You have raised important concerns about the use of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in environmental science, particularly around essentialism and minimizing power dynamics.
You critique the tendency to homogenize TEK and treat it as static, but could you please provide concrete examples as the discussion in its current form appears somewhat abstract? Could you also please share more real-world case studies to clarify how these issues manifest in practice, particularly in the dynamics between scientists and TEK holders.
The concept of “productive complicity” is a valuable contribution, yet its practical application remains unclear, as far as I can understand. Could you be kind enough and elaborate on how environmental scientists can navigate power asymmetries and ethical dilemmas in TEK collaborations?
I also think providing a deeper exploration of the implications of TEK usage for local communities, especially in cases where knowledge may be used in ways that do not align with the holders’ original intentions, is needed.
Thank you so much!
