Synopsis Of Traditional Ecological Knowledge, National Park Service

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is the knowledge, practices, and beliefs about nature that indigenous people have learned over hundreds or thousands of years. They gain this knowledge through direct experience with their environment and pass it down from one generation to the next. It helps them live sustainably, guiding them on when to hunt, fish, trap, farm, and manage forests. TEK covers how people view the world, including their understanding of plants, animals, natural events, and the connections between all living things, including spiritual beliefs and how humans and animals interact.