodies
2. Using herbal medicine
3. Preserving foods
4. Classifying plants and animals into families and groups based on cultural
properties
5. Preserving and selecting good seeds for planting
6. Producing wines and juices from tropical fruits
7. Keeping the custom of growing plants and vegetables in the yard
INDIGENOUS SCIENCE
• Indigenous science (IS) relies upon direct observation
for forecasting and generating predictions; it’s power
lies in its ability to make connections and perceive
patterns across vast cycles of space and time.
• Indigenous scientists are trained in various
specializations such as herbalism, weather
observations, mental health, and time keeping, and
there are tests to ensure IS validity.
INDIGENOUS SCIENCE
INDIGENOUS SCIENCE
• Indigenous science uses science process skills such as observing, comparing,
classifying, measuring, problem solving, inferring, communicating, and predicting.
• Indigenous science is guided by culture and community values such as the following:
1. The land is the source of life. It is a precious gift from the creator
2. All living and non-living things are interconnected and interdependent with each
other
3. Human beings are stewards of the land and other natural resources. They have
a responsibility to preserve it
4. Nature is a friend to human beings – it needs respect and proper care
5. The Earth is revered as “Mother Earth.” It is the origin of their identity as a
people.
INDIGENOUS SCIENCE
Indigenous science is composed of traditional knowledge practices and valued
by people and communities such as:
➢Ethno-biology. The scientific study of the way living things are treated or used
by different human cultures. It studies the dynamic relationship between
people, biota, and environments, from the past to the present
➢Ethno-medicine. The study of comparison of the traditional medicine based on
bioactive compounds in plants and animals and practiced by various ethnic
groups, especially those with little access to western medicines.
➢Indigenous farming methods. Methods to sustain productivity of land
➢Folk astronomy. Creating stories about astronomical phenomena
IMPORTANCE OF INDIGENOUS SCIENCE

• Indigenous science gave birth to the

development of science and technology as a
field and as a discipline
• Indigenous science helped the people in
understanding the natural environment and
in coping with everyday life
INDIGENOUS TECHNOLOGY

•Indigenous technologies refer to

the outcomes produced by
studying indigenous sciences.
INDIGENOUS TECHNOLOGY

•Indigenous technologies refer to

the outcomes produced by
studying indigenous sciences.
EXAMPLES OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE
1. Observation of the Environment to Predict and Prevent Landslides
➢landslides are most likely to occur if sacred trees (ai-lulik) are cut and sacred
stones (fatuk-lulik) are destroyed.
➢The physical structure of soil is fragile when there are no stones and tree roots
to secure the ground.
2. Annedda tree
➢The herbal medicine used as instrument for pharmacological development.
➢Indigenous people in North America helped newcomers to cure scurvy
• using conifer-needle tonics (Annedda tree) that were rich in vitamin C.
EXAMPLES OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE
3. Sambong Leaves
➢Sambong is a traditional medicine as a treatment for fever, cough, headache,
boils, and abdominal pain.
➢It also treats urinary tract infections and reduce high blood pressure.
4. Anino
➢This covers everything from cancer healing plants to natural ways to help a
common cold.
➢The leaves of this particular plant can be used to take away the pain of
• headaches while the fruit has cancer healing properties.
EXAMPLES OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE
5. Acupuncture
➢ Acupuncture is a form of treatment that involves inserting very thin needles through a person's skin at specific
points on the body, to various depths.
➢ It can help to relieve pain and it is used for a wide range of other complaints.
➢ Originated in China. It was first mentioned and recorded in documents dating a few hundred years before the
Common Era.
➢ Acupuncture is a technique in which practitioners stimulate specific points on the body, usually by inserting thin
needles through the skin.
➢ Ancient Chinese method of relieving pain it is used to treat pain, anxiety, weight reduction and substance abuse.
6. Farming System of Cordillera’s Ifugao’s: Payoh, Muyung and Uma
➢ The Ifugaos of Cordillera
➢ Indigenous Knowledge System Technologies and Practices: Farming System
➢ Evolutionary Changes and Problems
EXAMPLES OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE
7. Zai Pit System
➢ Zai holes or Tumbukiza/roof/ gardens/ circle gardens/vertical gardens
➢ “Zai” is a term that farmers in northern Burkina Faso use to refer to small planting pits
➢ Traditional land rehabilitation to rehabilitate degraded drylands and to restore soil fertility to the benefit of farmers living in
drylands.
8. Seaweeds Farming
➢ The development objective of this project is to contribute to the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of fishing
community’s dependent on coastal fisheries for livelihood by developing alternative employment and income opportunities
through diversification of seaweed farming. This activity would divert fishing to farming, thus, reduce fishing effort on the
overfished coastal fishery resources
➢ Seaweed gathering is a seasonal activity of coastal villagers particularly where monsoon season is pronounced. This is true in the
Visayas and Luzon Islands. In Mindanao, where monsoon season does not affect the region's weather conditions, seaweed
farming has become a more established occupation particularly in Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, wherein about 3,000 seaweed farms operate
➢ Seaweed farming is considered an economic activity for coastal fishermen. It does not require intensive capital; family labor is
gainfully employed and the product is marketed both in the domestic and international outlets, given the quality of products
produced.
EXAMPLES OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE
9. Fermentation
➢ A natural process through which microorganisms like yeast and bacteria convert carbs such as starch and
sugar into alcohol or acids
➢ The alcohol or acids act as a natural preservative & give fermented foods a distinct zest and tartness.
➢ Promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria, known as probiotics
Examples of Fermentation
➢ Food drying is a method of food preservation in which food is dried (dehydrated or desiccated). Drying
inhibits the growth of bacteria, yeasts, and mold through the removal of water.
➢ Dehydration has been used widely. For this purpose, since ancient times. Open air drying using sun and
wind has been practiced since ancient times to preserve food
➢ Smoking is the process of flavoring, browning, cooking, or preserving food by exposing it to smoke from
burning or smoldering material, most often wood. Fish and meat are often smoke.
EXAMPLES OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE
10. Volcanic Eruption
➢ Animal behavior changes (rats, snakes, crabs, goats)
11. Pambabatok
➢ A tattooing technique of the Butbut Tribe in the Philippines
12. Etag
➢ Native’s traditional way of preserving pork.
13. Coconut oil
➢ Lessens the pain of the body due to its soothing oil that penetrates the skin.
14. Bamboo Drip Irrigation System
➢ Is a 200-year-old system of tapping stream and spring water by using bamboo pipe and transporting
water from higher to lower regions through gravity.
EXAMPLES OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE
15. Bark of a Willow Tree
➢ A symbolic medicinal plant
➢ It is chemically known as acetylsalicylic acid or salicylate
➢ It has been used for centuries as a pain reliever
➢ The main pharmacologically active ingredient of willow is the “salicin” structure
➢ Salicin is comprised of D-glucose [It circulates in human circulation as blood glucose and acts as an essential energy source
for many organisms through aerobic or anaerobic respiration and fermentation] and salicyl alcohol [local anesthetic and
anti-inflammatory]
16. Aspirin
➢ pain reliever
➢ It is known as a salicylate and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
➢ Essential in the pharmacological development
➢ It is used to reduce fever and relieve mild to moderate pain from conditions such as muscle aches, toothaches, common
cold, and headaches. It may also be used to reduce pain and swelling in conditions such as arthritis.
EXAMPLES OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE
17. Rice-Fish Co-Culture System
➢ farming technique for over 1,200 years in south China (Qingtian, Zhejiang Province)
➢ "globally-important agricultural heritage system," by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization
➢ Economic benefits - net proceeds
➢ Beneficial to farmers
➢ Boosts their tourism
➢ Public Health benefits
➢ Environmental benefits
➢ Mutualism is defined as an interaction between individuals of different species that results in
positive (beneficial) effects on per capita reproduction and/or survival of the interacting
populations
EXAMPLES OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE
18. Food Fermentation and Preservation
➢ Since ancient times in every civilization, there will be food preservation or fermentation.
➢ It is to prolong the foods and stock it
➢ Ancient Egypt one of the avid practitioners of food fermentation and one of the oldest.
➢ Beer and Mead is fermented in Ancient Egypt.
➢ In Japan Miso and Soy sauce is fermented which one of the oldest condiments.
➢ Food Fermentation occurs with the help of bacteria and yeast since in the ancient people does not have sanitizers or
alcohol bacteria is easily accumulated
➢ Due to food fermentation there are products that have been discovered and up to market till now.
➢ One of it is the most used preservatives in canned foods, canned vegetables, to add flavor to soup and meat and that is
Monosodium Glutamate or MSG.
➢ Kikunae Ikeda, a chemistry professor at Imperial University of Tokyo and founder of Ajinomoto, discovered the flavor-
enhancing property of MSG in 1908.
➢ Another example of it is Yogurt, Sardines, Spam and many canned foods.
EXAMPLES OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE
19. Water Harvesting
➢Redirection and productive use of rainfall
➢It involves collecting water from rooftops, swollen streams and rivers or from
constructed catchments.
➢Water harvesting ensures that farmers have enough amount of water stored in case
of limited rainfall or shortness supply of water
THANK YOU!