Centring Indigenous knowledge systems to re-imagine conservation translocations

Now more than ever, creative solutions that bring together diverse ways of knowing and seeing the world are needed to restore and
enhance biocultural diversity (interwoven biological, cultural and linguistic systems). Mi’kmaq Elder Dr Albert Marshall describes the
Mi’kmaq principle of Etuaptmumk or Two-Eyed Seeing as ‘learning to see from one eye with the strengths of Indigenous knowledges and
ways of knowing, and from the other eye with the strengths of Western knowledges and ways of knowing … and learning to use both these
eyes together, for the benefit of all’.

Moving plants and animals to establish new populations or strengthen existing ones (‘conservation translocations’) can enhance
species recovery and build ecosystem resilience. Yet, few studies to date have been led or co-led by Indigenous peoples or consider
how centring Indigenous knowledge systems can lead to better conservation translocation outcomes.

In this Perspective, as Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers and practitioners working in partnership under Te Tiriti o
Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi, 1840), we demonstrate how Two-Eyed Seeing can better inform conservation translocation decisions—
such as whether, or how, different populations should be mixed.