Climate change is eroding our culture, Maasai women cry out

Indigenous women from the Maasai community have voiced their wish to have their voices heard in key climate change conferences including the upcoming COP29 in
Azerbaijan.

The calls were made by the women who indicated the struggles they face in maintaining their cultural identity while adapting to the rapidly changing climate.

“I love my culture so deeply; it defines who I am. But climate change is eroding every bit of it,” said Esther Tinayo. “Before it goes away, I have decided to document each bit of it.”

Climate experts and representatives from marginalised communities have emphasised the importance of utilising and promoting traditional ecological knowledge in solving the climate crisis. The changing weather patterns and displacement of communities pose significant threats to cultural heritage, including sacred sites, rites, and ceremonies.

During a photo exhibition titled, “Matriarchs of Climate Resilience: Indigenous People at the Heart of Climate Change Policy Dialogue and Exhibition,” experts and community leaders called for increased investments in preserving and promoting Indigenous knowledge.

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The event showcased the resilience of Indigenous women, as seen through the eyes of Maasai women photographers Irene Saitoti and Claire Metito. They returned to their roots in Narok to tell the stories of three Maasai matriarchs, who confront the challenges of their social identities while navigating the intricate complexities brought about by the climate crisis.

“In the Maasai community, the weight of unpaid care work disproportionately falls on women, making them more vulnerable to climate-related challenges,” said Emily Wanja, Director of Africa Programmes at Doc Society.

“Elevating the roles of women is key to ensuring their integral involvement in both adaptation strategies and solutions implementation in the battle against climate change. True transformation begins at the local level where direct and streamlined access to funding empowers communities to build resilience according to their own needs”.

Ndinda Maithya, Country Engagement Manager at Hivos, echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of accessible climate finance for grassroots communities.

“The bureaucracies and long processes should be discouraged. Communities are already conducting different climate actions in their respective communities without support or financing; hence climate finance comes to scale up their initiatives,” she said.

Patricia Nying’uro from the Kenya Meteorological Department added, “As a climate scientist, sometimes the data we analyse feels far removed from the actual reality of the people experiencing the data.“

She added: “Global decisions that impact national policy development are heavily influenced by scientific findings, but are they truly fair and representative if they fail to incorporate local voices and the specific nuances of climate change, especially through a gendered lens?”

She emphasised the need for adaptation efforts to be locally driven, ensuring that climate finance reaches those most at risk and with the highest need.

Maithya said the Maasai community’s intimate knowledge of local ecosystems is often overlooked, denying them rights over their lands and histories, and limiting their roles in combating climate change.

“The urgency of creating platforms where Indigenous voices can be heard and respected. The Maasai women’s stories and their traditional knowledge must be integral to global climate change dialogues, ensuring that cultural heritage is preserved for future generations,” she said.