Weaving relations: Exploring the epistemological interaction between indigenous & traditional ecological knowledge and Eurowestern paradigms in education for sustainable development - an umbrella review
Abstract
Aim: This thesis aims to explore the epistemological challenges and opportunities of integrating
Indigenous and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK) in Education for Sustainable
Development (ESD) within the context of Euro-Western paradigms.
Theory: In considering epistemological interactions between ITEK in ESD, the theoretical
framework for this study is a "weave" of the transformative paradigm as the warp;
postcolonial, decolonial, and Indigenous research methodologies as the weft; and the
transdisciplinary approach as the frame.
Method: This study employs an umbrella review (a review of reviews) methodology to analyze and
synthesize 30 existing systematic reviews on the integration of ITEK in (E)SD. The search
was conducted in the Web Of Science database, and eligibility criteria were established to
maximize the relevance and quality of the included studies. PRISMA and MMAT
guidelines were followed to ensure a comprehensive and transparent approach complete
with adequate quality appraisal filters.
Results: The results of this study demonstrate that while there is a growing body of research on the
integration of ITEK in ESD, the Euro-Western epistemological framework presents
significant challenges for successful integration of other worldviews. The themes that
emerged from the analysis include the importance of epistemological justice, the need for
decolonization of knowledge systems, and the potential for transformative and
transdisciplinary approaches to facilitate the integration of ITEK in ESD. The study also
identifies gaps in the literature and proposes avenues for future research.
Degree
Student essay
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Date
2023-06-08Author
Silvestru, Alexandra
Keywords
Indigenous & traditional ecological knowledge (ITEK), education for sustainable development (ESD), education for sustainability (EfS), sustainable development, western epistemology, ontology, epistemic justice, decolonization, transformative paradigm, umbrella review, systematic review
Language
eng