Weaving the links: Traditional knowledge into modern science

Rapidly changing environment and fast shifting economic, political and cultural changes on a global perspective at the same time are affecting the world of indigenous people and their livelihood. Integrating Traditional Knowledge Systems (TKS) and reconnecting with ourselves, the community and the society with modern perspectives is not an easy task. When we weave two strands together, we may end with ultimately a stronger one. Kimmerer (2013) reveals that living things of all types provides an important lesson about the interconnectedness of life. He describes indigenous knowledge as an alternative or complementary approach to Western mainstream scientific methodologies. A systematic and scientific understanding of the TKS needs an interdisciplinary approach. This may address the livelihood security to people with limited financial means, protection of biodiversity and open new paradigm of Science and Technology (S&T) thinking and practice, achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). This paper provides the perspectives of the web links from an Indigenous world and the modern science view. Integrating the Indigenous knowledge into modern science and addressing the gaps in the traditional knowledge for science-policy assessments should be set as a high priority. •Traditional knowledge systems (TKS) is largely local community-dependent practices, however, in the process of being lost.•Weaving the traditional knowledge into modern science perspectives is a challenge as both differ in their characteristics and views.•Acceptance and recognition of ‘traditional knowledge’, such as folk remedies for illnesses, through modern perspectives needs a multidisciplinary approach.•Initiatives towards linking TKS with modern standards of testing, may prove as a useful, relevant and inexpensive source of potentially therapeutic compounds for the human well-being.•Integrating the Indigenous knowledge into modern science and addressing the gaps in the traditional knowledge for science-policy assessments needs a high priority.