Bridging Western and Indigenous Sciences in Chantal Bilodeau’s Climate Change Theatre Play Sila

This study explores the integration of Western scientific paradigms and Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge systems (TEK) as an essential approach to addressing the escalating challenges of climate change. Using Chantal Bilodeau’s climate change play Sila (2015) as a focal point, the research highlights how these epistemological frameworks can collaborate to foster sustainable practices, ecological resilience, and culturally inclusive adaptation strategies. The play showcases the vital role of Indigenous environmental knowledge in contemporary climate discourse, challenging the limitations and hierarchical structures of Western science.Western science, often rooted in reductionist and empirical methodologies, has historically marginalized Indigenous knowledge systems. Sila disrupts this paradigm by positioning TEK as an equal partner in the global response to climate change.It further calls for ethical and reciprocal cross-cultural collaboration, advocating for the decolonization of environmental research. This research advocates for a paradigm shift where Western science embraces Indigenous wisdom as an indispensable and equal component of climate policy and governance, emphasizing its transformative potential in fostering a more resilient and equitable future. This study reaffirms the necessity of cross-cultural dialogues to address the complexities of climate change holistically.