State of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in the wildlife management profession

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), described as the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the ecosystem, has always been part of Indigenous communities and their daily lives; however, TEK has progressively been incorporated into the academic and professional field of North American wildlife management and ecology despite its historical domination by Western scientific attitudes, knowledge, and methods. The objective of this note is to provide an overview of such progression from the standpoint of the first author, an Indigenous professional trained in a Western scientific paradigm. More specifically, the paper categorizes the history and the current state of TEK in the wildlife management profession while providing insights for the future of the field. Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the environment, has become increasingly recognized in North American wildlife management despite the field being historical dominated by Western science. This article, authored by an Indigenous professional, examines TEK's progression in the field of wildlife management, categorizing its history and current state, while offering insights for the future of TEK, Western science, and wildlife management. image