home | news l

Indigenous Knowledge Recognised

4 August 2004 - An international conference titled “Indigenous Knowledge and Bioprospecting”, held from 21-24 April at Macquarie University in Sydney, attracted more than 150 participants from around the world.

Sponsored jointly by the Association for Baha’I Studies and the University’s Centre for Environmental Law and Department of Indigenous Studies, along with five other university departments and centres, the conference was called to mark the close of the United Nations International Decade of Indigenous Peoples and to contribute towards social and economic development and the protection of the environment.

“Bioprospecting” is the process by which the knowledge of Indigenous people about their environment is “mined” in order to develop new resources and commercially valuable products. Bioprospecting is increasing around the world in the search for cures for diseases such as HIV/AIDS and cancer. But it carries with it the risk of Indigenous communities being bypassed in the race for scientific and commercial progress, with their rights and traditional ways of life being irreparably damaged.

The conference brought together people from a variety of disciplines – law, history, science, economics and education – who shared their particular perspectives on this increasingly important issue.

The conference was opened by a traditional Aboriginal smoking ceremony, symbolising purification. Participants were welcomed by a representative of the Darug people, on whose traditional lands it was held. Indigenous member of the NSW parliament, Linda Burney, gave the opening address in which she pointed out that Aboriginal culture is the oldest-surviving culture on earth – a precious gift to the world.

Henrietta Marrie, formerley of the UN Environment Programme Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, reported on recent developments in the global arena. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture has been signed by 77 countries. The Treaty is regarded as a landmark, placing traditional farers on the same level as modern ones, thus protecting indigenous knowledge as well as famers’ rights. Confererence organiser, Chris Jones, referred to the need for new social, legal and political relationships based on justice. “We are all part of one human family, while we recognise the value and beauty of diversity”, he said. “This perspective of ‘one family’ needs to be applied to the issue of bioprospecting. While relationships between people are unequal, you cannot have a productive outecome.”

During the conference, and important workshop was held to launch a twelve-month project to revise university ethics guidelines relating to biodiversity research and benefit sharing with Indigenous peoples. Macquarie University has committed $90, 000 to this project.

Source: Australian Baha'i Report

Further information: culture issues page - includes news index and external links