Weaving experiences and knowledges of Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers and practitioners to co-design practical solutions that address the interlinked global crises of biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, and intensifying social inequality and political turmoil (aka the ‘polycrisis’)
mission.
Transformative change through a focus on re-visibilization, rather than reconnection of humans to each other and the rest of nature, thus rethinking human-nature relations and ‘human nature’.
About the FIRI project.
Our driving question: How can transdisciplinary transformative change initiatives (TTCIs) that focus on socioecological relations be adapted to better address the global polycrisis?
This project engages critical social sciences and centers Indigenous perspectives on relationships and responsibilities to highlight interdependencies among humans and the rest of nature. Transdisciplinary transformative change initiatives (TTCIs) often struggle to create the needed paradigm shifts to tackle the polycrisis. Current initiatives often struggle with either being too theoretical or overlooking root causes of crises. Some TTCIs do focus on reconnecting people to nature but treat nature as something separate from us, missing true and holistic interdependence. Additionally, while some TTCIs include Indigenous perspectives, they often do so superficially.
This project coordinates our team of Indigenous stewardship specialists/Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) holders, academic researchers, and Swiss nature conservation practitioners/ Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) holders in the coproduction of a novel adaptive transformative change approach that combines sustainability science, political ecology theory, and Indigenous and practitioner knowledge on equal grounds.
Those that tackle fundamental questions about power dynamics in societies (e.g. how do they emerge, replicate, and reinforce themselves? How do they create barriers for change? See our related project here.)
The FIRI project design is groundbreaking in at least 3 ways:
01.
It weaves the experiences and knowledges of Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers and practitioners from the outset to co-design practical solutions that address the polycrisis
02.
It invites the intervention of Indigenous peoples in Western lands and practices, rather than the other way around (‘flip it’)
03.
It aims to center holistic understandings of the world in dichotomous contexts (e.g. nature/culture) in order to reverse both the colonial flow of power/knowledge and the (imagined) disconnection among humans and the rest of nature (‘reverse it’)
FIRI consists of 3 phases:
A
Problem framing and team building
Through a series of meetings and workshops, we used critical social science-informed team-building exercises* to understand the cause(s) of the polycrisis from multiple perspectives. Our meetings and workshops have included cross-cultural and decolonial training, exploration of the role of decolonization in the Swiss context, problem identification, development of a common understanding of each other’s unique perspectives and languages, and identification and assignment of responsibilities. (*see our related project here)
B
Coproduction of generalized protocols, practices, and methods
In 2024 we coproduced generalized protocols, practices, and methods (PPMs) for (re)visibilizing socioecological connections, and are in the process of co-developing a contextually adaptable ‘prototype’ and assessment methods based on these PPMs. As a team, we have chosen two case studies in Switzerland to test our prototype: rethinking education with respect to the concept of ‘wilderness’ and human-wolf interactions. Based on these case studies, we have co-developed research questions and are now co-developing initiatives for our follow-up stage where we will implement and assess the initiatives (currently on hold until funding is secured).
C
Analysis and (re)integration and application of created knowledge
We use interview guides and questionnaires for regular reflection and assessment of our process and progress, and findings are consistently discussed and incorporated back into the process. On the final day of our second workshop, we invited external experts to share and discuss the lessons we gained through the process. We also share our findings at conferences when time and funding allow (e.g. the 2024 International Transdisciplinary Conference [ITD 24])
Through the coalescence of these phases, this project advances theoretical and practical knowledge to assist in the effectiveness of transformative change. The project offers both a pathway forward toward practical packaged solutions to the polycrisis, as well as a means to adapt and multiply this pathway in various contexts.
protocols,practices, and methods (based on workshop results in november 2024, this is not a final version of the ppms)
