Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous Peoples

Traditional knowledge is an important element of the intellectual and cultural heritage of indigenous peoples. It reflects their social and historical identity and significantly contributes to the future well-being and sustainable development of these peoples. In 2007, the L’auravetl’an Information & Education Network of Indigenous Peoples (LIENIP) organized a series of educational conferences, aimed at fostering greater understanding on the nature and evolution of this phenomenon and encouraging mutually beneficial relationships among representatives of indigenous communities, academia, professional entities and international organizations. This publication is comprised of several articles written for and speeches made at these events, and also includes a glossary of related concepts.