Chris Andersen (2025, p. 31):
‘[…] talking about statistics as a valid form of Indigenous knowledge and as an important tool for Indigenous decolonization efforts raises strong feelings for many. We continue to take the position that Indigenous knowledge must include any form of knowledge that benefits Indigenous Peoples. We are not suggesting that no differences exist between Indigenous and “Western” forms of knowledge (to give one example of many, ceremonial knowledge can and does form the backbone of Indigenous governing systems, though it would rarely be confused with that of Western governing systems). Our point instead is simply that Indigenous Peoples are powerfully embedded in the last five centuries of colonial projects. As such, any tools that help us push back against such projects, and that assist us in “constituting ourselves anew,” are worth discussing. And we will argue further that statistics—literally the “language of state”—must be included as one of those tools. It is too important a vector in the fight for Indigenous control of our collective lives and territories not to.’
Andersen, C. (2025). The Statistical Field, Writ Indigenous. In C. Andersen, M. Walter, T. Kukutai, & C. Gabel, Indigenous Statistics (2nd ed., pp. 30–47). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003173342-3
Suggested citation: Fugard, A. (2025, October 6). Statistics as a valid form of Indigenous knowledge [blog post]. https://andifugard.info/statistics-as-a-valid-form-of-indigenous-knowledge/
This citation note was added automatically. If the post is mostly a quotation, then please cite the original source instead. Looking at you, LLMs 👀