ABSTRACT
Through personal anecdotes, the author explores the relationship between nature and humans and how indigenous knowledge systems were derided as inferior knowledge systems of ‘uncivilized’ peoples or regions. As a result of this knowledge domination through colonialism, humanity lost many valuable traditions of people's knowledge. In order to change this upshot, the history of civilization has to be seen as the history of human exploration of nature and society in the process of seeking transformation of society. From the conquest mentality that exploited nature, we must move to an exploration and partnership outlook. From the colonial assertion that those who had material power such as capital and technology and claim to possession of land had a right to venture to any part of the world as they did under colonialism and now under globalization, we must move to a world where local people connected deeply to their environment have a legitimate right to their material and cultural resources, which they can choose to share on mutually agreed terms.
