Exploring Youth-TEK Linkages in the New Rurality

Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is an adaptive system of knowledge maintained through cultural transmission among and between generations. TEK adaptations can be important for enabling communities to respond to socio-ecological change. Currently, emphasis has been given to the intergenerational transmission of such knowledge, its importance in maintaining TEK systems, and to the TEK held by adults. However, the role of youth as TEK holders and the existence of intragenerational (horizontal) transmission among younger age groups have not been widely studied, with youth-TEK linkages of potential significance in rural contexts where rapid changes are taking place. Not only because young people form the next generation of adult decision-makers, but because of how their experiences and access to new forms of communication can shape and influence how TEK evolves, is held, and shared. Using a digital ethnography approach and inspired by the principles of community-based research, this work, conducted with Indigenous youth from Oaxaca, Mexico, had three main objectives: (i) To identify, map, and classify current youth led TEK projects; (ii) To explore how and why youth hold TEK and how this knowledge is shared or transmitted; and (iii) To explore opportunities to support youth held TEK in the study region. Through a digital and online search, 43 youth led TEK projects were identified and documented. Primary data came from semi-structured interviews with 12 of the youth running projects in Oaxaca, a group discussion with 6 of these 12 youth, and interviews with 5 practitioners working on TEK and youth in Mexico. I found that youth are interested in and have knowledge in different areas of TEK, that this TEK reflects their interests, contexts, and identities, that youth use digital tools to share their knowledge and connect with other people, and that being recognized for their work and knowledge reinforces self-pride in their identity. In addition to the empirical research, a website was co-designed with participating youth as an applied product to build and support a network of young people interested in TEK.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Environment and Sustainability (M.E.S.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Environment and Sustainability

Grantor

University of Saskatchewan

Year dc:date.issued

2022

Author dc:creator

• Campos Rivera, Mariana

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Robson, James P

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Clark, Douglas A
• Sierra-Huelsz, José Antonio
• Duran Medina, Elvira
• Barnes, Susanna

• digital ethnography
• Indigenous communities
• Mexico
• New Ruralities
• Traditional Ecological Knowledge
• youth

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10388/14206

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:harvest.usask.ca:10388/14206