Dealing with risks associated with tsunamis using indigenous knowledge approaches

Abstract

In areas often decimated by natural disasters, indigenous peoples have developed specific knowledge through generations of stories based on their past experiences. This indigenous knowledge has enabled them to reduce the risk associated with natural phenomena, including tsunamis, disasters with highly destructive potential that occurrence is complicated to predict. At the beginning of the 21st century alone, tsunamis claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and caused enormous material damage, but many indigenous communities survived them with minimal human casualties. This study aims to identify, describe and analyze the indigenous knowledge that indigenous peoples use to reduce the risks resulting from the possible effects of tsunamis and earthquakes and reduce their negative impacts. This area is mapped in detail based on the available relevant literature and its analysis. Here, individual findings are linked to specific localities threatened by tsunamis or earthquakes, which are primarily situated in the Ring of Fire. The search results revealed various forms of indigenous knowledge ranging from intangible cultural values and stories to tangible stones or musical instruments. There is an intention to generalize the view of traditional knowledge, especially by analyzing the similarities and dependencies found between the identified knowledge. Some examples of failure to use indigenous knowledge, or ignorance of it on the part of municipalities, are also presented. Acquired results demonstrate that procedures and methods based on indigenous knowledge serve as effective tools in risk management when dealing with the danger of tsunamis or earthquakes and reducing their negative impacts.