Review: The issue of indigenous knowledge has become increasingly prominent over the last few years. Indigenous (or traditional ecological) knowledge can be a powerful change agent but there are many barriers in the way. In an ideal world this knowledge would be used by the people for their benefit but there are too many examples of it being taken without recompense. However, cost/benefit is not the only issue here. Traditional owners have a connection to the land and sea that can provide useful management insights if properly understood (which is where the problems start building up). What is needed is a text which tries to bring together traditional and contemporary ways of seeing and doing and find out what each can contribute. The result, as seen here, is an excellent text.

One of the biggest gaps is understanding and communication. Traditional and contemporary worldviews do not come from the same perspective and so here is our first stumbling block. It takes the first chapter to unravel a few of the more important points and show how traditional knowledge 'sees' the world. Chapter two takes that one stage further with a discussion of how the field developed with the subsequent chapter examining the intellectual underpinnings of traditional knowledge (from both perspectives as neither is seen as the 'perfect' answer). Traditional knowledge was never intended to be abstract in the sense of pure learning - it was designed to keep a group alive. As such it would be seen as an empirical science (where failure could be deadly). Chapter four reinforces this message with a range of examples from around the world. The next three chapters could be seen as a case study in one indigenous group's study and use of and belief in the environment and its resources. The Cree Indians are the focus of this major study and the depth of the material produced shows the extent of their knowledge. Starting with a philosophical perspective of their knowledge and belief, the author takes us through the system as it actually works for them and the ways in which their knowledge can be equated with a more Western-oriented resources management. There is no doubt that indigenous knowledge has a considerable history. Given this it would be useful to access it's workings to see what it might offer to contemporary problems. In another series of cases, we are shown alternative perspectives on global warming, holistic analysis and knowledge management. In all cases there is more complexity than one might imagine. It is very clear that this is no simple worldview but a very rich one and one, by these examples, that could usefully add to conventional ways of knowing. The two final chapters focus on the use of and integration with contemporary management. Chapter 11 focusses on the issues that we need to face in dealing with traditional knowledge from acceptance of its strengths and weaknesses to our understanding of the people whose knowledge it is. This is confronting for it offers no simple solution but shows the true complexity that needs to be addressed. Finally, chapter 12 shows us how we can benefit from a greater use of traditional knowledge and how the traditional owners can gain from this interaction.

This is an excellent text shedding much light on a neglected (but growing) area of study. Traditional knowledge has much to offer but conventional science needs to be more aware. It's a confronting story with no easy answers but it is essential that we try. As a start, we need to be far more aware of the richness of traditional knowledge and this awareness needs to filter through to our education system. This book is a great start- it should be seen as a crucial text for anyone working in this area.