Climate Migration and Cultural Preservation: The Case of the Marshallese Diaspora

Abstract

Potential land loss in Pacific island countries from rising sea levels raises many concerns regarding how nation states will continue to function politically and economically in the event of climate-induced relocation of their populations. This piece expands that conversation, addressing the impacts of relocation on cultural heritage, drawing on data from interviews with migrants from the Marshall Islands to the United States. The study seeks to understand the challenges and opportunities of cultural preservation among the Marshallese diaspora. Marshallese accounts of life in the United States indicate many opportunities for cultural preservation, particularly for those living in communities with large Marshallese populations, while also presenting challenges based on social, economic, and geographic differences between the U.S. and the Marshall Islands. Understanding the means through which Marshallese migrants maintain cultural traditions and the challenges current migrants face, can help us address potentially irreversible, but avoidable losses of cultural traditions in the event of mass displacement. Keywords Cultural heritage • Migration • Non-economic losses • Marshall islands • Diaspora 16.1 Losses and Damages in the Pacific Islands For the low-lying islands of the Pacific, climate change poses an existential risk (see also chapter by Handmer and Nalau 2018). In particular, increased sea level and temperature threatens the islands and atolls with floods, erosion, groundwater degradation, and coral reef damage (Nurse et al. 2014). Under the Representative Concentrations Pathway (RCP) scenarios, by 2100 mean sea levels will increase 0.44 m (under RCP 2.6) up to 0.74 m (under RCP8.5) with regional variations that could further increase sea levels in the Pacific (IPCC 2013). Based on these

Pathways to sustain atolls under rising sea levels through land claim and island raising

“…Cultural factors are particularly important, including land, relocation and religion being key factors determining or hindering the want or need to migrate (Oakes 2019). Where finances and legal abilities allow relocation (Oakes 2019), preservation of language, diet and existing communities (Heslin 2019) within the area that migrants move to is critical, as is support for receiving communities to enable integration. Movement between islands with land advance/raising needs to be planned to align positively with other needs and gain societal acceptance, thus minimising loss and damage.…”

Climate Relocation and Indigenous Culture Preservation in the Pacific Islands

“…44 A study on cultural preservation in the Marshallese diaspora points out that societies like the Marshallese with strong ties with a history of ocean navigation, subsistence from fishing, handicrafts, and local dishes made from banana and coconut often face challenges when migrating to countries such as the United States. 45 Marshallese communities in the United States use the same strategies as other migrant communities to preserve their culture, such as attending churches and cultural events where they are able to use their native language. 46 In Springdale, Arkansas, for example, there are over thirty Marshallese churches with services in regional languages that encourage attendees to wear traditional clothes.…”