By Coen Hird
Most research in environmental sciences has roots in mainstream science or “Western science”. Increasingly, scientists call for the inclusion of Indigenous knowledges. But too often this “inclusion” reduces Indigenous knowledge as datasets to be looked at through mainstream science, while ignoring that it comes from Indigenous law, sovereignty, and responsibilities. This risks repeating colonial patterns, where science claims authority while extracting from Indigenous worlds.
In this study, I reviewed Indigenous-authored research in the environmental sciences to see how Indigenous scholars themselves shape the field. Instead of treating their work as an add-on to science, I looked at the ideas and values that guide it. Five lessons stood out to me: the power of saying no to colonialism and yes to Indigenous ways of life; governance rooted in Indigenous law and decision-making; realising the natural world as relatives; advancing visions for more just environmental futures; and using research methods grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing.
These lessons show that Indigenous scholarship is not just about making science more “inclusive.” It decentres Western ways of understanding and relating to the world. Environmental sciences need more than inclusion, they need to shift how they relate to Indigenous knowledges. That means moving from extractive approaches to genuine partnerships, where Indigenous peoples lead research and hold authority over knowledge, data, and outcomes. Our collective environmental future depends not only on technology and policy, but also on whose knowledge is respected and the relationships we choose to build.
Relational Thinking 