The IEK-CHANGES team is now deeply immersed in the Amazon, working hand in hand with our extraordinary Tsimane’ co-researchers to pilot-test our research protocols. Every method is carefully crafted to be culturally appropriate, ensuring that each and every question is fully understandable in Tsimane’ language, and that the research we do truly reflects local perspectives. This step is more than a methodological need. It is a moment of listening, learning, and building trust, where knowledge flows both ways. By shaping our work together on the ground, we are laying the foundation for research that honors the richness, depth, and wisdom of Tsimane’ biocultural knowledge.
