Gathering, processing and
preserving of Aboriginal
Traditional Knowledge (ATK) –
Another perspective
Maliseet Nation
Conservation
Council
Is there a perfect definition for Aboriginal
Traditional Knowledge (ATK)?
ATK is the information passed from generation
to generation, rooted in many ways including
storytelling, ceremonies, traditions,
ideologies, medicines, dances, arts and crafts
or a combination of all these
ATK symbolizes cultural identity of First
Nations: it is an expression of First
Nations/nature relationship
ATK FOR CONSERVATION OF SPECIES AT RISK (SAR)
Species at Risk Act (SARA) identifies the
requirement to utilize Aboriginal Traditional
Knowledge (ATK) in all three phases of the
process.
• Species assessment
• Listing of species under SARA
• Formulation of recovery/management plans
Previous ATK experiences of the group:
problems encountered????
Time to share your experience with the
group!!!
1. Defining the
project scope and
obtaining necessary
approvals
8. ATK reporting
7. Storage and
protection of
traditional
knowledge
2. Formulation and
implementation of
the communication
strategy
Planning and
designing –
Traditional
knowledge study
6. ATK Debrief
3. Defining and
implementation of
the ethics process
4. ATK collection
design
5. Gathering ATK
by conducting
interviews
Defining the scope of the project and obtaining
necessary approvals
• Purpose of the research
• Types of information being sought
• Communication of the purpose and the
scope of the work to the community
leadership
Communication strategy
Methodology –
protection of
information
Project staff
Methodology
Information
being sought
Ensure that the
ownership of the
information will remain
with the knowledge
holder
How to review
and report
information
Archiving
Above information should be relayed to each community –
advertisements, community websites, newsletters, open
houses, workshops etc.
Project approval
Project approval process differs from one community
to another
In Maliseet communities – Maliseet Traditional
Knowledge (MTK) protocol
MTK protocol follows the research principals
adopted by OCAP
OCAP Principles and Protocols provide a prescribed
approval process for collection; analysis and
reporting of research data generated from
Indigenous communities
Maliseet
Research
Review
Board
Review research
principals of the
proposal
Comprised of a
group of
Maliseet people
They are recognized
for their knowledge
and expertise in
research ethics,
Maliseet history and
cultural heritage
Maliseet Ethics Guidelines
Maliseet Ethics Guidelines – identify approved
research principles and methods
Provide proper procedures for – collection; analysis
and reporting of research data generated from
Maliseet communities
MRRB pays attention over
1. Communication strategy
2. Information gathering
3. Archiving
ATK and confidentiality
Following can be used to obtain approval from community leadership.
Be it resolved that the ______________ First Nation agrees to participate in a species
status assessment study of the ______________ by providing ATK and supports the
following provisions regarding confidentiality of the information generated by the study:
No person(s) may view a participant's individual information or listen to a participant's
interview recording(s) without the individual’s written permission. The only exception
to this pertains to people hired by _________________ to work on the project.
• All persons hired by _________________ to conduct interviews or to process the
information are bound by legal contract to abide by the rules of confidentiality.
• Access to the original interview notes or recordings will be strictly controlled by
_________________. The information will be used only for the purpose of conservation
and management of ______________ and Aboriginal access to the ______________ as a
resource, and for developing educational material.
• The final report prepared for COSEWIC or any other government agency will not reveal
the names of any participants in the study without their written permission.
Be it also resolved that this ATK study and all discussions and correspondence
pursuant to it are not intended to recognize, deny, create, define, alter or affect
Aboriginal rights, including Aboriginal title, treaty rights or other legal rights, or to be
construed as an interpretative aid in the determination of any such legal right. Be it also
resolved that participation by Aboriginal people in this study is not, and should not be
construed as, consultation.
Ethical requirements
Consent of elder/knowledge holder
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Specifics of the traditional knowledge study
Purpose of the study
Use of the traditional knowledge that are collected
Non-derogation clause stating that the traditional
knowledge study is not consultation for the purposes of
justifying an infringement on Aboriginal and Treaty rights
Where and how the knowledge will be stored
Make it clear that the information is intellectual property
of the knowledge holder and it will be held in trust by the
person or organization conducting the study
How the knowledge will be protected
How the knowledge will be reviewed and reported
Types of traditional knowledge
Conservation of Species at Risk (SAR):
For assessment and management of the Atlantic
salmon population in the St. John river, NB
Following information can be gathered
1. Biology and Life cycle
 The current presence of salmon in different parts and
tributaries of the river
 Areas where salmon disappeared and have come
back again
 Historical presence in tributaries/parts of the river
where they no longer occur
 Migration patterns and seasonal fluctuations
 Food sources and predation
 Current health condition and issues (body fat, parasites,
diseases)
2. Habitat characteristics
 Characteristics of the seasonal habitats of salmon
 Characteristics of the life stage/area specific habitats
 Changes in habitat over time
3. Current and historical fishing for salmon in the river
 Current/historical catch and effort of the salmon fishery
 Harvesting techniques, seasons and locations
 Species and size compositions of current/historical
catches
3. Significance of Atlantic salmon
 Uses (food, medicine, cultural, other)
 Significance of salmon to the culture, tradition and
practices of Maliseet people
4. Potential threats
 Residential and commercial development
 Agriculture and aquaculture
 Energy production and mining
 Transportation/service corridors
 Biological resource use
 Human intrusions/disturbances
 Natural system modifications
 Invasive and other problematic species
 Pollution
 Geological events, climate change and severe weather
Consistency and accuracy
1. Consistency
 Team
 Regional level
2. Data accuracy




Precise questions
Detailed and accurate recording
Accurate data processing
Accurate unbiased reporting
Study area and sample
1. Study area
 Communities
 On/off reserve
2. Sample





Sample size
Representative sample
Known active hunters/fishers
Knowledgeable elders
Age/gender specific
Relevant time frame
 Personal experience/eye witness account
(hunting/fishing)
 Living memory (Long-term changes: environment,
species abundance, behaviour, status of
populations)
 Oral traditions (cultural significance, legends)
ATK collection design
It can be individual sessions, group sessions or both
Important to make youth part of the collection design
 To make youth interested about the process
 To transfer knowledge from one generation –
another
ATK interview methodology
• Offer a culturally significant gift if it is appropriate
• Assigning a PIN (Participant Identification Number)
• Objectives of the study
• Resolution – confidentiality
• Purpose of signing consent – release form
• Completed release forms are confidential – should
be secured
• Begin the interview
ATK recording practices
Use PIN to identify interviews and all resulting
data products (notes of the interviewer, audio
recordings, map overlays, consent forms)
It helps effective processing, archiving and future
retrieval of data
PIN ties interviewer to various
products
How to assign an individual/group PIN?
PIN consists of 2 parts
a. One or more capital letters
b. A number
Each traditional knowledge field worker is identified
by a single capital letter
Name of the field
worker
Stuart William
Rebecca Paul
Allan Donald
Letter descriptor
S
R
A
Interviews conducted by one interviewer
Participant Identification Numbers
(PIN) are assigned in accordance with
the interview order
The first person, Stuart interviews=S1,
second person=S2
Interviews conducted by more than one interviewer
Assign PIN identifying letter
descriptors of both field workers
The first person Stuart interviewed with Rebecca=SR1,
second person=SR2, third person=SR3
Who is the lead interviewer? Rebecca
or Stuart?
How do you explain following PINs –
AR4 and SA3?
Assign PINs for
1. 15th person interviewed by Stuart
2. 3rd person interviewed by Allen with
Rebecca
3. 22nd person interviewed by Stuart, Allen and
Rebecca
How do we use PIN?
One interviewee is assigned only one
PIN
One to one interviews, each participant
is assigned a PIN; group interviews –
each group is assigned a PIN
PIN is used to label all the research
products – data sheets, audio
recordings, maps etc.
Type of the study can also be identified by PIN
Suitable for organizations that conduct
different types of studies – historic,
cultural, biological, environmental etc.
SAR-AS-001: Species at Risk, Atlantic
salmon, interview number 001
It is possible to combine both
approaches
Translating interviews
Record the
interview in
aboriginal first
language
Submit both tapes to
your project
coordinator
Listen to the audio
recording
Translate the entire
interview into
English
Record it again
Documenting name of a participant
If interviewee mentioned name of a
different person – obtain first and last
names of the person
Before the interview – Record
participant’s name, PIN and the date
of the interview on the first page of
the questionnaire
Interview procedure
Prior to the interview,
check your audio
recorder
Begin the interview by
introducing
participant/group name
– mention the PIN
“We are here at Philip Atwin’s home in Kingsclear
to do an Atlantic salmon ATK interview with him.
Today is October 15, 2012
My name is Stuart William. This is the interview
session S12. I have reviewed the release form with
Philip and he signed it. I am now beginning the
interview”
To close the interview: repeat the same information
If another person joins later – mention his/her name
and role
Turn off the recorder – traditional
tape “cassette” recorder – remove
the tab
Label each side of the cassette and cassette covers
with the PIN
Record details of mapping sessions and cassette
information on the questionnaire
Labeling cassettes
S12 Philip Atwin Salmon ATK 2012 October 15,
2012 1/2
How do you explain this?
If digital recorder is used – transfer digital recordings
to your computer
Suitable file name – salmonATK2012_S11
When there are 2 files covering total interview –
salmonATK2012_S11a and salmonATK2012_S11b
Keeping records
Questionnaire – an
important official
research record
Make sure
• it is numbered
• your name and contact
number appear in
front
• all entries are in ink
It is important to maintain 2 lists
• List of interviews completed
• Updated list of audio recordings
Work with your supervisor to develop a method
to organize this information
Audio recording
list
Digital recording
list
ATK debrief
A number of different but sensible answers – for
certain questions
More than one correct answer for certain questions
ATK debrief is a
useful mechanism
to verify
traditional
knowledge
gathered
ATK debrief
Traditional knowledge gathered during the study is
reviewed with the help of...
• Project staff
• Knowledgeable elders
• Experts
Traditional knowledge will be reviewed and debated
to choose most suitable answer/answers for a
particular question
ATK information storage
Duplicate raw data and store in 2 separate secure
locations
Digitize all original materials
• Completed hard copies
of questionnaires
• Field notes
• Map overlays
Store originals and copies in separate
locations
Temporary database to store qualitative/quantitative
information – Excel spreadsheets
Later transfer data
– permanent
database
Keep up-to-date
backup copies in a
separate secure place
It is the responsibility of interviewers to...
• Keep all raw data (maps,
recordings, cassettes, interview
notes, etc.)
• Review them
• Securely pass dully completed
data files to the project
coordinator
All copies should be transferred with due
confidentiality
ATK reporting
It is necessary to take extra care during reporting
phase of a traditional knowledge study
• Once the information is
presented it will become public
• It may violate conditions in the
contract (consent/release form)
Different ways to report – without identifying
specific details
Reporting template – as a part of the
communication strategy