Indigenous Methodologies, Research and Practices for Sustainable Development

Marcellus Mbah, Walter Leal Filho, Sandra Ajaps

Research output: Book/ReportBookpeer-review

Abstract

This book states that whilst academic research has long been grounded on the idea of western or scientific epistemologies, this often does not capture the uniqueness of Indigenous contexts, and particularly as it relates to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs were announced in 2015, accompanied by 17 goals and 169 targets. These goals are the means through which Agenda 2030 for sustainable development is to be pursued and realised over the next 15 years, and the contributions of Indigenous peoples are essential to achieving these goals.

Indigenous peoples can be found in practically every region of the world, living on ancestral homelands in major cities, rainforests, mountain regions, desert plains, the arctic, and small Pacific Islands. Their languages, knowledges, and values are rooted in the landscapes and natural resources within their territories.

However, many Indigenous peoples are now minorities within their homelands and globally, and there is a dearth of research based on Indigenous epistemologies and methodologies. Furthermore, academic research on Indigenous peoples is typically based on western lenses. Thus, the paucity of Indigenous methodologies within mainstream research discourses present challenges for implementing practical research designs and interpretations that can address epistemological distinctiveness within Indigenous communities.

There is therefore the need to articulate, as well as bring to the nexus of research aimed at fostering sustainable development, a decolonising perspective in research design and practice.

This is what this book wants to achieve. The contributions critically reflect on Indigenous approaches to research design and implementation, towards achieving the sustainable development goals, as well as the associated challenges and opportunities. The contributions also advanced knowledge, theory, and practice of Indigenous methodologies for sustainable development.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationCham
PublisherSpringer Nature
Number of pages448
ISBN (Electronic)9783031123269
ISBN (Print)9783031123252, 9783031123283
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22 Oct 2022

Publication series

NameWorld Sustainability Series
PublisherSpringer
ISSN (Print)2199-7373
ISSN (Electronic)2199-7381

Keywords

  • Sustainability
  • Environmental policy
  • Environmental and sustainability education
  • Practice as research

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