INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE KEY TO CLIMATE CHANGE SURVIVAL

Prof. Petra Tschakert

GEOFF VIVIAN

A Curtin University researcher says Indigenous people’s traditional knowledge is vital if we are to adapt to climate change.

“There’s a long history of knowledge, of dealing with dramatic climatic changes including Ice Ages,” Prof. Petra Tschakert said. “And you just tap into this knowledge, to recognise it as valid, to talk about Indigenous knowledge actually as Indigenous science, and to be explicit about the many ways of knowing - in this case knowing through Country.”

Professor Petra Tschakert said Indigenous people, like many disadvantaged people, were also more vulnerable to climate change and they must be included when finding solutions.

Prof Tschakert is one of the authors of a report  National Strategy for Just Adaptation which aims to improve the way adaptation policy, planning and action are framed in Australia.

Assistant Climate Change minister Senator Jenny McAllister has endorsed the study’s findings.