Indigenous science

{{pseudoscience}}
'''Indigenous science''' (IS) is a [[pseudoscience]] claimed to be alternative to "Western science" (a.k.a. [[science]]). According to the Worldwide Indigenous Science Network,<ref name=WISN>{{cite web|title=[https://wisn.org/about/what-is-indigenous-science/ What is Indigenous Science]|work=Worldwide Indigenous Science Network}}</ref> its power is claimed to lie in its ability to make connections and [[Pareidolia|perceive patterns]] across vast [[Cyclical theory|cycles]] of [[space]] and [[time]], and indigenous scientists are trained in various specializations such as [[herbalism]], weather observations, mental health, and time keeping.

==Pseudoscientific claims==
Although "Indigenous science" makes some claims to be scientific, its failure to be actual science can be seen in some of the following claims made for it:<ref name=WISN/>
*Data from IS is not used to control the forces of nature, but instead is used to find methods and resources for accommodating it.
*Indigenous scientists are an integral part of the research process and there is a defined process for ensuring this integrity.
*IS tries to understand and complete our relationships with all living things. All of nature is considered to be intelligent and alive, thus an active research partner.
*The purpose of IS is to maintain balance.
*IS collapses time and space;{{efn|Apparently IS supporters are unaware that [[theory of relativity|science already does that]].}} our fields of inquiry and participation extend into and overlap with past and present.
*IS is [[holistic]], drawing on all senses, including the [[science woo|spiritual and psychic]].
*The end-point of an IS process is an exact balance where creativity occurs.
*We always remain embodied in the natural world. In other words, when we reach the moment/place of balance, we do not believe that we have "transcended." Instead, we say that we are normal.
*[[Humor]] balances gravity{{efn|No, not that [[gravity]]!}} and is a critical ingredient of all [[truth]] seeking, even in the most powerful rituals.

==In the world==
===Australia===
{{main|Australian}}
IS has been promoted by the Australian Science Media Centre on the Australia's Science Channel.<ref name=asmc>{{cite news|title=[https://web.archive.org/web/20190330213036/https://australiascience.tv/vod/why-is-indigenous-science-important/ Why is Indigenous science important?]|work=Australia's Science Channel}}</ref> with a video where indigenous scientists, Stacy Mader, Ray Lovett, Simon Conn, Maree Toombs, Jason Sharlpes, Brad Moggridge, and Simone Reynolds, explain why IS is so important.<ref name=asmc/> Simone Reynolds claimed that IS is "highly valuable and there's something in it for everyone regardless of who you are" while Maree Toombs says that "the grannies and aunties are the real researchers".<ref name=asmc/>

==Legitimate research==
IS should not be confused with legitimate research about indigenous people and their [[worldview]]s, such as in [[anthropology]]. Understanding indigenous knowledge can also be important in some fields of research, such as [[archaeology]], ethnobotany, and ecology. That does not mean that equating indigenous knowledge with science is legitimate, since equating them becomes pseudoscience, a form of [[other ways of knowing]]. Examples of legitimate forms of research:

*Maree Toombs does conduct legitimate medical anthropology research,<ref>[https://researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/2395 Dr Maree Toombs] UQ Researchers — The University of Queensland</ref> but her quote above is unsupportable.
*[[Tu Youyou]] conducted exhaustive research on [[Traditional Chinese Medicine]] plants to find a single plant that was effective against [[malaria]], winning her the [[Nobel Prize]]. Most of TCM, however, is not [[Evidence-based medicine|evidence-based]].
*Herbal remedies from indigenous traditional medicine can be (and have been) tested for effectiveness.  Those that were found to work were turned into medications patients can take today.

==See also==
*[[Protoscience]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{stub|pseudoscience}}
[[Category:Protoscience]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience]]

Categories: Protoscience, Pseudoscience