Gender and Tribal Knowledge Systems: Women's Role in Preserving Indigenous Knowledge

This research explores the critical role of women in preserving and transmitting indigenous knowledge within tribal communities, focusing on their contributions to traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), healthcare practices, agriculture, and cultural heritage. Tribal women serve as custodians of vast bodies of knowledge that have been passed down through generations, often through oral traditions, practical engagement with the environment, and community-based practices. Their intimate relationship with natural resources—such as water, forests, and land—places them at the centre of sustainable practices related to agriculture, food security, and biodiversity conservation. This study delves into the gendered dimensions of indigenous knowledge systems, highlighting how tribal women are often the primary conservators of medicinal plant knowledge, seed selection, food preservation techniques, and rituals connected to nature. It also examines the challenges tribal women face due to the pressures of modernization, loss of traditional livelihoods, and migration, which threaten the continuity of these knowledge systems. Using a combination of ethnographic fieldworkand focused discussion with tribal women in Maharashtra, the research aims to document and analyse the specific roles tribal women play in preserving indigenous wisdom. It further investigates the potential for integrating these traditional practices into broader development frameworks, particularly in the fields of environmental conservation and sustainable agriculture. By recognizing and valuing the role of tribal women in maintaining indigenous knowledge, the research advocates for policies that empower these women and safeguard their cultural heritage in the face of rapid socio-economic change.