Biocultural Community Protocols: Articulating and Asserting Stewardship

Last Updated on April 10, 2025

Protocols developed by Indigenous peoples or mobile or local communities (“community protocols”) are gaining recognition as a useful means by which a range of peoples and communities can engage with others according to their values, and on the basis of customary, national and international rights and responsibilities.

In this video, Indigenous Peoples concerned, experts and practitioners on the ground discuss community protocols, answering the questions: Why are they so important to ensure justice for Indigenous and Local Communities? And what makes them so successful?

Video Produced by Natural Justice in collaboration with Moving Images (India) and with support from Shuttleworth Foundation.

For more information visit www.naturaljustice.org and www.community-protocols.org

Overview of Community Protocols around the world

courtesy of www.community-protocols.org

CANADA

Mi’kmaq Ethics Watch Principles and Guidelines for Researchers Conducting Research With and/or Among Mi’kmaq People
Namgis First Nation Guidelines for Visiting Researchers/Access to Information
Protocols & Principles for Conducting Research in a Nuu-Chah-Nulth Context
Sealaska Heritage Institute Cultural and Intellectual Property Rights Policy
Six Nations Council Research Ethics Committee Protocol
Tl’azt’en Nation Guidelines for Research in Tl’azt’en Territory
Traditional Knowledge Research Guidelines: A Guide for Researchers in the Yukon
Working with Gwich’in Traditional Knowledge in the Gwich’in Settlement Region/Gwich’in Traditional Knowledge Policy

UNITED STATES

Alaska Federation of Natives Guidelines for Research
Assembly of Alaska Native Educators’ Guidelines for Respecting Cultural Knowledge
Dehcho Land Use Planning Board Traditional Knowledge Policy
Deh Cho First Nation Traditional Knowledge Research Protocol
Hopi Cultural Preservation Office Protocol for Research, Publications and Recordings
Kahniakehaka Nation Akwesasne Good Mind Research Protocol
Model Tribal Research Code
Model Tribal Resolution to Establish Local and National Policy Protection for Indigenous Knowledge and Biological Resources
Negotiating Research Relationships with Inuit Communities: A Guide for Researchers

COLOMBIA

Alto San Juan Biocultural Community Protocol (Spanish) (English)

HONDURAS

Protocolo Bio-cultural del Pueblo Indígena Miskitu (Protocol) (Article)

PANAMA

Kuna Biocultural Protocol (brief case study) (Spanish presentation)

PARAGUAY

Propuesta de protocolo paraun Proceso de Consulta y Consentimiento con los Pueblos Indígenas del Paraguay

PERU

Inter-Community Agreement for Equitable Benefit-sharing in the Potato Park (brief case study) (book)

KENYA

Samburu Community Protocol

SOUTH AFRICA

Bio-cultural Protocol of the Traditional Healers of Bushbuckridge

INDIA

Raika Bio-cultural Protocol
Biocultural Protocol of the Gunis and Medicinal Plants Conservation Farmers of the Mewar Region of Rajasthan
Bio-cultural Community Protocol of the Traditional Healers of the Malayali Tribes
Lingayat Biocultural Community Protocol
Biocultural Community Protocol of the Maldharis of Banni

MALAYSIA

Community protocols in Sabah, Malaysia, facilitated by Partners of Community Organizations

PAKISTAN

Pashtoon Biocultural Community Protocol

NEW ZEALAND

General Guidelines and Protocols for Filming within Iwi (Tribal) Boundaries
A Guideline for Filming within the Rohe of Ngai Tahu

AUSTRALIA

Aboriginal Research Engagement Protocol
Federation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages Guide to Community Protocols for Indigenous Language Projects
Guidelines for Ethical Research in Indigenous Studies
Indigenous Ecological Knowledge and Natural Resources in the Northern Territory
North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance Research Guidelines and Protocols
Protocols for Producing Indigenous Australian Media Arts
Protocols for Producing Indigenous Australian Music
Protocols for Producing Indigenous Australian Visual Arts
Protocols for Producing Indigenous Australian Writing

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Biocultural Community Protocols: Articulating and Asserting Stewardship

Overview of Community Protocols around the world

Dear reader,

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