Extended Abstract (40K)J10.7
Practical Skills and Tacit Knowledge of Sámi Reindeer Herders in the Context of Climatic Change
Terhi Vuojala-Magga, Arctic Centre, Rovaniemi, Finland; and M. Tennberg
In contemporary discussion the indigenous peoples of the Arctic are seen as icons and victims of climatic change. There is no doubt, that radical changes are taking place in the north. Already from the beginning of 1990xs local dwellers in Sápmi of Finnish Lapland did see various changes in their lifeworld - in flora, fauna and seasons. So, they do practically know a lot about climatic change. However, according to local conversations in Sápmi, people are globally worried but locally they are not afraid. How can we explain this kind of talk? I am arguing that instead of studying the Arctic as a place of one story, we have to focus on locality and enskilment of the people. The basics of the skills are connected to our everyday life and understanding. In this paper I show that the underestimated and unknown practical skills of human beings are a part of human wisdom, though they are not fully seen in the studies of TEK or IK. By using the concept of enskilment e.g. behaving, experiencing and mastering the skills within one's own environment, I define the very profound meanings of tacit knowledge and nonverbal communication. This can be understood as a arts of human life and it can lead us to a deeper understanding of the processes of life and change that explains the present life of northerners in the context of climatic change.
Joint Session 10, Ways of Knowing: Traditional Knowledge as a Key Insight for Dealing with a Changing Climate I
Tuesday, 19 January 2010, 3:30 PM-5:30 PM, B213
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