先住民アイヌの知識，自然観と持続可能性 : アイヌの口承文芸に焦点を当てて

Indigenous knowledge is the local knowledge that is unique to a culture or society. This knowledge is passed on from generation to generation, usually through the oral tradition and cultural rituals, and has been the basis for agriculture, food preparation, health care, education, conservation and a wide range of other activities that sustain societies in many parts of the world. The knowledge and view of nature of indigenous people are constructed by interactions between people and the environment. However, this knowledge has increasingly been negated by science and modernization. Indigenous people have become marginalized and have been forced to adopt European cultural values and education systems. Ainu people are an indigenous people of Japan. I analyzed Ainu oral literature Wepeker and Yukar from the view point of sustainability and I interviewed a few Ainu people in this research. The Ainu view human beings as a kind of creature, but not necessarily superior to other creatures in the natural environment. They have a very close relationship with rivers, mountains and lakes. In order to break away from anthropocentrism, sustainability and ESD need to embrace indigenous worldviews. We should develop a holistic method of ESD that respects and includes the knowledge and view of nature of indigenous people.