Alliance reestablishes ITEK Approach to Conservation

 “Indigenous people have long suffered the consequences of industrial pollution. Remediation efforts led by government and land grant institutions have proven inadequate and have failed to build the knowledge and expertise necessary for Indigenous farmers to learn how to clean up their lands independently. It is time for Indigenous People to take the lead.” – Tim Houseberg,

The rapid rate of degradation of air, water, and soil quality is of major concern, especially for underserved and disproportionately affected tribal, minority, and low-income farmers and communities. Although considerable efforts have been put forth from a multitude of sources, these previously proposed solutions have fallen short for a variety of reasons. 

The ITEK (Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge) Approach brings about innovative practices sourced from ancestral and indigenous ecological knowledge to produce a seemingly revolutionary solution.  This approach utilizes biochar with a variety of native non-GMO microbes combined with indigenous traditional principles of regenerative agriculture to establish and enhance not only immediate conservation efforts of fundamental natural resources but to fulfill an obligation to establish and maintain a sustainable state for seven generations and beyond. 

University-supported research (to include application thereof) demonstrates that the ITEK Approach effectively increased the overall condition of both water and soil health. Support is needed for the Alliance to expand field trials to include indigenous-led partners to employ the ITEK Approach on multiple contaminated sites to solidify best practices for widespread application of the ITEK Approach. 

The primary objective is to establish a protocol that, when implemented, will promote the conservation of land and water in a manner which is productive, safe, environmentally beneficial and cost-effective. Culturally appropriate methodologies will be employed to communicate project-optimized practices through education and outreach programs to target historically underserved indigenous, minority, and low-income farmers and communities. Utilization of such practices will empower the target groups to grow profitable, safe, diverse and culturally appropriate crops to reduce food insecurity, promote viable livelihoods and ensure clean, working lands.

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