WOMEN AS CUSTODIANS OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE: FEMINIST PERSPECTIVES ON IKS PRESERVATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Abstract

The Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) are the body of wisdom, practice and cultural treasures of indigenous people all over the globe. Women are the traditional custodians of this knowledge and have a more documented presence in the fields of conventional medicine, agriculture, childbirth and environmental management. This paper discusses the importance of women in the survival of IKS with the help of a feminist perspective, with a specific focus on agency, voice, and resistance to patriarchal order. It states that the recognition of the female role in IKS is a vital aspect of culture and equity. The paper identifies inclusive policies, interdisciplinary research, and a decolonized knowledge perspective as the key issues that can save the survival of IKS in the 21st century.