BUILDING A CRITICAL MASS OF EMERGING RESEARCHERS AND SCIENTISTS IN INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS

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Sydney Phillips
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1 BUILDING A CRITICAL MASS OF EMERGING RESEARCHERS AND SCIENTISTS IN INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS Prof HO Kaya - Director: Centre in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (University of Kwazulu Natal, Prof M Masoga - Research Professor in the School of Human and Social Sciences, University of Venda & Motheo Koitsiwe- IKS Coordinator, North West University, Mafikeng campus

2 Structure of Presentation Introduction About Indigenous Knowledge Systems Building a Critical Mass of IKS Human Capital Examples of CIKS Activities

3 Introduction The Department of Science and Technology-National Research Foundation (DST-NRF) Centre in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (CIKS) is a partnership of five South African higher education institutions, namely, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) as the hub, North-West University (NWU), University of Limpopo (UL), University of South Africa (UNISA), and University of Venda (UNIVEN). The purpose of the CIKS is to generate, preserve, promote and mainstream Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) through research, postgraduate training, knowledge brokerage, networking and community engagement. The Centre was founded in CIKS is multi-inter-and trans-disciplinary in terms of research, teaching, learning knowledge brokerage networking and community engagement. The focus areas are food security; traditional medicine; bio-diversity and environment management and curriculum studies with an emphasis on emerging quest for Non-Eurocentric paradigms.

4 Introduction: conti.. The Vision and Mission of the DST-NRF (CIKS) The vision of CIKS and its partners is to become a hub for IKS development through research, postgraduate training, knowledge brokerage, networking, and community engagement. The CIKS mission is to improve the quality of life of the people through recognition, development, protection and affirmation of IKS in Africa.

5 About Indigenous Knowledge Systems Indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) also referred to as community-based knowledge systems are bodies of knowledge, skills, innovations, beliefs, experiences and insights of the people in their respective natural and cultural environments. Many people in Africa and other developing regions, especially women in rural areas and other marginalised communities depend on them for survival in areas of health, food security, natural resource management and governance. Mascarenhas (2004) defines IK as embedded knowledge that has being around when is it needed and that a considerable part of local/ik is related to the survival of the community, in general or specific fields, whether in terms of protection or use of the environment, optimizing or enhancing food, especially during the periods of stress.

6 Dr Wally Mongane Serote, on the other hand provides the following impeccable definition, IKS emanating from the human spirit are life experiences organized and ordered into accumulated knowledge with the objective to utilize it to the quality of life and to create a livable environment for both human and other forms of life (Masoga 2005, IKSSA 2005). IK has been a tool for both survival and resistance. Despite their great potential in providing sustainable solutions to complex development challenges including food security, environmental management and climate change adaptation, the conventional approaches to development tend to marginalize these IKS. Ultimately IKS needs to be interfaced with other knowledge and technology systems to meet the challenges of globalisation and sustainable development in 21 st Century.

7 The CIKS realizes that IKS is a new area of inquiry in terms of research and human capital development; Building a Critical Mass of IKS Human Capital The future and sustainability of IKS lies with a new generation of emerging researchers and scientists in South Africa and Africa at large. This takes into consideration the following factors: the legacies of inequalities from the past colonial and apartheid regimes in terms of race, gender and disability; high unemployment rate among women and youth; and responsibility of the emerging researcher to promote the contribution of South Africa and Africa in the global pool of knowledge through its indigenous knowledge systems. The CIKS as a national centre in South Africa uses its comparative advantage to provide access to a pool of IKS information through maintaining data bases, publications.

8 Building a Critical Mass of IKS Human Capital The community-based and multi-trans disciplinary nature of IKS makes it a very strategic field of enquiry for promoting sustainable solutions to development challenges in South Africa and the continent. This is enhanced by its ability to combine theory and practice which is deficient in the current formal education system. Leveraging on its convening power the centre also creates IKS platforms (such as conferences, workshops, and seminars) for emerging researchers, scientists and other stakeholders.

9 Examples of CIKS Activities Research: Documentation of IKS for Poverty Eradication in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province, joint research project with The United Nations Population Fund (UNFP) and the KZN Provincial government Department of Social Development. Assessment of Food Security and Nutrition Situation in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province, joint research with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation; Three CIKS Postgraduate students won the 2014 Department of Science and Technology (DST) Women in Science IKS Postgraduate Fellowship Awards Research and Development of IKS and Ubuntu as Public Policy Strategies in KZN Province. This was done in partnership with the Moses Kotane Institute, South Africa.

10 Examples of CIKS Activities Research: African Traditional Medicine and Healing Practices in the North West Province- The project is funded by NRF and implemented by IKS Centre, North West University Oral Traditions of Bakgatla Ba Kgafela in North West province the focus is on documentation of poems, stories, proverbs of Bakgatla Ba Kgafela tribal community

11 CIKS Activities Knowledge Brokerage and Networking International Conference on Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Environmental Ethics: Implications for Peace-Building and Sustainable Development, April The conference was a joint collaboration between CIKS; Africa Programme: UN University of Peace (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia); University of Rwanda (Rwanda); KwaZulu- Natal Provincial Departments of Social Development; and of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs. It attracted 133 delegates from 12 countries (Ethiopia, Tanzania, United States of America, United Kingdom, Uganda, Rwanda, India, Sweden, Germany, Cameroon, Zimbabwe and Canada). Triple Heritage Initiative in ethekwini Municipality. The CIKS, in collaboration with the ethekwini Municipality and KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Department of Social Development initiated the promotion of the virtues of the racial and cultural diversity of the municipality.

12 CIKS Activities Knowledge Brokerage and Networking International Conference on Post-Graduate Students Research on IKS in Southern and Eastern Africa. The conference themed on Positioning African Ways of Knowing and Knowledge Production in the Global Conjectures: The Perspectives of African Emerging Researchers on Indigenous Knowledge (Durban November 2015). This was a partnership with Africa Programme of the United Nations University for Peace (UPEACE in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), and the University of Rwanda (Rwanda). It attracted more than 100 postgraduate research papers from 18 institutions across Eastern and Southern Africa were presented. International Symposium on Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Public Health Care in Eastern and Southern Africa in collaboration with Mount Kenya University (Kigali), the Africa Programme-UN University for Peace (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, University of South Africa and the University of Rwanda (Rwanda). The Symposium was held in Kigali, Rwanda on April 2016.

13 CIKS Activities Community Engagement Panel Discussion on Interfacing Knowledge Systems in the Preservation and Protection of Biodiversity and Heritage 30 September The event was held during the Arbor Month. The focus was on the link between IKS and the preservation of South Africa s natural heritage. The CIKS, in collaboration with Moses Kotane Institute, Durban, organized workshops of postgraduate students from DST-NRF CIKS partner institutions and other stakeholders on: IKS Epistemologies and Research Methodologies. Accreditation and Certification of Indigenous Knowledge Holders and Practitioners. This is a partnership between the Department of Science and Technology, South African Qualification Authority, Department of Health. The focus is on developing norms and standards for indigenous knowledge holders and practitioners

14 Challenges Lack of forum for emerging researchers and scientists in IK Validation of IK using Western frameworks and paradigms Push excellence of emerging researchers and scientists Bridge the gap between IK custodians, practitioners, emerging researchers and scientists Develop firm networks & partnerships with key institutions such as the DBSA (KMA), DST, CODESRIA, AU (NEPAD) and SADC etc. Build a strong linkage with UN s MDGs Lack of policy influence Institutional Commitment Interface between IK and other knowledge systems

15 Challenges Politics of knowledge and publishing Reports and experiences (MA and PhD students) Research (researching-back) and Innovation (transforming the current knowledge economy paradigm) knowledge sharing, appropriate methodologies for the collection, documentation and publication of IK

16 THANK YOU

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