Dr. Yolanda Lopez-Maldonado
Safeguarding our knowledge
Philosophy
Mission
To provide innovative solutions for problems that relates to the interface of humans with nature in Indigenous Communities based on their own capacities and resources while ensuring, to the extent possible, that the research involving Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities is premised on respectful relationships.
Vision
To ensure that Indigenous communities maintain their own epistemological and methodological approaches to scientific enquiry while the research incorporating Indigenous and Local Knowledge systems (including ontologies, epistemologies and methodologies) is recognized as a scholarly contribution that meets standards of excellence and that is carefully designed to be conducted with sensitivity, addressing the ethical, fair and equitable treatment of such knowledge.
Ethical Values
Indigenous Science strive for ensuring, to the extent possible, that research involving Indigenous Peoples is premised on respectful relationships encouraging the establishment of ethical spaces for dialogues on common interest and points of difference between researchers and communities engaged in projects.
Indigenous Science accords respect to Indigenous Knowledge systems by ensuring that the different worldviews are represented in planning and decision making in an attempt to meet Indigenous Peoples needs.
Indigenous Science is committed to support Indigenous Peoples in their struggles for rights, environmental and social justices, based on their core values while implementing principles and codes governing research practices that emphasize Indigenous collective rights, interests, and responsibilities.
Objectives
Humanity as a whole benefit from the actions made by Indigenous Peoples in protecting biodiversity and ecosystems. Indigenous Science forges transparent and just approaches with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities to ensure they can successfully defend their knowledge, manage and protect their natural resources, while pursuing their livelihoods.
Indigenous Science will:
Provide FREE advice and support to Indigenous Communities involved in research and projects by ensuring that their worldviews are represented in planning and decision making in an attempt to meet their needs.
Provide guidance to researchers on the ethical conduct of research involving Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.
Support the establishment of research agreements between Indigenous Communities and researchers that addresses ethical procedures in data collection and management, analysis and interpretation, credit to knowledge holders, protection of restricted knowledge, co-authorship, among others.
Support the establishment of relationship with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, identification of mutually beneficial research goals, define appropriate research collaborations and partnerships, while promoting mutual trust and communication.