Cultural Heritage in Motion

Indigenous Knowledge and Mobile Livelihoods in Changing Climates

CuHeMo is a transdisciplinary research project funded under the umbrella of the Belmont Forum that examines the role of cultural heritage in climate change adaptation among mobile communities; specifically indigenous pastoralist and coastal communities in Thailand, Ethiopia, and Senegal. It brings together social and climate scientists with societal stakeholders and indigenous knowledge holders in Senegal, Thailand and Ethiopia.

A Collaborative Research Action under the umbrella of the Belmont Forum
Chao Lay, Sea Nomads, Sea Gypsies? – On the problems of (self-)descriptions in ethnographic fieldwork

Chao Lay, Sea Nomads, Sea Gypsies? – On the problems of (self-)descriptions in ethnographic fieldwork

The chao lay, or ‘sea people,’ are indigenous groups in Southeast Asia facing marginalization and severe impacts from climate change. This post explores how outsider-assigned terms like “sea nomads” often carry harmful connotations and advocates for respectful language that acknowledges their sustainable lifestyles and unique cultural identities.

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The CuHeMo project is funded by:

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