Traditional Ecological Knowledge

The history of human society is rooted in the development and intergenerational transfer of knowledge about the physical environment. Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) remains vitally important in certain settings around the world, facilitating the acquisition of food and other needs for sustenance and cultural survival. IAI has worked to document the nature and significance of TEK in a variety of contemporary settings, including Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas. This research supports agencies responsible for minimizing any potentially damaging effects of development or regulatory change on traditional lifeways or culturally significant lands.