Deep in the Hindu Kush mountains in Pakistan, the Kalasha people have been studying the sun, the moon and the stars to help predict weather patterns and prevent hazards for generations. This complex traditional meteorological practice, known as the “Suri Jagek”, has been passed down through stories, songs and proverbs and is a vital resource for indigenous and local communities to adapt, bounce back from shocks and build resilience.
October 13, commemorated as the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), reminds us of the need to develop grassroot cooperation and partnerships with indigenous peoples and local communities not just as disaster victims but also as actors of change and holders of critical indigenous and local DRR knowledge. DRR Day was set up by the United Nations General Assembly to promote a global culture of disaster risk awareness and reduction. 2021’s DRR Day focuses on “international cooperation for developing countries to reduce their disaster risk and disaster losses”.
Many indigenous peoples and local communities across the world live in disaster-prone areas. However, they have developed effective coping mechanisms and strategies to adapt to the effects of disasters and climate change, including a good understanding of disaster mitigation, prevention, early warning and preparedness, as well as disaster response and post-disaster recovery.
International DRR Day reminds us of the need to develop grassroot cooperation and partnerships with indigenous peoples and local communities not just as disaster victims but also as actors of change and holders of critical indigenous and local DRR knowledge.
Observation of wind movements, rain patterns, clouds and the behaviour of water in rivers, insects, animals, birds and celestial bodies (i.e., sun, moon, stars) are some of the forecasting indicators used by indigenous and local communities to predict and prevent hazardous risk.
Similar to the Kalasha people, many more examples across the world illustrate the value and contribution of indigenous and local DRR knowledge, such as African pastoralists' knowledge on drought management and the knowledge held by Pacific islanders and sea nomads on coastal disaster management, contending with tsunamis and hurricanes. For instance, during the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and earthquake, the Moken of the Andaman Sea in Thailand noticed the tidal waves coming based on a traditional legend about the Laboon – “the wave that eats people”. According to the legend, the sea recedes, and the loud singing of cicadas fades into silence. One member of the Moken community noticed this, warned the community, and the community moved to higher ground before the first wave struck (UNDRR, 2011).
A good understanding of indigenous and local DRR knowledge and practices can help create effective collaboration among DRR policymakers, practitioners, scientists and holders of indigenous and local DRR knowledge and contribute to the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. The multiple evidence base approach could offer collaboration opportunities for multiple DRR knowledge systems (indigenous, local and science) and provide the best available knowledge to enhance communities’ resilience and coping strategies to disasters and climate change.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), part of the BES-Net Consortium, is advocating risk awareness, prevention and preparedness by understanding the risks and providing relevant solutions based on science, technology, innovation and practices, which includes citizen science, participatory research and indigenous and local knowledge.
For instance, UNESCO Global Geoparks are utilizing indigenous and local knowledge to enhance communities’ resilience to geohazards.
Credits:
Cover image by Klaus Dieter vom Wangenheim from Pixabay Kalasha women by Omer Imran, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons Moken girl by Andrey lazy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons Chafidwahyu, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons Image by klimkin from Pixabay