Adapting through culture: How the arts can help Louisianans facing land loss – The Current – Lafayette’s Community Voice

Report on Climate-Induced Migration and Cultural Resilience in Louisiana

This report analyzes the phenomenon of climate-induced internal displacement in Louisiana, focusing on the role of culture in fostering community resilience and social cohesion. The findings are framed within the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning climate action, sustainable communities, and social inclusion.

Climate Displacement and Community Dynamics

H3: Post-Katrina Migration as a Case Study

The displacement of populations following Hurricane Katrina serves as a critical case study. The migration of artists, musicians, and other creative professionals from New Orleans to the Acadiana region resulted in the latter becoming a “receiving community.” This influx led to a significant cultural enrichment in the area, demonstrating how displaced populations can contribute to the social and economic fabric of their new homes. This dynamic is increasingly relevant as coastal erosion and extreme weather events, linked to SDG 13 (Climate Action), render more areas of the state uninhabitable.

H3: Implications for SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The experience of receiving communities like Lafayette highlights key targets within SDG 11:

• Target 11.5: The need for communities to build resilience and adapt to accommodate populations displaced by natural disasters.
• Target 11.1: The challenge of providing adequate services and infrastructure for an influx of new residents, ensuring sustainable and inclusive urban development.

The Role of Culture in Fostering Inclusive and Resilient Societies

H3: The Bayou Culture Collaborative Initiative

Folklorist Maida Owens identified the critical role of culture in managing community transitions during periods of disruption. In response, the Bayou Culture Collaborative was established to address cultural issues related to land loss and migration. The initiative’s rapid growth, attracting 900 participants, underscores a significant need for structured support in this area.

The collaborative’s work is founded on the principle that culture is essential for well-being and adaptation. Key functions of culture in this context include:

1. Providing a sense of well-being and community connection.
2. Fostering social cohesion between migrating and receiving populations.
3. Helping individuals and communities adapt during periods of profound disruption.

H3: Advancing SDG 11 and SDG 16

Cultural initiatives are instrumental in achieving specific SDG targets:

• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): By creating platforms for interaction, cultural programs help protect and safeguard intangible cultural heritage (Target 11.4) and provide safe, inclusive public spaces for all (Target 11.7).
• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): Culture serves as a mechanism to build more inclusive societies by mitigating the “othering” effect and fostering mutual understanding between long-term residents and newcomers.

Challenges and Strategies for Social Integration

H3: Social Friction in Receiving Communities

The integration of displaced populations is not without challenges. Incidents of social friction, such as the division between students from New Orleans (“504s”) and Baton Rouge (“225s”) after Katrina, illustrate the potential for social fragmentation. Such divisions run counter to the objectives of SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by creating social barriers within a community.

H3: Cultural Platforms as a Mitigation Strategy

The post-Katrina arts scene in Acadiana provided a “soft landing place” for displaced individuals. Cultural events, such as music gatherings and community meals, offered neutral ground for interaction, effectively bridging divides between newcomers and established residents. This demonstrates a practical strategy for building the inclusive institutions promoted by SDG 16.

Conclusion: Integrating Culture into Disaster Response for Sustainable Recovery

H3: Culture as a Foundation for Well-being

While immediate needs such as shelter and food security are paramount in disaster response, this analysis confirms that cultural well-being is not a secondary concern but a core component of sustainable recovery. Culture provides essential connections and a sense of stability that are fundamental to individual and community well-being, a cornerstone of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

A holistic disaster response framework must therefore integrate cultural support alongside material aid to build truly resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities in the face of increasing climate-related challenges.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  This goal is central to the article, which focuses on how communities (“receiving communities” like Lafayette and Baton Rouge) are impacted by and adapt to large influxes of people displaced by disasters (“migrating communities”). It explores the social fabric, resilience, and challenges of human settlements facing environmental shocks.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article explicitly links the displacement of people to climate-related events. It mentions Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, and the 2016 flood as the root causes of migration. The narrative is framed around how “South Louisianans adapt to our changing climate,” directly connecting the community issues to the urgent need for climate adaptation and resilience.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article touches upon the social inequalities and friction that arise when displaced populations integrate into host communities. The example of teens in Baton Rouge schools sorting themselves by area codes (“504s” vs. “225s”) and the mention of “othering” highlight the social challenges and inequalities faced by migrants in their new environments.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is relevant through the article’s emphasis on building social cohesion and inclusive communities. The work of the Bayou Culture Collaborative, which aims to use arts and culture to “help the newcomers get to know the long term residents and vice versa,” is a direct effort to foster peaceful and inclusive societies in the face of disruption.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.

   The entire premise of the article revolves around the aftermath of water-related disasters (Katrina, the 2016 flood) and the large number of “people affected” who are displaced and become part of “migrating communities.”

2. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

   The article is a case study in community adaptation. It describes how Lafayette became a “receiving community” and how culture and arts serve as a mechanism to “help people adapt during disruption” and strengthen community resilience.

3. Target 11.b: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, disaster risk reduction and resilience…

   The Bayou Culture Collaborative is presented as an initiative that helps communities develop strategies for dealing with cultural issues and social integration while facing land loss and climate-driven migration, which aligns with implementing plans for inclusion and adaptation.

4. Target 10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies.

   The article highlights the challenges of unplanned, disaster-induced migration, such as receiving communities being “overwhelmed” and the emergence of social friction. This points to the need for better-managed processes, which the article suggests can be aided by cultural initiatives that create “neutral ground” for integration.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of people displaced by disaster: The article is founded on the concept of “migrating communities” created by events like Katrina, implying that the number of people forced to relocate is a key metric of a disaster’s impact (relevant to Target 11.5).
• Measures of social cohesion and integration: The article implies that progress can be measured by observing social dynamics. Negative indicators include “othering” and social sorting (e.g., “504s and 225s”). Positive indicators are the successful use of cultural platforms like the Blue Moon dance hall or a Boucherie to bring “long term residents to get to know the newcomers.” (Relevant to Targets 10.7 and 11.b).
• Community engagement in resilience planning: A direct quantitative indicator is mentioned for the Bayou Culture Collaborative. The growth from a small group to having “900 people participating in or following their work” measures the level of community and institutional engagement in addressing adaptation and cultural resilience (Relevant to Target 13.1).
• Reported sense of well-being and life satisfaction: The article quotes Maida Owens stating, “People with strong ties to culture and community support report higher life satisfaction.” This suggests that surveys measuring well-being and community connection could serve as qualitative indicators of a community’s adaptive capacity and resilience (Relevant to Target 13.1).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: thecurrentla.com