Is disaster “normal” for indigenous people? Indigenous knowledge and coping practices

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to debates on the value of indigenous knowledge for disaster risk reduction. Recent international policy papers advocate the importance of indigenous knowledge and calls for its recognition. The paper aims to explore these issues in the everyday practices of disaster response by indigenous peoples and surrounding actors.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a total of seven months ethnographic research in indigenous communities in Thailand and the Philippines. The Thai communities had experienced minor disasters, whereas the Philippine communities were recently hit by a major killer typhoon.

Findings

In both countries the authors found that indigenous knowledge is neither completely local, nor homogenous, nor shared. The findings caution against a view that indigenous knowledge is grounded in a long tradition of coping with disasters. Coping is embedded in social practice and responsive to change. Positive labelling of indigenous practices can help to render communities more resilient.

Research limitations/implications

The research was exploratory in nature and could be replicated and expanded in other indigenous peoples’ communities.

Practical implications

Rather than understanding indigenous peoples as simultaneously vulnerable and resilient, it calls for a more comprehensive approach to indigenous knowledge and practices around disaster.

Social implications

The limitations are shown of uncritically ascribing indigenous communities a close relation to nature. It may be unfounded and de-politicises indigenous struggles.

Originality/value

This paper approaches indigenous knowledge issues from the point of view of indigenous communities themselves.

Citation

Hilhorst, D., Baart, J., van der Haar, G. and Leeftink, F.M. (2015), "Is disaster “normal” for indigenous people? Indigenous knowledge and coping practices", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 24 No. 4, pp. 506-522. https://doi.org/10.1108/DPM-02-2015-0027