A process that secures usefulness for all involved often span over a longer period, and can many times emerge in an open ended collaboration and partnership. A good process is not only about who is engaged but in particular about how the interactions between actors are designed and facilitated. There are inherent power asymmetries in any interaction between different knowledge systems – scientific knowledge and in particular the natural sciences are often implicitly or explicitly treated as superior to other types of knowledge systems. Addressing power asymmetries involves providing space for reshaping the rules and norms governing the relationships of co-production of knowledge, the sharing of space among actors and structures that can distribute decision making power, including beyond the process itself, in order to facilitate the further application of the process outcomes.

Ecocultural mapping is a method that supports processes among local holders of indigenous and local knowledge and other actors in the concerned area in creating a collective vision, based on reconnect the past with the understanding of the present. Photos: Pernilla Malmer

Effective knowledge brokerage and arenas that enable building of relationships, trust, and respect is vital. Indigenous-led or co-governance of the planning and design of knowledge weaving can provide conditions that are prospective for effective bridging with Western science.