Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) & Two-Eyed Seeing

Traditional ecological knowledge, or TEK, is a system of knowledge that Indigenous peoples have collected for many centuries. This knowledge is based on constant observations of the land, water, animals, and other natural processes. People passed it down through personal experience, practice, and family traditions that are preserved from generation to generation.

In the United States, TEK is increasingly playing an important role in climate work. It helps people better understand how local ecosystems function and what long-term changes are happening in nature. This knowledge also helps communities look for ways to adapt to new climate conditions. Federal agencies such as NOAA, USGS, and EPA already officially recognize TEK and use it in climate planning documents. Tribal governments, universities, and research organizations also support this approach.

There is also an important principle called “Two-Eyed Seeing.” It suggests looking at nature in two ways at once: through the lens of Indigenous knowledge and that of Western science. This approach does not replace one system with the other. It helps combine the strengths of both and use them together.

What Traditional Ecological Knowledge Means

Traditional ecological knowledge is knowledge that Indigenous peoples collected over a very long time, living close to nature and observing it every day. This knowledge has developed over centuries. People studied the land, water, animals, and the ecosystems around them. TEK includes observations of nature, ways of working with the land, cultural traditions, and rules that help sustainably use resources.

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues describes TEK as “a body of knowledge, practices, and beliefs” that is passed down from generation to generation. In the United States, TEK differs among different tribes because each tribe lives in its own environment and follows its own customs.

TEK is based on personal experience and constant contact with nature. This knowledge includes detailed information about animal behavior, migration routes, soil conditions, natural fires, and water systems. Many Indigenous peoples pass down oral histories that preserve information about natural changes that have occurred over hundreds of years.

In Western science, such long-term observations are rare. TEK also includes important values — respect for nature, shared responsibility, mutual support, and thoughtful decision-making. These principles shape how communities use forests, water bodies, and land. They help build sustainable systems for managing natural resources.

Many tribal governments use TEK in their work with land. For example, controlled burns help reduce the risk of severe forest fires, selective harvesting preserves plant diversity, and community water quality monitoring helps track the safety of water bodies. Such methods help maintain natural balance and protect food systems that depend on forests, rivers, and coastal areas.

TEK and Climate Change

Traditional ecological knowledge plays an important role in climate research. It provides long-term, continuous information about nature that existed long before modern scientific monitoring began. For example, tribal communities in Alaska have been observing sea ice conditions, coastal erosion, storm behavior, and changes in wildlife for many years. These data were included in materials prepared by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, including the Fourth and Fifth National Climate Assessments.

TEK helps identify local climate impacts that large scientific models may not show. Tribes of the Southwest note changes in the timing of monsoons, pollen cycles, and drought intensity. These observations match meteorological data but provide a more detailed picture for specific locations. TEK also shows the cultural consequences of climate change. For example, plants needed for ceremonies or medicine are disappearing. It is becoming harder to obtain traditional foods such as salmon and wild rice.

Since TEK is based on on-site observations, it helps develop adaptation strategies suited to specific ecosystems. These strategies include restoring local species, preparing community-level emergency action plans, protecting traditional food sources, and adjusting seasonal activities to new environmental conditions. Many tribes have included these measures in their climate adaptation plans. The Tribal Climate Resilience Program of the Bureau of Indian Affairs supports them.

This connection is reflected in the term “traditional ecological knowledge of climate change.” TEK is used not only to document the consequences of climate change. It also helps make decisions about land, water, and the well-being of local communities.

Two-Eyed Seeing as a Guiding Framework

“Two-Eyed Seeing Climate” is a principle proposed by Mi’kmaq Elders Albert and Murdena Marshall. It says a person needs to look at the world in two ways at once. One “eye” helps see the strengths of Indigenous knowledge. The other shows the strengths of Western science. This approach does not suggest replacing one system with the other. It teaches people to respect both systems equally.

The Two-Eyed Seeing program supports joint work between tribes, scientists, government agencies, and community organizations. It is used in environmental and health research in the United States and Canada. This approach makes climate research more accurate by combining two types of knowledge. Western science provides models, measurement methods, and tools. Indigenous knowledge provides cultural context, long historical experience, and understanding of local environments. Together, this helps better assess the state of nature.

Such cooperation helps organizations develop climate response measures that account for both scientific data and community needs. The expression “Two-Eyed Seeing” reflects this balanced and respectful approach.

How TEK and Western Science Work Together

TEK and Western science complement each other well. They work together in research, monitoring programs, and climate projects. Each system has its own strengths. TEK has extensive experience with local ecosystems. Western science uses modern tools such as satellite data, climate models, and laboratory methods.

Many tribal governments cooperate with federal agencies through memorandums of understanding. These documents describe the parties' roles, the rules for data sharing, and cultural norms. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with tribes on habitat restoration, relying on both systems of knowledge. The National Park Service includes TEK in its resource management programs, especially in fire management and species protection.

When both systems work together:

Environmental data becomes more accurate because TEK adds important local information.
Climate models become more reliable because they use observations from the communities themselves.
Adaptation plans become more effective because they take cultural, social, and natural priorities into account.
Scientific methods become more responsible because they consider ethical and cultural requirements.

Each participant contributes their experience. Final decisions include both scientific analysis and Indigenous knowledge.

Indigenous Knowledge Integration in Climate Research

The integration of Indigenous knowledge requires clear and well-organized processes. These processes must protect the sovereignty of tribes and their intellectual property rights. Many tribes have their own research rules, project review and approval councils, data management policies, and cultural norms. Federal agencies such as the Department of the Interior and the National Science Foundation require researchers to comply with laws governing tribal consultation. This includes Presidential Executive Order 13175, which establishes the process for consultation and coordination with tribes.

Integration is possible only when long-term relationships with tribes are built. Many tribal nations take part in climate research only if they have equal rights in developing the project, choosing methods, and discussing results. Community consent is required because TEK belongs to the people who created it. The principles of ownership, control, access, and possession must govern access to this knowledge. These principles are known as OCAP. They help protect tribal rights and sovereignty.

When integration is done correctly, climate research better reflects the community's real needs. This makes climate data more useful, strengthens trust, and helps create more sustainable and effective adaptation strategies.

Co-production of Knowledge Between Communities and Scientists

Co-production of knowledge is a process in which tribal communities and researchers work as equal partners. They define the research goals together, plan the work, collect data, and discuss the results. This approach gives both sides equal rights in decision-making. Many climate projects in tribal communities in the United States use this model because it is based on responsibility, openness, and respect.

Co-production includes several important actions:

Early involvement of tribal governments in choosing the goals of the research.
Joint control over project development and data collection.
Shared analysis of the results.
Clear rules for storing, protecting, and using data.
Review of the results by the community before publication.
Development of skills and capacities that will help both sides in the future.

This model reduces the risk of mistakes and misuse of data. It helps conduct climate research more ethically and take the interests of all participants into account.

TEK Applications in Climate Adaptation and Resilience

Tribal nations use TEK in climate projects across the United States. These projects are connected with fire protection, water supply, food resources, and the restoration of natural areas. Many of them receive support from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Tribal Climate Resilience Program, and state-level tribal partnerships.

Here are several examples:

Tribes are reviving the practice of controlled burns to reduce the risk of large wildfires in California and the Pacific Northwest.
In the Great Lakes region, wetlands and wild rice areas are being protected, which helps support food systems.
In Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, TEK is used to restore salmon habitats.
Coastal tribal communities along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts monitor water levels and fish conditions.
Tribes of the Southwest track the effects of drought and change agricultural practices to adapt to new conditions.
Many communities protect plants used in traditional medicine through their own conservation programs.
Plans for responding to climate emergencies are also being developed, based on traditional seasonal knowledge.

Ethical Principles for Working with Indigenous Knowledge

Partnerships related to TEK must be based on clear and transparent ethical rules. These rules are established in tribal research codes, in the principles of Indigenous data sovereignty, and in federal requirements for conducting consultations. Many tribes ask researchers to sign special agreements. These agreements describe the conditions for accessing information, the rules for publications, and the cultural norms that must be respected.

The main principles include:

Respect for the sovereignty of the tribe and its right to make its own decisions.
Compliance with tribal research codes and all approval procedures.
Recognition that TEK belongs to the community that holds this knowledge.
Open explanation of the goals of the research and the expected results.
Protection of confidential cultural knowledge.
Fair and mutual benefits for all participants in the research.

These principles help prevent harm and support responsible work in climate research. Many of these standards are reflected in federal documents, such as the Department of the Interior’s “Tribal Consultation Policy” and the National Science and Technology Council's report on Indigenous knowledge.

Community-Led Monitoring and Decision-Making

Monitoring carried out by residents is based on TEK and their own observations of nature. Many tribes create programs that teach people to monitor wildlife, water quality, changes in the coastal zone, and forest conditions. Such programs provide accurate real-time climate data because residents see every day what is happening around them.

Tribal councils, resource management departments, and cultural committees make decisions based on TEK. These groups use TEK to develop policies in fisheries, forestry, water resources, agriculture, and emergency planning. When decisions are made at the community level, climate adaptation measures should better account for cultural priorities and become more sustainable in the long term.

Training, Capacity Building, and Knowledge Transfer

Educational programs help prepare a new generation of scientists from Indigenous peoples, climate specialists, and people who work with nature. Many tribal colleges offer courses in ecology, environmental sciences, natural resource management, and modern technologies connected to TEK. Organizations such as the Indigenous Peoples Institute and the Indigenous Environmental Professionals Institute teach students climate planning, data work, and the creation of adaptation strategies.

Capacity building helps tribal governments manage climate programs more effectively. This includes training in working with GIS maps, conducting environmental monitoring, using climate modeling tools, and preparing grant applications. Knowledge is transferred through mentoring, youth programs, and intergenerational learning. These approaches help preserve the tribes' technological and environmental knowledge.

Such work enables tribal nations to conduct climate research independently and implement effective adaptation strategies.

Challenges and Barriers to Integration

The integration of TEK into climate research faces several serious difficulties. The main problems include:

Different views of nature held by Western science and Indigenous peoples.
Insufficient federal funding for long-term research carried out by tribes.
Difficulties with data sovereignty, especially when agencies seek access to TEK.
Distrust caused by past research practices that violated the rights of tribal communities.
Political limitations that reduce tribes' ability to manage their traditional lands, which are under federal agency control.
The effects of climate change threaten access to traditional foods, medicinal plants, and animal species.

To solve these problems, changes in policy, governance, and funding are needed. Many tribal nations call for greater control over their lands and for expanded authority in climate-related decision-making.

Pathways for Strengthening Two-Eyed Seeing Approaches

“Two-Eyed Seeing” can be strengthened by developing cooperation, creating joint financing mechanisms, and building long-term partnerships. Many federal programs already help tribes plan climate adaptation measures. Among them are the Tribal Climate Resilience Program (BIA), the Indigenous Collaboration Toolkit (NOAA), and the Climate Adaptation Science Centers (USGS).

Several directions can improve this work:

Official recognition of TEK in federal and regional climate policy.
Expansion of tribal authority in natural resource management.
Increased funding for tribal research programs.
Joint leadership of climate monitoring projects.
Creation of tribal data management systems.
Training specialists who know how to work with TEK respectfully and correctly.

Future Directions for Climate Collaboration

Cooperation among tribal peoples, government agencies, and scientific organizations in the climate field will continue to grow as the impacts of climate change intensify. TEK will continue to play an important role in creating adaptation strategies that help protect ecosystems and support the cultural well-being of communities. The Two-Eyed Seeing approach will remain the foundation for scientific partnerships and political decision-making. Many climate programs already use TEK in their work, and more and more governments are introducing mandatory consultations with tribes to strengthen their participation.

In the future, plans include expanding Indigenous peoples' involvement in managing climate projects, creating more climate databases developed by tribes themselves, and expanding educational programs that connect technology and science. The main goal is to develop climate solutions that support the health of ecosystems, make communities more resilient, and help build respectful partnerships between Indigenous peoples and scientific institutions.