



Traditional Ecological Knowledge (or TEK) refers to the evolving knowledge acquired by indigenous and local peoples over hundreds or thousands of years through direct contact with the environment. This knowledge is specific to a location and includes the relationships between plants, animals, natural phenomena, and the landscape that are used for lifeways, such as hunting, fishing, trapping, agriculture, and forestry. TEK is an accumulating body of knowledge, practice, and belief, that encompasses the world view of indigenous people which includes ecology, spirituality, human and animal relationships, and more. TEK has become increasingly recognized as being valuable for natural resource management, including adaptation to climate change. Below is a set of resources that were compiled for an LCC training workshop on traditional ecological knowledge held in Sacramento, CA in September 2014.

Tribal History in California

Introduction to Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)

TEK and the Policy Environment

TEK and Ethnobiology

Cross-walking of TEK and Western Science

Successful Partnerships that Advance Resource Co-Management

Tribes and Climate Change

Also see the October 2013 special issue of Climatic Change on "Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples in the United States: Impacts, Experiences and Actions".

Cross-cultural World Views and Ethics

Integrating TEK in Environmental Decision Making

Policy Declarations and Frameworks

Other Relevant Resources