Some people ask “What is Indigenous Wisdom?”
In this context of sustainability, Indigenous Wisdom represents a growing body of research that draws on generations of knowledge, offering broader and deeper insights than conventional developed-world approaches, and leading to strategies with longer term and more far reaching benefits.
Growing up in a multicultural family within Auckland’s diverse environment, the founders of SustainaCrete have embraced a way of life that blends the best of different worlds. Adaleen Griffith explains, “Finding connections and benefits from a multi-world perspective is one of my passions. It helped shape the vision for our company and its products. While many see differences between groups as potential conflicts, we view them as opportunities to recalibrate our thinking, expand our knowledge, and broaden our reach.”
Indigenous peoples, while making up just 6.2% of the global population, manage 22% of the planet’s land and are the custodians of around 80% of the world’s biodiversity.*
The field of “indigenous wisdom and sustainability” is well-researched, with numerous scholarly articles exploring various aspects of this topic. This research spans disciplines such as environmental science, sociology, anthropology, and public health. It highlights how Indigenous knowledge systems emphasize environmental stewardship, resilience, and holistic well-being. Indigenous communities have long adapted to environmental changes through traditional practices, but they now face challenges from modernisation and climate change. Successful sustainability projects often stem from collaborations with Indigenous communities and a respect for their knowledge.
Key areas of research include:
- The integration of Indigenous and modern knowledge.
- Adaptive, resilient practices that protect and conserve biodiversity.
- Sustainable agricultural methods and holistic health approaches.
- Policy collaborations that drive successful outcomes.
For centuries, the medical industry has drawn from Indigenous knowledge to support good health and medicine.
We decided to apply the same approach to our building products. At the start of any product design process, we establish clear parameters, which include a structured approach to researching and integrating indigenous knowledge and practices.
Further reading:
- Indigenous Peoples: Traditional knowledges, climate change, and health https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0002474
- https://www.activesustainability.com/sustainable-development/indigenous-people/?_adin=02021864894
- Weaving Indigenous and sustainability sciences to diversify our methods https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11625-015-0349-x
- A Systematic Review on the Local Wisdom of Indigenous People in Nature Conservation https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/6/3415
