it is complementary
OPINION: Tūpuna Māori (ancestors of Māori) arrived on these lands voyaging from Polynesia between 1200 and 1300AD, and with them arrived the first science of these lands. This equates to around 28 generations between then and now, and many millions of ancestors across those 28 generations.
Oral-based knowledge systems are predominant among indigenous nations and Māori are no exception. Oral narratives are passed within a generation and onto the next generations for many reasons including (but not exclusively) to teach skills, transmit cultural values, record family and community histories, and explain the natural world.
It then follows that if this knowledge – built up over generations and connected to these lands, water and environment – is available to use, why wouldn’t you consider what is available to us? What possibilities does that knowledge hold given the significant challenges we experience such as severe weather events, flooding, drought and climate change impacts. All challenges that science alone is unable to solve.
Link to video and article: Mātauranga Māori is no threat to science, it is complementary | Stuff.co.nz
