IK Monitor Centres - News (7-2)

Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor, July 1999

Contents IK Monitor (7-2) | IKDM Homepage | Suggestions to: ikdm@nuffic.nl | © copyright Nuffic-CIRAN and contributors 1999.

Indigenous Knowledge Resource Centres - News

The complete list of addresses of Indigenous Knowledge Resource Centres is updated regularly.

AFRICA

Cameroon

CIKO
Cameroon Indigenous Knowledge Organisation
Prof. C.N. Ngwasiri, Director
(Correspondent)
P.O. Box 8437, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Tel.: +237-322-181.
Fax: +237-322-181 / 430 813.
E-mail: ngwasiri@camnet.cm

CIKO has now completed ten case studies on various aspects of indigenous knowledge (IK) in Cameroon, for inclusion in the World Bank's Database on Indigenous Knowledge and Practices:
1. Traditional child delivery in Nso, Bui Division
2. The use of ethnodietary preparations to reinforce the immune system in AIDS patients
3. Indigenous soil fertility methods and intensive farming techniques used by farmers in Ndop Plain, Northwest Province
4. Ethnoveterinary practices of Fulani herdsmen in the Northwest Province
5. Indigenous natural resource management and conservation methods in the Kilum Mountain Forest area, Oku Chiefdom
6. Indigenous knowledge of forest resources among the Baka of South Province and East Province
7. Indigenous food preservation practised by the Balong people of the Littoral and Southwest Provinces
8. A new intensive farming technique developed by the Ossing people of Manyu Division
9. New off-farm technologies in handicrafts developed by women of the Southwest Province
10. A new farming technique which combines mixed cropping and mixed farming, introduced by the people of Toumi village in Bemendjou Subdivision, West Province.

These case studies are available in summary form in the World Bank's IK database on the Internet: http://www.worldbank.org/html/afr/ik/new/datab.htm
CIKO director Professor C.N. Ngwasiri recently completed a study for the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) in Jakarta (Indonesia) entitled Decentralization and forest conservation and management in Cameroon. He examined the legal and institutional foundations of the 1994 community forestry programme introduced in Cameroon under a new forestry law.

Sierra Leone

CIKFAB
Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Fourah Bay College Dr Dominic T. Ashley, Director
(Correspondent)
Department of Sociology, Fourah Bay College
University of Sierra Leone, Freetown
Sierra Leone.
Tel.: +232-22-7387.

Postal service to Sierra Leone is temporarily suspended.

South Africa

SARCIK
South African Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge
Alwyn Dippenaar, Executive Director
(Correspondent)
The Institute for Indigenous Theory and Practice
P.O. Box 2355, Somerset West
7129 South Africa.
Tel.: +27-21-854 3299.
E-mail: alewijn@iafrica.com

Tanzania

MARECIK
Maasai Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge
Dr Nathan Ole Lengisugi
(Correspondent)
Simanjiro Animal Husbandry Vocational Training Centre (AHVTC)
P.O. Box 3084, Arusha, Tanzania.
Fax: +255-57-8907.
E-mail: multicho@yako.habari.co.tz

Please note that the Maasai Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge now also has an e-mail address: multicho@yako.habari.co.tz
MARECIK's Dr Nathan Ole Lengisugi participated in a national workshop on Local knowledge for food security held in Morogoro (Tanzania), 22-23 June 1999. The workshop was convened by TFNC and the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in the wake of their LinKS project Gender, biodiversity and local knowledge systems to strengthen agricultural and rural development (GCP/RAF/338/NOR). More information on this project will be published in the next issue of the Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor in the Communications section under Research, Projects.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge
ZIRCIK, the Zimbabwe Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge, has now been officially established. Its address is 78 Kaguvi Street, New Book House, P.O.B. 4209, Harare, Zimbabwe.
At the same time, ZIRCIKNET was set up to coordinate the efforts of the various organizations, groups, institutions and individuals who are working on indigenous knowledge in Zimbabwe. The (summarized) objectives of ZIRCIKNET are:
- to preserve the indigenous knowledge (IK) of Zimbabwe;
- to do anything within the power of ZIRCIKNET to achieve recognition for indigenous knowledge that gives it a status alongside that of western science;
- to encourage research on indigenous cultures;
- to encourage and facilitate the documentation, storage, retrieval and use of IK using symbols and technologies which are appropriate to the local people concerned;
- to coordinate IK-related activities in Zimbabwe with activities elsewhere in the region;
- to help member organizations to develop IK-related programmes in which local communities participate for their own benefit;
- to help member organizations to develop ways of protecting IK as intellectual property (through patents, copyrights, etc.), for the benefit of the indigenous peoples of Zimbabwe;
- to maintain, for the benefit of the member organizations, a database and register of researchers, consultants and other professionals working with IK in Zimbabwe;
- to help member organizations raise funds for activities that are consistent with ZIRCIKNET's own objectives (when this help is needed, and taking care not to reduce the spirit of self-reliance);
- to advocate proper recognition for indigenous knowledge in Zimbabwe, and to lobby for legal reforms that will guarantee this recognition any time it is appropriate;
- to help communities, groups of people, organizations and government bodies to articulate the indigenous point of view on any matters judged to be of concern to indigenous peoples on the basis their own philosophy, practice and experience;
- to offer any assistance that is consistent with this constitution, including providing consultancy services.

At the moment, ZIRCIKNET has the following research projects going on:
- Women, values and indigenous knowledge in agro-ecological management in Zimbabwe: The impact of settler colonization
This research project has resulted in a paper which will be presented at the international conference on women and the environment. The full title of the paper is 'Changing agro-religious values and changing agricultural knowledge and practices: the impact of settler colonisation on women's indigenous knowledge, practices and perceptions in agriculture and environmental management in Zimbabwe'.
- Regional research in indigenous philosophies and knowledge in agriculture and environmental management: Studies on the socio-cultural impact of colonization on ecosystems management and food security in Southern Africa.
This research programme is a joint effort with the Centre for Indigenous Cultures in Southern Africa (CICSA).

ZIRCIKNET has submitted a proposal for the Millennium Indigenous Knowledge Project: Interviewing Zimbabwe's eyewitnesses of the last century in the millennium. ZIRCIK also participated in a national conference to discuss land policy for Zimbabwe, where it articulated the indigenous philosophy and world view regarding land tenure, management, and use. ZIRCIK is currently studying this subject and preparing policy guidelines that can provide a basis for a general public discussion of land issues in Zimbabwe.
Mr Washington Chipfunde is ZIRCIK's director and contact person. The contact address particulars are as follows:
Tel.: +263-4-781 770 / 1.
Fax: +263-4-751 202.
E-mail: bookhous@ZBMT.icon.co.zw

ASIA

India

CARIKS
Centre for Advanced Research on Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Dr Jan Brouwer, Director
Ms S.L. Meenu, Correspondent
P.O. Box 1, Saraswathipuram
Mysore -570 009, India.
Tel.: +91-821-542 467.
Fax: +91-821-542 459.
E-mail: cariks@bgl.vsnl.net.in

The Centre for Advanced Research on Indigenous Knowledge Systems (CARIKS) at Mysore, India, is now five years old. The Centre recently established its website at http://iias.leidenuniv.nl/host/ccrss/cariks.htm
The Centre's research and development units have facilitated the following publications, which can be obtained through regular international channels as well as directly from the respective publishers:
- Brouwer, Jan (1998) 'Nomenclative expressions of thought. Place names and other names related to artisans and their work in Karnataka', Journal of Social Sciences Vol. 2 no.1.pp. 17-29.
- Brouwer, Jan (1998) 'On indigenous knowledge and development', Current Anthropology Vol. 30 no. 3 p. 351.
- Brouwer, Jan (1999) 'The Indian blacksmith', pp. 195-222 in T.B. Subba (ed.) The wonder that is culture. New Delhi: Mittal Publ.
- Brouwer, Jan (1999) 'Feminism and the indigenous knowledge systems in India: an exploration', in: R. Indira and D.K. Behera (eds) Gender and society in India. Vol. I. Delhi: Manak Publications (in press).
- Hatti, Neelambar and James Heimann (1998) 'Miscreants, fines and inter-caste love-story and cultural themes in the 19th Century Kaditas of Yelandur, Karnataka', pp. 25-29 in: Eichinger Ferro-Luzzi (ed.) Glimpses of Indian village in anthropology and literature. Naples: Instituto Universario Orientale.
- Hatti, Neelambar, Hans Sniper and R. Tandon (1999) Trade in services. New World Order Series 14. New Delhi: B.R. Publishers.
- Hatti, Neelambar, Hans Sniper and R. Tandon (1999) TRIPS and the Uruguay Round. New World Order Series 15. New Delhi: B.R. Publishers.
- Indira, R. (1999) Gender and society in India (Two volumes). Chief Editor along with D.K. Behera. New Delhi: Manak Publications.
- Natraj, V.K. (forthcoming) 'India's globalisation-liberalisation model' to be published by the Centre for Development and Environment, University of Oslo, Norway.
- Pattanayak, D.P. (1997) 'The language heritage of India' pp. 95-99 in: D. Balasubramanian and N. Appaji Rao (eds) The Indian human heritage. Hyderabad: University Press.

The Centre's services unit has assisted various MPhil and PhD students. Dr Harry Mengers' thesis, entitled Urban development in Karnataka, India: Policies, actors and outcomes, was published by Verlag für Entwicklungspolitik, Saarbrücken, 1997, as no. 27 in the NICCOS series.
Paul Vleugels' MPhil study based on dialogue with Tibetan Buddhist Geshes on the subject of Mantra, in which which he also discusses the difficulty of trying to represent this concept scientifically, is entitled Falling between two chairs. It was published by the Free University Press, Amsterdam.
At present the services unit is assisting two PhD students with their projects. Mr Goetz Hoeppe, Free University, Berlin (Germany) is doing research under the title 'Discourses on nature and landscape among fishermen communities of Kerala'. Mr Alex Cisilin, University of Pisa (Italy), is doing research entitled 'Land systems in Karnataka: continuity and transformations at the time of British colonization'.
The services unit is also busy organizing an international workshop, Oral tradition as critical resource for inter-disciplinary approaches to development, to be held at Mysore on 24 and 25 September 1999. The workshop is a joint initiative with the Centre for Cooperative Research in Social Science at Pune (India).
CARIKS has taken the initiative to set up two research projects with an indigenous knowledge component in collaboration with the University of Goa (India) and the University of Lisbon (Portugal). The Centre is also negotiating with the University of Goa and the Karnatak University (Dharwad) regarding several small projects.

CIKIB
Centre for Indigenous Knowledge on Indian Bioresources
Dr S.K. Jain, Director (Correspondent)
c/o Institute of Ethnobiology
National Botanical Research Institute
P.O. Box 436, Lucknow -2260 01, India.
Tel.: +91-522-224 556
Fax: +91-522-282 849.

The Society for Economic Botany in the United States has nominated Dr S.K. Jain, director CIKIB, for the coveted Distinguished Economic Botanist award for 1999. Dr Jain is the first Asian to be thus honoured. He will deliver the award lecture during the international Botanical congress in St Louis (USA).
A three-year research scheme on comparative ethnobotany participated in by India and Latin America has been completed, which focused on various uses of plants and herbs known to the people of the Latin America region, but not commonly employed in India. The study is now being extended to Africa. CIKIB welcomes contact with ethnobotanists in all countries of Africa for the exchange of research experience. Please contact CIKIB director Dr S.K. Jain at the above address.
The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education is supporting research at CIKIB on the ethnobotany of Surguja, a tribal-rich region in central India.

CIKIHR
Centre for Indigenous Knowledge of Indian Herbal Resources
Dr N.C. Shah, Coordinator Dr A.S. Bhadauria, Correspondent MS-78, Sector-D, Aliganj, Lucknow -226 024 India.
Tel./fax: +91-522-326 489.
E-mail: ncshah@hotmail.com

Please note the changes in the CIKIHR address, fax number and e-mail address, effective April 1999: it is no longer MS-768 but MS-78; the fax number is now +91-522-326 489 (call first), and the e-mail address is ncshah@hotmail.com
From 5-7 November 1998, CIKIHR coordinator Dr N.C. Shah was invited to attend a workshop on Himalayan medicinal plants: Potential and prospects, held at the G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Katarmanl, Kosi (Almora) in the hills of Uttar Pradesh (India). The G.B. Pant Institute is unique in that it works on various aspects of indigenous plants of the Indian Himalayas, which stretch across several countries and regions: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Tibet (P.R. China), Bhutan, Myanmar and the Indian states Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Some 40 scientists from various fields related to medicinal plants participated in the workshop. Dr Shah delivered the keynote speech, 'The status of medicinal plants in the Indian Himalayas', in which he presented an overview of the plants used in the indigenous medicine systems of the region, i.e., ayurveda, unani, sidha, amchi (Tibetan system of medicine). Dr Shah also elaborated on the role of these plants in folklore and in modern systems of medicine and homeopathy. A particular aromatic plant may produce an essential oil which is used in both indigenous perfumery and modern perfumery and cosmetics.
From 25-28 March 1999, Dr Shah attended a national seminar on Drugs from Himalayan herbs: present status and future strategies, held at the Department of Chemistry, Kumaun University. The seminar, which marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of Kumaun University, attracted the active participation of some 80 scientists, professors and students. Dr Shah delivered an invited lecture entitled 'Present status, constraints and future strategy of medicinal and aromatic plants in Kumaun Himalaya'. This lecture centred on the present status of indigenous herbs growing wild in Kamaun Himalaya, part of the Western Himalaya. Dr Shah showed that many of these herbs are now endangered species, having been mercilessly exploited because of their value in indigenous and modern pharmaceutics, indigenous and modern perfumery, and the dye and food colour industries. Dr Shah stressed the need for action to ensure the sustainable conservation of these plants.
On 22 April 1999, Dr Shah attended an advisory committee meeting presided over by Dr S.C. Rai, the mayor of Lucknow, and organized by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss plans to develop a heritage garden featuring indigenous trees, shrubs, and herbs of cultural importance. In addition to the above activities, the centre replied to enquiries on Phyllantus spp. which are used in various parts of the country as a cure for jaundice (see IK&DM 6 (3)).

Indonesia

INRIK
Indonesian Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge
Prof. Kusnaka Adimihardja, Director (Correspondent)
UPT Inrik-Unpad
Ruang K-3, JI. Dipati Ukur 35
Bandung 40132, West Java, Indonesia.
Tel./fax: +62-22-250 8592.
E-mail: inrik@melsa.net.id
http://www.melsa.net.id/~inrik

On 24-25 April 1999, INRIK held a participatory rural appraisal (PRA) training for staff who will be taking part in its Medicinal plants project in Kasepuhan. The training was given by Mrs Esti, a freelance trainer who studied the PRA approach with Robert Chambers in India. The project itself is sponsored by Canadian University Services Overseas Indonesia.
From 6-8 May 1999, INRIK participated in an exhibition, a seminar and a workshop in Jakarta (Indonesia) on the topic: Memasuki Abad 21: Antropologi Indonesia menghadapi Krisis Budaya Bangsa (The Coming of the 21st century: Indonesian anthropology facing a national cultural crisis). It was held to mark the 30 th anniversary of Jurnal Antropologi Indonesia, the Indonesian Journal of Cultural and Social Anthropology. The celebration, which attracted some 300 visitors, featured books, photos, posters and audio visual material. INRIK showed two videos: 'The indigenous agricultural system in Mount Halimun', and 'The cultivation of sweet potatoes: the local technoloy Hui Cilembu'. The INRIK stand also had on display representative books and photos, as well as information on its research projects. The seminar hosted 74 speakers from many different disciplines. One of the speakers was Professor Kusnaka of INRIK with a working paper entitled 'Orang Baduy Manusia Air Penjaga Hulu Aliran Sungai Ciujung di Banten Selatan' (The Baduy people: watermen guard of the upper reaches of Ciujung river in South Banten). For more information on these events, or on the Jurnal Antropologi Indonesia, please send an e-mail to: antroin@centrin.net.id.
INRIK has now published the proceedings of the workshop Indigenous knowledge systems and development, held on 14 September 1998 in Bandung (see IK&DM 6(3), pp. 20-21). It contains the following contributions:
- L. Jan Slikkerveer, 'Growing recognition of indigenous knowledge systems in the context of development: A new challenge for Indonesia'
- Dietrich Schmidt-Voigt, 'The development potential of indigenous knowledge and indigenous management systems: a case study from Northern Thailand'
- Sidik and Sujono Hadi, 'Ethno-pharmacology, chemistry and pharmacology of Curcuma species grown in Indonesia: Efficacy of Curcuma complex in 51 patients with chronic and acute hepatitis'
- L. Jan Slikkerveer, 'Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK): Practical implications from the African experience'
- Arif Aliadi, 'The role of ethnobotany in the documentation of the diversity of villagers' knowledge about natural resources'
- Ervizal A.M. Zuhud, 'Conservation and utilization of rainforest medicinal plants in Meru Betiri National Park, Indonesia'
- Marc Clemens and Hikmat Nashrullah L., 'Wild food plants in an indigenous food and agriculture system: a case study from West Java'

The proceedings cost USD15 (plus postage and handling) and are available direct from INRIK.
Marc Clemens, a volunteer from CUSO Canada, returned to Canada on 8 March 1999 after two years with INRIK. During that time, Mr Clemens participated in all INRIK activities; he took a special interest in a project on organic farming, and also taught English to members of the INRIK staff.
INRIK is currently preparing a training programme for NGOs and other institutions interested in undertaking research on indigenous knowledge systems in Indonesia, especially in the eastern part of the Indonesian archipelago.

EUROPE

Greece

ELLRIK
Elliniko Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge
Dr C. Lionis, Coordinator (Correspondent)
Medical School, Department of Social Medicine
University of Crete
P.O. Box 1393, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Tel.: +30-81-394 621.
Fax: +30-81-542 120.
E-mail: lionis@fortezza.cc.ucr.gr
ELLRIK

In the March issue 1998 of the Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor (Volume 6(1)), ELLRIK stated that one of its main aims was to foster research into the use of herbs for medicinal purposes. We are pleased to report that this research, conducted by the Department of Social Medicine at the University of Crete in cooperation with the University of Linköping (Sweden), has resulted in a publication in The Lancet (December 1998 issue, Vol. 352, pp. 1997-1998). The research focused on the antioxidant effects of the most commonly used Cretan herbs, in particular Sage (Salvia fruticosa) and Macchia, wild Thyme (Coridothymus capitatus, 'Rigani'). Extracts of these herbs reduced lipid peroxidiation in cultured lung cells exposed to iron. Further research is needed to identify the compounds responsible for the observed effects. Both ELLRIK and the Department of Social Medicine will be continuing their activities in this interesting field of research.

The Netherlands

CIRAN
Centre for International Research and Advisory Networks
Mr G.W. von Liebenstein, Director Nuffic-CIRAN
P.O. Box 29777, 2502 LT The Hague
The Netherlands.
Tel.: +31-70-4260 321.
Fax: +31-70-4260 329.
E-mail: ciran@nuffic.nl ikdm@nuffic.nl
http://www.nuffic.nl/ciran/index.html

Cooperation with UNESCO has resulted in the presentation of 25 selected 'best practices' pertaining to the use of indigenous knowledge for development purposes. These will be incorporated into UNESCO's MOST database on 1 July 1999 and also released as a joint UNESCO-CIRAN publication. For CIRAN, this has been a valuable learning experience. We have learned that it takes a lot of time to collect best practices on indigenous knowledge and to put them through a process of quality control (peer review). It took multiple attempts to establish and maintain communication, not only with the authors of the IK reports but also with the referees. We have also experienced that IK information is not always readily available, and that the task of compiling it is particularly difficult when the information must meet specific criteria and fit into a tight format. This increases the danger that the best practice becomes too far removed from the context in which it was developed. These constraints, plus the need to make sure that the essential message gets across to an international group of readers in relatively few words, meant that most of the reports had to be reworked, which was indeed a time-consuming and thus costly exercise for everyone involved. We are therefore very grateful to everyone who contributed to the best-practices effort, whether as author or referee. CIRAN and UNESCO-MOST will make this information accessible to anyone who has a professional interest in indigenous knowledge and its application to development. In the November 1999 issue of this journal, we will present a brief summary of the IK best practices that were selected for inclusion in the MOST database. In the meantime, those readers who have access to the Internet may wish to take a look at our IK products page at http://www.nuffic.nl/ciran/ik.html.
The Cooperative Branch of the UN International Labour Organization (ILO) has published a report on the INDISCO donor-consultation and planning workshop that was held in Davao City (the Philippines) on 4-8 November 1998. Incorporating indigenous knowledge into the development process was the theme of the workshop, in which CIRAN director Guus von Liebenstein participated. An abstract of his paper, 'Development through indigenous knowledge: Present situation and future prospects for donors and indigenous peoples' is published in the report. There are a limited number of copies of the report available at: ILO Publications, International Labour Office, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland.
As a result of these activities Mr Von Liebenstein has been commissioned by ILO-INDISCO to help start the process of establishing community-based Indigenous Knowledge Resource Centres in the Philippines. He will be doing this in cooperation with the national INDISCO coordinator for the Philippines, Mr Domingo Nayahangan. Three communities are under consideration: Bakun (Benguet), Kitaotao (Bukidnon) and Malungnon (Sarangani). Mr Von Liebenstein left CIRAN in early July for a ten-day mission to the Philippines.
The Global Knowledge Partnership, which sponsored the first Global Knowledge and Development Conference (GK'97), held in Toronto (Canada) in June 1997, has decided to hold a second global conference on the role of knowledge in development. This conference (GKDII) will focus on the impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and is scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) in March 2000. GKDII will have three themes: Access, Empowerment and Governance. In Kuala Lumpur, the role of indigenous knowledge in development will be emphasized even more than it was in Toronto. The World Bank Knowledge Management and Learning Centre, which launched the Indigenous Knowledge Initiative (1998), is planning to hold a special event on IK. Nuffic-CIRAN is one of the partners of the IK initiative and will advise the Bank on how best to organize the IK event.
In May 1999, Mr Mogege Mosimege visited CIRAN. Mr Mosimege is the manager of Indigenous Technologies Audit and Tertiary Initiatives, of the South Africa Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). He gave a briefing on the South African government's plans to launch an Indigenous Knowledge Systems Programme (IKSP), and described the draft policy framework regarding indigenous knowledge systems in South Africa. (See also the December 1998 issue of the Monitor (Vol. 6 (3), in which guest columnist Dr Mongane Wally Serote, chairman of the South Africa Steering Committee of the IKSP, described the programme and its activities.)
On 7 June 1999, a new electronic mailing list on ethnoveterinary medicine was launched (see p. 23). This electronic discussion group facilitates the exchange of information among those interested in animal healthcare and production. The EVM list is facilitated and supported by Nuffic-CIRAN from a technical and administrative point. The initiative to start such an electronic list came from Dr Evelyn Mathias. As we wanted this list to be truly international in scope, we looked for co-moderators from all over the world. These are the nine moderators of EVM: Michel Ansay, PRELUDE, Sub-network Health, Animal Productions and Environnment, Belgium; Hama Garba, ENDA-PRONAT, Protection Naturelle des Cultures, Senegal; Jean Lehman, Institut Carnoy, Belgium; Evelyn Mathias, coordinator -Independent Consultant, Germany; Constance McCorkle, Independent Consultant, USA; M.M.J. Minja, Heifer Project International, Tanzania; Raul Perezgrovas, Instituto de Estudios Indígenas-UNACH, University of Chiapas, Mexico; D.V. Rangnekar, BAIF, India; and Gerard van Westrienen, list administrator, Nuffic-CIRAN, the Netherlands.