Indigenous Knowledge Systems: A powerful resource for neuroscience in Africa

IBI Crosscultural Working Group member, Dr. Olivia Matshabane, is a fellow of the African Postdoctoral Training Initiative (APTI) and a Neuroethics Researcher in the Department of Psychiatry, at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. She recently co-authored an insightful article titled Two-eyed Seeing and other Indigenous perspectives for neuroscience, which underscores the value of including Indigenous Knowledge in neuroscience research. The article was co-led by Dr. Judy Illes and Dr. Melissa Perreault, alongside a team of international experts.

According to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Indigenous people are defined as “holders of unique languages, knowledge systems and beliefs and possess invaluable knowledge of practices for the sustainable management of natural resources. They have a special relation to and use of their traditional land. Their ancestral land has a fundamental importance for their collective physical and cultural survival as peoples. Indigenous peoples hold their own diverse concepts of development, based on their traditional values, visions, needs and priorities.”

The article emphasizes that the integration of Indigenous perspectives and knowledge with biomedical approaches in neurosciences can significantly broaden the understanding of the human brain and mind. According to Dr. Matshabane and her co-authors it is crucial for neuroscientists to open up to different ‘thoughts, world views, methods of inquiry and means of communicating knowledge’, as this can contribute to fostering intellectual and epistemic humility. This is particularly relevant in culturally rich contexts, such as Africa, where neuroscientists should strive towards cultural humility.

Read the full article here: https://aasciences.africa/news/Indigenous%20Knowledge%20Systems:%20A%20Powerful%20Resource%20for%20Neuroscience%20in%20Africa