A Biocultural Ethics Approach 77
a brief summary of that community’s written expression of principles and values, which place consent within a relational approach to protecting Indigenous
knowledge and biocultural rights.
Sambaa K’e Dene Band Policy Regarding the Gathering, Use and
Distribution of Yúndíit’õh (Traditional Knowledge) (Sambaa K’e Dene
Band, 2003) – Consent is not mentioned specifically but procedures are outlined
for the use, gathering and distribution of yúndíit’õh (traditional knowledge) in a
step-by-step way that is based on developing a research agreement to detail all
terms and conditions, including usage, copyright, storage and ownership ( Sambaa
K’e Dene Band, 2003). Yúndíit’õh is translated as “the past time of the land” or as
“our heritage” which “includes all of the stories, legends, experiences, practices,
beliefs, etc. of the Sambaa K’e Dene people from time immemorial” (Sambaa K’e
Dene Band, 2003, p. 1).
The gathering, use and distribution of Sambaa K’e yúndíit’õh are guided by
several principles that make clear the quality and type of interactions required for
sharing to take place, for example:
• Yúndíit’õh is derived from a traditional process of intuition, observation,
testing and validation and is of equal value to Western scientific processes;
• Yúndíit’õh belongs to the Sambaa K’e Dene as a whole and is therefore a
collective responsibility. Decisions concerning what Yúndíit’õh information
to share with outside agencies must be made through a community process,
with the full and active involvement of the elders;
• Yúndíit’õh is closely linked with, and dependent on, the language in which
it is rooted and must therefore be documented and shared to the greatest
extent possible in the Sambaa K’e Dene Yatie dialect (Sambaa K’e Dene
Band, 2003, p. 2).
Tl’azt’en Nation Guidelines for Research in Tl’azt’en Territory (Tl’azt’en
Nation, 1998) – “Informed consent” is briefly described as being required of
individuals and groups, in writing or recorded, without pressure to participate,
after being provided with information about the purpose and nature of the
research activities, expected benefits and risks, and the degree of confidentiality
that will be maintained (Tl’azt’en Nation, 1998, p. 2).
Some of the accompanying principles require that:
• Research must reflect “the distinctive perspectives and understandings, deriving
from [Tl’azt’enne] culture and history and, embodied in Tl’azt’en language”;
• There must be an “opportunity to correct misinformation or to challenge
ethnocentric and racist interpretations” that may be part of existing research
before it is taken as a basis for new research;
• The “authenticity of orally transmitted knowledge” should be validated by
appropriate means within the particular Indigenous traditions;
a brief summary of that community’s written expression of principles and values, which place consent within a relational approach to protecting Indigenous
knowledge and biocultural rights.
Sambaa K’e Dene Band Policy Regarding the Gathering, Use and
Distribution of Yúndíit’õh (Traditional Knowledge) (Sambaa K’e Dene
Band, 2003) – Consent is not mentioned specifically but procedures are outlined
for the use, gathering and distribution of yúndíit’õh (traditional knowledge) in a
step-by-step way that is based on developing a research agreement to detail all
terms and conditions, including usage, copyright, storage and ownership ( Sambaa
K’e Dene Band, 2003). Yúndíit’õh is translated as “the past time of the land” or as
“our heritage” which “includes all of the stories, legends, experiences, practices,
beliefs, etc. of the Sambaa K’e Dene people from time immemorial” (Sambaa K’e
Dene Band, 2003, p. 1).
The gathering, use and distribution of Sambaa K’e yúndíit’õh are guided by
several principles that make clear the quality and type of interactions required for
sharing to take place, for example:
• Yúndíit’õh is derived from a traditional process of intuition, observation,
testing and validation and is of equal value to Western scientific processes;
• Yúndíit’õh belongs to the Sambaa K’e Dene as a whole and is therefore a
collective responsibility. Decisions concerning what Yúndíit’õh information
to share with outside agencies must be made through a community process,
with the full and active involvement of the elders;
• Yúndíit’õh is closely linked with, and dependent on, the language in which
it is rooted and must therefore be documented and shared to the greatest
extent possible in the Sambaa K’e Dene Yatie dialect (Sambaa K’e Dene
Band, 2003, p. 2).
Tl’azt’en Nation Guidelines for Research in Tl’azt’en Territory (Tl’azt’en
Nation, 1998) – “Informed consent” is briefly described as being required of
individuals and groups, in writing or recorded, without pressure to participate,
after being provided with information about the purpose and nature of the
research activities, expected benefits and risks, and the degree of confidentiality
that will be maintained (Tl’azt’en Nation, 1998, p. 2).
Some of the accompanying principles require that:
• Research must reflect “the distinctive perspectives and understandings, deriving
from [Tl’azt’enne] culture and history and, embodied in Tl’azt’en language”;
• There must be an “opportunity to correct misinformation or to challenge
ethnocentric and racist interpretations” that may be part of existing research
before it is taken as a basis for new research;
• The “authenticity of orally transmitted knowledge” should be validated by
appropriate means within the particular Indigenous traditions;