The Importance of Indigenous Language in The Curation and Preservation of Indigenous Knowledge

Abstract

Indigenous knowledge is the unique knowledge confined to a particular culture or society. It is also known as local knowledge, folk knowledge, people’s knowledge, traditional wisdom or traditional science. Language is a critical element in all aspects of life. It is one of the most fundamental ways in which different communities in the world strengthen their community well-being, reaffirm their sense of belonging, and express their culture and the place of their communities in society, as alluded to by SDG 11. Communities across the world have experienced loss of their indigenous knowledge due to the absence of indigenous language for identity purposes. The objective of this research is, therefore, to examine the importance of language, more so, the indigenous language, in the curation and preservation of indigenous knowledge. A qualitative study using structured interviews with two museum curators and ten native speakers was carried out. The practical impact of the study is a proposal of ways in which indigenous languages can be used to preserve indigenous knowledge. The findings of this study pave the road towards integrative policies that recognise more explicitly the inseparable links between indigenous language and cultural heritage. These findings also intend to show further that the curation and preservation of indigenous knowledge largely depend on an indigenous language. The study implies that promoting the use of indigenous languages in curating and preserving Indigenous knowledge can contribute to cultural sustainability and intergenerational knowledge transfer. The conclusion is that the use of indigenous languages in curating and preserving Indigenous knowledge across the world can help meet the broader objectives of society.