We ignore indigenous design which has been working for centuries primarily due to racism which usually comes in the form of “their way is primitive”, and our “technological solution is better”. We also ignore indigenous design due to greed and capitalism which takes the form of using technology.
How can we learn from indigenous people and cultures such as:
- Building a bridge that gets stronger with age inspired by the war-khasis of north-eastern India that build living root bridges.
- Irrigation system that uses no pesticide and increases biodiversity such as the subak system in Bali, Indonesia.
- man-made islands that can stay afloat for over 25 years made out of biodegradable reeds as found in Al Tahla in Iraq, or the Uru people of Lake Titicaca in Peru.
- fish ponds to clean waste water for the 15 million people of Kolkata, India.
How to maintain these things which tends to be rather boring work— through seasonality, ritual, and ceremony. The importance of language in terms of working with natural and honoring it. Fore example, one tribe having nine words for ash, which is critical for them.
How to preserve these cultures and sites by getting them more money otherwise the younger generation moves to the city. Perhaps finding other revenue streams for these cultures and sites. These indigenous designs are providing free infrastructure (waste water treatment, irrigation, etc.) and should be compensated.
