Journeys across Australia

Ethnobiology through Song

“…Despite the many important contributions that music can make to our understanding of human-nature interrelations, the majority of research on the ethnobiological contexts in which songs are performed and transmitted comes from the field of ethnomusicology (e.g., Post 2019; Turpin et al 2017). Ethnomusicologists have long recognized the important role that music plays in building cultural identities (Balzer 2016; Bracknell 2015; Koch 2013), ensuring the continuance of distinct epistemic traditions (Nyota and Mapara 2008; Seeger 2016; Silvers 2015), and fostering a deep sense of place amongst many Indigenous Peoples and local communities (Richards 2007; Roseman 1998). With ethnomusicology often understood as “musical ethnography” (e.g., Moyle 2001; Wafer and Turpin 2017), we could argue that, with ethnobiology, it shares a relatively synchronic focus and a general toolbox of methods that could be harnessed to foster enriched interdisciplinary collaboration and dialogue.…”

“…In some cases, the songs must be repeated verbatim and, in others, although they are based on tradition, they can be improvised to particular contexts (e.g., Crate this issue). Adapting the knowledge and lessons embedded in traditional songs to today's changing environmental Koch 2013), ensuring the continuance of distinct epistemic traditions (Nyota and Mapara 2008;Seeger 2016;Silvers 2015), and fostering a deep sense of place amongst many Indigenous Peoples and local communities (Richards 2007;Roseman 1998). With ethnomusicology often understood as "musical ethnography" (e.g., Moyle 2001;Wafer and Turpin 2017), we could argue that, with ethnobiology, it shares a relatively synchronic focus and a general toolbox of methods that could be harnessed to foster enriched interdisciplinary collaboration and dialogue.…”

Sing to Learn: The Role of Songs in the Transmission of Indigenous Knowledge among the Tsimane' of Bolivian Amazonia

“…In many Indigenous cultures, music-making is an essential component of ritual performance (Brabec de Mori and Seeger 2013; Crate 2006; Hill 2013), deeply integrated into the knowledge-building processes (Nyota and Mapara 2008; Schniter 2014). By intermingling lyrical and musical analyses with cultural history, ethnomusicologists have recurrently shown the central role of songs in ensuring not only the continuance of the epistemic traditions of Indigenous Peoples (Seeger 2016; Silvers 2015), but also other features, such as the social memory of landscapes (Richards 2007; Roseman 1998). As such, Indigenous songs may represent an untapped library of Indigenous Knowledge (hereinafter IK) in general and of biocultural heritage in particular (Persoon and Schefold 2017; Simonett 2014, 2016).…”