ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an introduction on the key issues and debates that shaped the indigenous knowledge (IK) story as it continues to evolve. It incorporates the concept of land and territory together to refer to the 'total environment of the areas' where indigenous peoples live, which is in accordance with the International Labour Organization Convention concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries. The chapter demonstrates how IK is a cross-cutting subject and a form of emplaced knowledge that is much more than just an intellectual property issue. It discusses the unique characteristics of IK, including the range of bio-cultural diversity and communal concerns of IK-holders as reflected in Article 31 of Unite Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The chapter also addresses the larger context of displacement and dispossession faced by indigenous peoples, which continues to undermine their capacity to maintain, control, protect and develop their emplaced knowledge.
