Indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) are unique to different cultures and societies across the globe. This knowledge is deeply ingrained in the local environment, cultural practices, and traditions of the people. IKS can be seen as holistic and dynamic, continuously adapting to changing circumstances while maintaining roots in its origins.

Local knowledge suggests a profound understanding developed through intimate interaction with a specific environment. It can be as diverse as tribes in the Amazon rainforest developing survival skills to the high-altitude desert dwellers of the Himalayas developing unique coping mechanisms. This knowledge is context-specific, which leads to a debate on its universality or global applicability.

Real-world example: Consider the Polynesian navigators, who have developed a highly efficient method of navigating vast stretches of ocean. Their skills might be context-specific but could offer lessons for universal navigation systems.

IKS sees different knowledge domains like history, art, culture, religion, language, and medicine as interconnected and inseparable. This holistic approach contrasts with the fragmented view arising from different academic disciplines in Western education systems.

Real-world example: Think of a woven tapestry. Each thread (knowledge domain) in itself might seem distinct, but when woven together, they form a complex and beautiful picture (holistic knowledge).

IKS is traditional but not static. It is a continuously evolving set of practices and knowledge developed over millennia through direct experiences and oral transmissions. It adapts and grows in response to various factors affecting it.

Real-world example: Consider how indigenous farming practices have adapted to changes in climate, incorporating new crops while maintaining traditional farming methods.