No one has the right to document or use traditional knowledge without permission. And, when their knowledge is recorded by others, Natives have the right to insist that it not be taken out of context or misrepresented. When traditional knowledge is cited by others, Natives also have the right to insist that the source of this knowledge be properly acknowledged. In other words, Native have the rights to own and control access to their traditional knowledge. Native possess both collective and individual traditional knowledge.
Most traditional knowledge is shared among community members.
But some traditional knowledge may be specific to an individual. For example, some elders and resource-users will, because of different life experiences, be the only source of certain types of traditional knowledge. However, we recognize that there is an urgent need to assume and maintain control over how local and traditional knowledge is collected, interpreted and used by non-local interests. Thus, we are in the process of formally taking responsibility for, and control of, any traditional knowledge studies to be carried out in Native communities. This is not to suggest that biologists and other researchers are not welcomed to participate in traditional knowledge research.