Indigenous ways of knowing are understood collectively with each person holding sets of knowledge that contribute to society, while Western epistemology emphasises individual expertise and mastery

Indigenous ways of knowing use the same processes as Western science but apply them in outdoor natural settings with traditional tools rather than in controlled laboratory environments

Indigenous ways of knowing rely exclusively on oral tradition and ceremonial practices and reject all forms of written documentation as fundamentally incompatible with First Peoples cultural values

Indigenous ways of knowing are appropriate only for spiritual or ceremonial contexts and community gatherings, while Western epistemology is the standard for practical applications and scientific purposes