Indigenous knowledge, architecture, and nature in the context of Oceania

Abstract

This perspective article is derived from conversations between leading Indigenous academics and practitioners in the fields of architecture and urban design recorded at a keynote panel at the 2023 NUWAO International Symposium on Nature-based Urban Climate Adaptation for Wellbeing, held at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. The focus of the discussion was Indigenous design for adaptation to climate change in Moananui Oceania with an emphasis on relationships to nature. Given the diversity of Moananui Oceania in terms of languages, cultures, histories, and worldviews, this discussion represented a unique convergence of Indigenous leadership and thought in the field. It highlighted key themes related to Indigenous design for climate change adaptation and offered a novel, distinctive perspective aimed at advancing thinking around nature-based solutions (NbS). It is important to recognise and integrate Indigenous values and approaches to knowledge generation, particularly within academic settings. In the context of Moananui Oceania this can require adapting oral traditions and formats, such as talanoa, and hui or kōrero, into conventional Western-based research formats such as the journal article. This paper is an attempt to capture important Indigenous knowledge and discussion in a western format to enable further dissemination and sharing. This means the format and methodologies described in the paper do not align exactly with traditional scientific journal article formats, however the discussions and findings help to meet the motivation of the authors, which is to transform traditional Indigenous ways of sharing information into a perspective article format and share insights with a wider audience. This methodology aligns well with the special issue call that this paper resides in (Just, Socio-ecological Urban Transformation: Nature-based Solutions and Traditional Ecological Knowledge), underpinning the relevance and potential contribution to the field. Two key themes were explored within the context of the importance of working with nature; relationships between ecologies and tikanga (customary practices), and looking backwards to generate innovation and resilience.