The White House Office on Science and Technology Policy today announced the release of government-wide guidance and an implementation memorandum for federal agencies regarding the recognition and inclusion of indigenous knowledge in federal research, policy, and decision-making.
The guidance notes that indigenous knowledge may be relevant when considering information and making decisions under the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (among other statutes), calls on agencies to make sustained efforts to build and maintain relationships to support indigenous knowledge, and identifies practices agencies should consider when working with tribal nations and indigenous peoples to include indigenous knowledge in policy, research, or other decision-making.
Lastly, the guidance provides examples of indigenous knowledge application and collaboration between the federal government and tribes and indigenous peoples, including in the context of the Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area.
In conjunction with the guidance, the implementation memorandum announced the establishment of a Subcommittee on Indigenous Knowledge for the National Science and Technology Council’s Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainability. The Subcommittee will be tasked with assisting agencies with implementation of the guidance and serving as a community of practice for continued coordination and shared learning across agencies and with tribes and indigenous people.
