As Climate Change Fractures Communities, Folklorists Help Stitch Them Back Together

Climate Change and Community Resilience: The Role of Folklorists

Introduction

When politicians and planners think about climate adaptation, they often focus on infrastructure and economics. However, folklorist Maida Owens argues that this approach overlooks the cultural impact of climate disasters on communities. In Louisiana’s Cajun and Creole fishing communities, climate change has the potential to tear apart their cultural fabric. This article explores the role of folklorists in helping communities adapt to a changing climate and preserve their traditions.

The Importance of Culture in Resilience

Climate change is already causing radical changes across the United States. As coastlines erode, droughts intensify, and floods become more frequent, these crises disrupt not only infrastructure but also the rituals and remembrances that form the foundation of daily life. Folklorists argue that studying and preserving folklore is crucial in understanding how culture adjusts to these changes. Jokes, songs, spiritual practices, celebrations, and recipes are the glue that holds society together, and as the climate changes, it is essential to pay attention to how culture adapts.

Preserving Traditions in Times of Crisis

Folklorists focus on tradition-bearers within communities who preserve customs, songs, and stories and pass them on to future generations. By studying these tradition-bearers, folklorists can provide insights into how communities can navigate the challenges of climate change without losing valuable knowledge. Folklore can inform climate policy and help communities adapt to a new reality.

Visionary Folklore in Appalachia

In coal towns of eastern Kentucky and West Virginia, folklorist Emily Hilliard explores the concept of visionary folklore. She seeks ways to sustain culture amidst incredible change, ensuring that traditions are passed on to future generations. As climate disasters threaten entire towns and ways of life, Hilliard emphasizes the importance of continuity in preserving a sense of place and identity. She highlights how communities come together to repair and replace heirlooms and keepsakes, demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of folklore in times of crisis.

Adapting Indigenous Traditions in the Southwest

In southern Arizona, folklorist Kimi Eisele focuses on the impacts of climate change on Indigenous traditions and how those traditions are changing. The Tohono O’odham, for example, have had to adapt their basket-weaving practices due to water scarcity caused by climate change. Eisele emphasizes the importance of learning from Indigenous peoples’ adaptations over millennia and integrating traditional knowledge into modern solutions. By understanding how Indigenous communities have weathered climate fluctuations, society can better adapt to the current climate crisis.

Using Folklore to Shape Policy in Louisiana

In Louisiana’s coastal communities, Maida Owens uses folklore to shape public policy and create a more welcoming environment for those displaced by climate change. As erosion and rising seas force entire communities to move, Owens works with the Bayou Culture Collaborative to address the human dimension of coastal land loss. Through workshops and discussions, she helps communities envision a future that is more inclusive and culturally sensitive to climate migrants. Owens also advocates for policy changes that prioritize engagement with affected communities and preserve habitat for coastal tribes.

Conclusion

As climate disasters continue to disrupt communities, the cultural fabric that holds society together becomes increasingly important. Folklorists play a vital role in preserving traditions, helping communities adapt, and informing climate policy. By studying folklore and working with tradition-bearers, folklorists contribute to community resilience and ensure that cultural heritage is not lost in the face of a changing climate.

Sources:

1. This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here.
2. Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• 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.
• Indicator 11.5.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.

• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
• Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.

• Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels.
• Indicator 16.7.1: Proportions of positions (by sex, age, disability, and population groups) in public institutions (national and local legislatures, public service, and judiciary) compared to national distributions.

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Source: laist.com

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