Topic

Indigenous knowledge

Indigenous knowledge is a body of integrated, holistic, social, and ecological knowledge, practices and beliefs related to the relationship of living beings, including people, with one another and with their environments.

Indigenous knowledge is described in Our Knowledge, Our Way in caring for Country as a body of integrated, holistic, social, and ecological knowledge, practices and beliefs related to the relationship of living beings, including people, with one another and with their environments. It is grounded in territory, is highly diverse and is continuously evolving through the interaction of experiences, innovations and various types of knowledge (written, oral, visual, tacit, gendered, practical and scientific) (Woodward et al. 2020).

Indigenous knowledge of the Reef extends over millennia and when aligned with western science for adaptive management of Land and Sea Country leads to greater protection for the Reef and multiple social, cultural and economic benefits for Indigenous peoples.  Programs such as the Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreements (TUMRAs) demonstrate Land and Sea Country can be strong, safe and healthy when incorporating Indigenous knowledge in decision making processes for joint management based on cultural lore and contemporary science.

Indigenous knowledge icon: Robert Paul Designs

Relevant resources

Indigenous knowledge
Reports

Our Knowledge, Our Way guidelines

Our Knowledge Our Way in caring for Country: Indigenous-led approaches to strengthening and sharing our knowledge for land and sea management.
Indigenous knowledge
Reports

Indigenous Participation in tourism and its management

As partners, Tourism Queensland, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and the Authority are working with Indigenous groups plus other government agencies and tourism operators to enhance Indigenous participation in tourism and its management in the Great Barrier Reef.
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