culture
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Decades of water mismanagement threaten Yaqui culture in Mexico
The Yaqui tribe in Sonora, Mexico faces cultural and environmental devastation as the Yaqui River dries up due to overuse, drought, and dam construction.
In short:
- The Yaqui River, crucial for cultural ceremonies and subsistence, has dried up, impacting plant and animal species central to Yaqui traditions.
- Traditional structures and ceremonial instruments, dependent on riverbank flora and endemic species like the four-mirror butterfly, are endangered.
- The tribe now relies on purchased water and faces health issues from dietary changes due to the loss of their natural resources.
Key quote:
“We are facing a very critical situation of loss of many aspects that have to do with culture. In the way they work the land, the way they eat and also in the way they carry out their rituals.”
— José Luis Moctezuma, National Institute of Anthropology and History
Why this matters:
The loss of the Yaqui River disrupts not only the tribe's daily life but also their cultural heritage, leading to health and ecological consequences. Immediate attention to water management and conservation is important to preserve the Yaqui way of life.
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Credit: Phil Burrows/Pixabay
Headstones are restored to Poplar Island after 60 years
Gravestones from Poplar Island were returned after six decades, fulfilling a family's dream and marking a significant historical restoration.
In short:
- Poplar Island in the Chesapeake Bay, once lost to erosion, has been restored using dredged material from shipping channels.
- The Howeth family rescued five gravestones from the island in the 1960s and recently returned them as part of the island’s restoration.
- The gravestones were installed in a prominent location on the island, now serving as a historical marker for visitors.
Why this matters:
The erosion of Poplar Island is a poignant reminder of the urgency to address climate change. Each lost acre is not just land disappearing, but a fragment of history washing away, a community's memory sinking beneath the waves.
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Newsletter
Credit: James Fitzgerald/Unsplash
Native tribes use controlled burns to save sequoias
In response to devastating wildfires, Indigenous tribes in California have resumed cultural burns to protect ancient sequoia trees.
In short:
- Tribes including the Tule River, North Fork Mono, and Tübatulabal are conducting controlled burns to prevent wildfires and protect sequoia forests.
- These cultural burns were banned in the 19th century but were reintroduced in 2022 after extreme wildfires highlighted their necessity.
- Cultural burns help manage forest undergrowth, preserve sequoias, and maintain Indigenous cultural practices.
Key quote:
"I want to tell the spirit on the other side of the sun to give us power for this burn. Give us a good burn."
— Robert Gomez, chairman of the Tübatulabal Tribe
Why this matters:
Restoring traditional burning practices aids in wildfire prevention and helps maintain the health and cultural heritage of sequoia forests. As climate change intensifies, these practices are could be valuable for forest resilience and community survival.
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Credit: Gustavo Frazao/Big Stock Photo
Young Indigenous voices address climate change at UN forum
Indigenous youth leaders shared their unique challenges and solutions at this year's United Nations forum on Indigenous issues.
In short:
- This year's United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues focused on listening to Indigenous youth's interests and concerns.
- The young leaders from across the globe expressed a wide array of concerns, from the dual vulnerabilities of Indigenous and LGBTQ+ communities in Greenland due to climate change to struggles for self-determination exacerbated by external political pressures and environmental concerns.
Key quote:
“When we listen to the land, the land will listen to us. It’s a language. Climate change is creating a language barrier.”
— Jakirah Telfer, representative of the Kaurna peoples in Australia.
Why this matters:
Many indigenous communities rely on natural resources for their livelihoods—such as hunting, fishing and agriculture. Changes in climate patterns can lead to resource scarcity, affect food security and disrupt traditional economic activities.
We need to stop compartmentalizing the environment, family and culture as separate problems, argued Diné researcher Kevin Patterson in this 2023 essay.
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Newsletter
Credit: Brenda Padilla/Pixabay
Australia and Tuvalu confirm climate and security agreement
Australia and Tuvalu will advance with a landmark security and climate migration pact, ensuring Tuvalu's sovereignty while addressing its environmental challenges.
In short:
- The pact, initially uncertain due to Tuvalu's elections, solidifies with the new government's endorsement.
- It aims to aid Tuvalu in disasters and military threats, ensuring sovereignty in third-party security arrangements.
- Additionally, it permits the annual migration of 280 Tuvaluans to Australia, safeguarding Tuvalu's statehood against climate-induced inundation.
Key quote:
"Australia commits to assist Tuvalu in responding to a major natural disaster, a health pandemic, or military aggression. This is predicated on Tuvalu requesting such assistance."
— Pat Conroy, Australia's Pacific Minister
Why this matters:
This climate migration pact is more than an emergency exit strategy. It embodies a deep, albeit sobering acknowledgment of the stark realities facing Tuvalu due to climate change. While the agreement facilitates a new beginning for some Tuvaluans in Australia, it also raises questions about the preservation of Tuvalu's cultural heritage and identity.
In the U.S.: Poor southerners are joining the globe’s climate migrants.
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Newsletter
Credit: Patrick Schneider/Unsplash
Mongolia grapples with devastating winter, endangering livestock and nomadic traditions
Mongolia's nomadic herders face unprecedented losses as extreme winter conditions kill more than 2 million animals, highlighting the increasing threat of climate change.
In short:
- A phenomenon known as "dzud" brings lethal winters to Mongolia, killing millions of livestock essential for the nomadic lifestyle.
- The frequency of dzuds has increased, with six occurrences in the last decade, a change scientists link to climate change.
- The severe winters are causing significant economic hardship for herders, pushing thousands into poverty.
Key quote:
“It used to get warm right after the new year. Nowadays, it is getting even colder after Tsagaan Sar.”
— Tserenbadam G., a nomad in her 70s
Why this matters:
Traditionally, herding and farming communities across the globe have relied on predictable seasonal patterns to plan grazing, planting, and harvesting. However, the increasing unpredictability of winter weather, including more extreme weather events, is upending these practices.
Since 1960 about 21% of global agriculture production, including livestock, tree farming, and traditional crops such as corn and soybeans, has been negatively impacted by climate change, according to a 2021 study.
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Credit: Manyu Varma/Unsplash
Folklorists play a crucial role in climate adaptation by preserving cultural traditions
In a warming world, folklorists are becoming key players in helping communities adapt by preserving their cultural heritage.
In short:
- Folklorists are documenting and helping sustain cultural practices as climate change disrupts communities across the U.S., from Louisiana's coast to Appalachia.
- By focusing on traditions, these experts are aiding in both the physical and cultural resilience of affected areas.
- Their work emphasizes the importance of cultural identity and community bonds in times of environmental crisis.
Key quote:
"There’s more to community resilience than the physical protection of properties."
— Maida Owens, Louisiana's state folklife program
Why this matters:
Folklore and Indigenous stories often contain detailed observations of the environment, including animal behavior, weather patterns, and natural cycles, which can complement scientific research by offering long-term ecological knowledge. This blending of traditional knowledge with modern science can enhance our understanding of environmental changes and inform more holistic approaches to climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Be sure to read Brian Bienkowski's 2016 piece about how adding cultural observations from the Crow tribe to Western science bolsters both the science and the tribe.
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