Archaeology, Indigenous and Local Knowledge, and Climate Change in the Caribbean: Select Case Studies among the Kalinago, Macushi and Maroon communities in the Windward Islands and the Guianas.
Within the geographic space known as the Caribbean, vulnerability to and because of climate-induced hazards is commonplace. Contributing to this are the various geophysical features and historical land use issues which define the region, some of which have contributed to how traditional communities are both impacted by and respond to the changing climate. These hazards are experienced through rising sea levels, coastal inundation and storm surges, and increasingly severe and erratic weather events, impacting, for example, wet and dry Archaeology, Indigenous and Local Knowledge, and Climate Change in the Caribbean: Select Case Studies among the Kalinago, Macushi and Maroon communities in the Windward Islands and the Guianas. November 2023 / Archaeology and the Publics 79 seasons, water and food security, and infrastructure. Although the region's vulnerability has increased, climatic challenges are not a 21st century phenomena. Its first inhabitants several millennia ago experienced climate-induced and other natural hazards, requiring ongoing adaptation to constantly changing environments. Our traditional communities have had long relationships with their natural environment and so play a critical role in studying this human environment dynamic through a long-term perspective. Not only are they exposed to these hazards contributing to vulnerability at the community level, but their heritage is also exposed. Through their traditional knowledge and archaeological data from their ancient villages, knowledge is passed down today as a guide for climate action and providing essential indicators for past and future resilience. This paper examines how the changing climate intersects with archaeology, Indigenous and local knowledge in relation to ongoing and future climate action and narratives in the Caribbean. This is approached through a focus on case studies among the Kalinago of Dominica and Saint Vincent, the Macushi from Guyana, and Maroon communities from Suriname, highlighting how traditional knowledge and archaeological research can provide valuable data concerning past climate adaptation and a better understanding of Indigenous and local responses. This paper emanates from a knowledge-exchange event held in Aruba in November 2022, which brought together communities, researchers, and students to discuss the role that archaeology and traditional knowledge can play in the region’s response to the changing climate.We acknowledge the contribution of the many voices from local and Indigenous communities that have edified this research, and the important feedback provided by Professor Corinne Hofman. This paper emanates from discussions at the workshop on Traditional Knowledge Solutions for Present and Future Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in the Caribbean, which was supported by the Island(er)s at the Helm and CaribTRAILS projects (2019 – 2026) through funding received from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), the UNESCO Cluster Office for the Caribbean, and the National Archaeological Museum of Arub
