Indigenous Ways of Knowing in Nepal: Exploring Indigenous Research Procedures in Shamanism
Keywords:
ways of knowing, Indigenous research, ShamanismAbstract
By presenting Shamanism as a form and tradition of indigenous knowledge, this paper aims to reduce the uncertainties attached to the concept in common approaches to indigenous research. Most indigenist researchers, who are working to blend western and non-western ways of knowing, have inadequately explored indigenous research procedures. In order to understand indigenous research procedures in the Nepali multi-cultural context, using interpretive, critical and postmodern research paradigms, the authors engaged with indigenous elders and traditional healers, and observed cultural events like shamanic performances. This paper reveals how achieving a profound understanding of indigenous knowledge traditions will be an integral part of how researchers approach indigenous communities in future studies.
References
Alessa, L.N. (2014). The other way of knowing. Retrieved from http://schoolingtheworld.org/resources/essays/the-other-way-of-knowing/
Barnhardt, R., & Kawagley, A. O. (2005). Indigenous knowledge systems and Alaska native ways of knowing. Anthropology and Education Quarterly, 36(1), 8-23.
Barth, F. (1995). Other knowledge and other ways of knowing. Journal of Anthropological Research, 51(1),65-68.
Bennett, L.R. (2016). Indigenous healing knowledge and infertility in Indonesia: Learning about cultural safety from Sasak midwives. Medical Anthropology.doi:10.1080/01459740.2016.1142990
Blaikie, P., Cameron, D., & Seddon, D. (1970). Nepal in crisis. Bombay, India: Oxford University Press.
Bumochir, D. (2014). Institutionalization of Mongolian shamanism: From primitivism to civilization. Asian ethnicity, 15(4), 473-491.
Carspecken, P. F. (1996). Critical ethnography in educational research: A theoretical and practical guide. New York and London: Routledge.
Central Bureau of Statistics. (2012). Nepal population and housing census 2011. Kathmandu, Nepal: Author.
Chiang, C., & Lee, H. (2015). Crossing the gap between indigenous worldviews and western science: Millet festival as a bridge in the teaching module. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 3(6), 99-100.
Chinn, P.W.U. (2007). Decolonizing methodologies and indigenous knowledge: The role of culture, place and personal experience in professional development. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 44(9), 1247–1268.
Chilisa, B. (2012). Indigenous research methodologies. London, England: Sage.
Denzin, N.K., Lincoln, Y.S., & Smith, L.T. (2008). Handbook of critical indigenous methodologies. New Delhi, India: Sage.
Fisher, J.F. (1996). An interview with DorBhadurBista. Current Anthropology, 37(2), 349-356.
Gautam, S., & Luitel, B.C. (2013). A third space research methodology through the metaphor of mokshya. Journal of Education and Research, 3(2), 96-116.
Goulding, D., Steels, B., & McGarty C. (2016). A cross cultural research experience: Developing an appropriate methodology that respectfully incorporates both indigenous and non-indigenous knowledge systems. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 39(5), 783-801.
Hangen, S.I. (2010). The rise of ethnic politics in Nepal: Democracy in the margins. New York, NY: Routledge.
Hartman, A. (1990). Many ways of knowing. Social Work, 35(1), 3-4.
Government of Nepal. (2002). National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Peoples Act, 2002. Kathmandu, Nepal: Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
Holmberg, D., & March, K. (1999). Local production/ local knowledge: Forced labour from below. Studies in Nepalese History and Society,4(1), 5-64.
Hart, M.A. (2010). Indigenous worldviews, knowledge, and research: The development of an indigenous research paradigm. Journal of Indigenous Voices in Social Work, 1(1) 1-16.
Huitt, W. (1998, April). Measurement, evaluation, and research: Ways of knowing. Educational Psychology Interactive. Retrieved fromhttp://www.edpsycinteractive.org/topics/intro/wayknow.html
Lagematt, L. (2015). Knowledge and knowing. In Theory of knowledge for IB Diploma (2nd ed.). pp.2-70. London, England: Cambridge University Press.
Lincoln, Y., & Gonzalez, E.M.G. (2008). The search for emerging decolonizing methodologies in qualitative research. Qualitative Inquiry, 12(5), 784-805. Retrieved from http://www.riseu.unam.mx/documentos/acervo_documental/txtid0063.pdf
Ludwig, D. (2016). Overlapping ontologies and indigenous knowledge. From integration to ontological self-determination. Studies of History and Philosophy of Science, 59, 36-45.
Luitel, B. C. (2009). Culture, worldview and transformative philosophy of mathematics education in Nepal: A cultural philosophical inquiry (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Curtin, Australia.
Martin, K.L. (2003). Ways of knowing, ways of being and ways of doing: A theoretical framework and methods for Indigenous re-search and indigenist research. Journal of Australian Studies, 76, 203-214.
Maskarinec, G. G. (1995). The rulings of the night: An ethnography of Nepalese shaman oral texts. Kathmandu, Nepal: Mandala Book Point.
McIlveen, P. (2008). Autoethnography as a method for reflexive research and practice in vocational psychology. Australian Journal of Career Development, 17(2), 13 - 20.
Mignolo, W.D. (2009). Epistemic disobedience, independent thought and de-colonial freedom. Theory, Culture & Society, 26(7–8), 1–23.
Rowe, G. (2014). Implementing Indigenous ways of knowing into research: Insights into the critical role of dreams as catalysts for knowledge development. Journal of Indigenous Social Development, 3(2), 1-17.
Seddon, D. (August, 2012). A dangerous racism. Nepali Times,619. Retrieved from http://nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=19569#.Vb5B_Pmqqkp
Smith, L. T. (2005). On tricky ground: Researching the native in the age of uncertainty. In N. K. Denzin& Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The Sage handbook of qualitative research (pp. 85-108). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Smith, L. T. (1999). Decolonizing methodologies: Research and indigenous peoples. London, England: Zed Books Ltd.
Taylor, P. C., & Medina, M. (2011). Educational research paradigms: From positivism to pluralism. College Research Journal, 1(1), 1-16.
Upreti, B. R., & Adhikari, J. (2006). A case study on marginalized indigenous communities' access to natural resources in Nepal: National laws, policies, and practices. Kathmandu, Nepal: Preliminary Draft Presented at the National Thematic Dialogue.
Vanisttart, E. (1896). Notes on Nepal. Calcutta, India: Office of the Superintendent of Government.
Whelpton, J. (2005). A history of Nepal. New Delhi, India: Cambridge.
