# Restoring indigenous names in taxonomy

## TL;DR

The paper argues for reinstating indigenous names in species taxonomy to recognize indigenous knowledge.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is advocating for taxonomic protocols to prioritize indigenous names over first published scientific names.

## Key findings

- Current taxonomic practices prioritize first published scientific names over indigenous ones.
- The authors propose a re-evaluation of this practice to include indigenous names in species nomenclature.
- This shift aims to reflect the value of indigenous knowledge in biological classification.

## Abstract

Some pillars of scientific practice appear immutable. We propose that one of these needs more thorough consideration and modification: this being the long-standing emphasis in nomenclature for first published names over pre-existing indigenous names, in accepting species epithets. We suggest that biologists re-evaluate this practice, in the context of a current more general re-evaluation of indigenous knowledge. We propose that it is now time to critically examine taxonomic protocols in favour of both assigning and reinstating indigenous names whenever possible.

Gillman and Wright propose a re-evaluation of taxonomical nomenclature to reinstate indigenous species names. These authors discuss the consideration of indigenous names for new and existing species in order to reflect the importance and precedence of indigenous knowledge in biology.