Cultural knowledge is what you know just by living!

It is the information know by an individual not because of formal education, but as a result of living everyday life, talking to relatives, observing surroundings, or practising family traditions. Knowledge of this kind is often subconscious. This means cultural knowledge can be unrecognised by those who hold the knowledge and (can be) undervalued by those who rely more heavily upon scientific or academic reasoning to make a decision.

WHY IS CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE IMPORTANT?

Cultural knowledge is important to back-up and inform the decisions we make. Often our first reaction to a problem is based on the cultural knowledge we may not realise we have. Our immediate reactions, based on the cultural knowledge that we hold, can be as good as the decisions made by professionals after years of research. Cultural knowledge is unique to each individual and can allow us to feel a sense of identity as we respond to problems in a certain way.

HOW CAN WE USE CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE?

It is useful to examine an example of cultural knowledge in action to understand how it can be used productively:

Wangari Maathai learned during her childhood that the fig tree was spiritually important in her community. For this reason, the fig tree was preserved and protected. Later on, Wangari Maathai learned that the tree was also scientifically important to bind the soil together, bring water to the surface and allow fertile crops to grow in the area. She could appreciate the tree on a personal and practical level.

Had this cultural understanding been valued, before the scientific reasoning became available, the fig tree might not have been uprooted, causing damage to her homeland. Using all available knowledge allows us to make well-rounded decisions. Wangari Maathai’s charity The Green Belt Movement now ensures the planting of trees across Kenya based on these ideas and the conviction provided by personally-held, cultural knowledge.  

CONCLUSION

Cultural knowledge has the potential to shape the environments we live in and can make a hugely positive difference when used alongside other knowledge in modern decision-making. Cultural knowledge is also important in forming community identity.